Agenda item

The following motion has been proposed by Councillor Trebar and seconded by Councillor Watling:

 

“We live in a beautiful town with many beautiful parks and green spaces which are enjoyed every day by our residents. What a shame it is, therefore that if you turn down any main street in Watford on many corners of that street you will see at least one item of rubbish left on the floor or a household item dumped.

 

“Sustainable Watford”, is the re-branded new Environmental Strategy 2023-2030 and Delivery Plan 2023-2025, however it does not deal with the central issue which consistently plagues Watford; disgusting, disgraceful and unsafe fly tipping.

 

According to the Watford Observer 21st January, the number of fly-tipping incidents in Watford apparently decreased last year from 1,342 in 2021-22 to 1,168 fly-tipping incidents in Watford in the year to March 2023. I would argue that these are reported cases and do not show the true extent of the problem.

 

Veolia do an excellent job of picking up fly tipping in Watford in areas they know and regularly pick up rubbish from hotspots from these areas. They should be commended for their service. However, not all these areas are reported regularly because the fly tipping is often picked the next day, by Veolia. This does not go to the root of the problem. We need the CCTV to be circulated to different places to catch the perpetrators and deter them. Where the current CCTV is placed is based on recorded ‘hot spots’ not other areas which need to be considered - not on how often residents (the victims of this crime are reporting it) but based on areas where there is constant fly tipping and Veolia regularly pick up rubbish from.

 

Fly tipping is not a victimless crime. We are all victims of it. We need to show across the whole town that we are taking it seriously and that we are actively acting to stop it across all wards.

 

We have to use all resources to hand to tackle this. CCTV and hefty fines are one of the best ways to deter criminals who fly tip but there are other methods we should consider at the same time.

 

This council resolves that the Mayor:

 

1.         Should encourage all residents and businesses to behave responsibly and with community spirit to avoid littering. This could be achieved through the use of social media and print outlets such as ‘My Watford Magazine’ to inform residents that fly tipping is illegal and to tell them that we are actively working to bring the criminals to justice. We should also inform them of how to arrange for large items to be collected by the council to create greater awareness.

 

2.         Continue working to promote and encourage measures and initiatives to reduce waste and support more reuse and recycling.

 

3.         Commend and thank Veolia for all their hard work and continue to work with the contractors of the Council to fulfil their obligations to keep our borough clean.

 

4.         Continue to support robust enforcement, including via CCTV evidence, directed at those making Watford a less pleasant place to be and where possible increase CCTV into other known fly tipping areas.”

 

The following motion had been proposed by Councillor Trebar and seconded by Councillor Watling:

 

“We live in a beautiful town with many beautiful parks and green spaces which are enjoyed every day by our residents.  What a shame it is, therefore that if you turn down any main street in Watford on many corners of that street you will see at least one item of rubbish left on the floor or a household item dumped.

 

“Sustainable Watford”, is the re-branded new Environmental Strategy 2023-2030 and Delivery Plan 2023-2025, however it does not deal with the central issue which consistently plagues Watford; disgusting, disgraceful and unsafe fly tipping.

 

According to the Watford Observer 21st January, the number of fly-tipping incidents in Watford apparently decreased last year from 1,342 in 2021-22 to 1,168 fly-tipping incidents in Watford in the year to March 2023. I would argue that these are reported cases and do not show the true extent of the problem.

 

Veolia do an excellent job of picking up fly tipping in Watford in areas they know and regularly pick up rubbish from hotspots from these areas. They should be commended for their service. However, not all these areas are reported regularly because the fly tipping is often picked the next day, by Veolia. This does not go to the root of the problem. We need the CCTV to be circulated to different places to catch the perpetrators and deter them. Where the current CCTV is placed is based on recorded ‘hot spots’ not other areas which need to be considered - not on how often residents (the victims of this crime are reporting it) but based on areas where there is constant fly tipping and Veolia regularly pick up rubbish from.

 

Fly tipping is not a victimless crime. We are all victims of it. We need to show across the whole town that we are taking it seriously and that we are actively acting to stop it across all wards.

 

We have to use all resources to hand to tackle this. CCTV and hefty fines are one of the best ways to deter criminals who fly tip but there are other methods we should consider at the same time.

 

This council resolves that the Mayor:

 

1.                  Should encourage all residents and businesses to behave responsibly and with community spirit to avoid littering. This could be achieved through the use of social media and print outlets such as ‘My Watford Magazine’ to inform residents that fly tipping is illegal and to tell them that we are actively working to bring the criminals to justice. We should also inform them of how to arrange for large items to be collected by the council to create greater awareness.

 

2.                  Continue working to promote and encourage measures and initiatives to reduce waste and support more reuse and recycling.

 

3.                  Commend and thank Veolia for all their hard work and continue to work with the contractors of the Council to fulfil their obligations to keep our borough clean.

 

4.                  Continue to support robust enforcement, including via CCTV evidence, directed at those making Watford a less pleasant place to be and where possible increase CCTV into other known fly tipping areas.”

 

Councillor Rodrigues moved an amendment to the motion, which was seconded by Councillor Williams.

 

“Council notes that:

 

·                    We live in a beautiful town with award winning parks and green spaces which are enjoyed every day by our residents. Watford has recently ranked number 1 in the Vitality index which monitors the best places to live and work in the country.

 

·                    Watford Council has an imbedded strategy to deal with fly tipping and illegal waste disposal.

·                    As detailed in the Watford Observer of 21st January 2024, the number of fly tipping incidents in Watford decreased by 13%.

 

·                    Veolia do an excellent job of picking up reported fly tipping. Where Veolia Street Operatives see unreported fly tipping, they collect this material and include it in the reported figures. The Council supports this approach taken by Veolia.

 

·                    Watford Council will consider all economically viable approaches to gather evidence to hold those that fly tip to account.

 

·                    Fly tipping is not a victimless crime and we are all victims of it. Watford Council informs residents across the whole town that we take fly tipping seriously across all wards. The Council has been educating residents in certain fly tipping hot spot areas in Callowland, of how to dispose of their excess waste. This project includes installing posters in hot spot locations and having ‘mock’ crime scene tape to encourage debate of fly tipping by residents and not normalise this illegal behaviour.

 

·                    The Council has recently made the decision to double the FPN’s for fly tipping and this will take affect from the 1^st April 2024. In 2022/23 Watford issued the most FPN’s across Hertfordshire and in ranking performed second best in the ratio of FPN’s issued to fly tipping incidents. Overall Watford performed 263% better than the Hertfordshire average in this ratio.

 

·                    Watford Council acknowledges and appreciates that some residents might not be able to afford bulky waste collections and so offers a 50% discount for residents receiving Council related benefits upon presentation of proof of this.

Council resolves to:

 

·                    Ask the Mayor to continue to encourage all residents and businesses in behaving responsibly in not littering or fly tipping. Keep using social media and the About Watford magazine to inform residents that fly tipping is illegal and to tell them that we are actively working to enforce the law. About Watford routinely reports the work done by the Council and partners on fly tipping and recycling.

 

·                    Maintain communication around informing residents of how to arrange bulky waste collections and how to dispose of excess waste.

 

·                    Continue working to promote and encourage measures and initiatives to reduce waste and support more reuse and recycling.

 

·                    Ask the Mayor to thank Veolia and council officers for all their hard work and continue to work with contractors of the Council to fulfil their obligations to keep our borough clean.

 

·                    Continue to support robust enforcement, directed at those making Watford a less pleasant place to live and work.”

 

Councillor Trebar accepted the amendment. Members then debated the substantive motion.

 

On being put to Council the motion was agreed.

 

RESOLVED –

 

Council notes that:

 

·                    We live in a beautiful town with award winning parks and green spaces which are enjoyed every day by our residents. Watford has recently ranked number 1 in the Vitality index which monitors the best places to live and work in the country.

 

·                    Watford Council has an imbedded strategy to deal with fly tipping and illegal waste disposal.

·                    As detailed in the Watford Observer of 21st January 2024, the number of fly tipping incidents in Watford decreased by 13%.

 

·                    Veolia do an excellent job of picking up reported fly tipping. Where Veolia Street Operatives see unreported fly tipping, they collect this material and include it in the reported figures. The Council supports this approach taken by Veolia.

 

·                    Watford Council will consider all economically viable approaches to gather evidence to hold those that fly tip to account.

 

·                    Fly tipping is not a victimless crime and we are all victims of it. Watford Council informs residents across the whole town that we take fly tipping seriously across all wards. The Council has been educating residents in certain fly tipping hot spot areas in Callowland, of how to dispose of their excess waste. This project includes installing posters in hot spot locations and having ‘mock’ crime scene tape to encourage debate of fly tipping by residents and not normalise this illegal behaviour.

 

·                    The Council has recently made the decision to double the FPN’s for fly tipping and this will take affect from the 1^st April 2024. In 2022/23 Watford issued the most FPN’s across Hertfordshire and in ranking performed second best in the ratio of FPN’s issued to fly tipping incidents. Overall Watford performed 263% better than the Hertfordshire average in this ratio.

 

·                    Watford Council acknowledges and appreciates that some residents might not be able to afford bulky waste collections and so offers a 50% discount for residents receiving Council related benefits upon presentation of proof of this.

Council resolves to:

 

·                    Ask the Mayor to continue to encourage all residents and businesses in behaving responsibly in not littering or fly tipping. Keep using social media and the About Watford magazine to inform residents that fly tipping is illegal and to tell them that we are actively working to enforce the law. About Watford routinely reports the work done by the Council and partners on fly tipping and recycling.

 

·                    Maintain communication around informing residents of how to arrange bulky waste collections and how to dispose of excess waste.

 

·                    Continue working to promote and encourage measures and initiatives to reduce waste and support more reuse and recycling.

 

·                    Ask the Mayor to thank Veolia and council officers for all their hard work and continue to work with contractors of the Council to fulfil their obligations to keep our borough clean.

 

·                    Continue to support robust enforcement, directed at those making Watford a less pleasant place to live and work.