Report of the Contract Manager – Parks and Streetcare

RESOLVED –

That the Litter Strategy for Watford 2021-2026, at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

Cabinet received a report of the Contract Manager – Parks and Streetcare which included the draft Litter Strategy.

The Mayor invited Councillor Williams, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services, to introduce the report. 

Councillor Williams informed members that the strategy covered best practice.  It included education, enforcement and infrastructure to enable the ability to continue delivering a reduction in litter and improving behaviour.  £25,000 funding had been received to support the ‘right bin in the right place’ project.  He noted that very few councils had a litter strategy in place and Watford was the first in Hertfordshire. 

Councillor Williams thanked those groups and organisations that arranged litter picks in the town’s parks and open spaces.  He informed Cabinet that he did this along the A405.  He had approached the county council for signage ‘Love Watford, Hate litter’ to be installed.  However, as yet the county council had not agreed, but he would continue to press for the signs.  

Councillor Williams thanked the council’s officers for their hard work and particularly the Contract Manager for Parks and Streetcare. He urged Cabinet to adopt the strategy.

The Mayor noted the fixed penalty charges for litter and dog fouling offences.  He felt they were very low.  He questioned whether the council had any flexibility.

The Group Head of Community and Environmental Services advised that officers would check, but there was often a maximum limit that could be set.  The information would be circulated to Cabinet. 

Councillor Williams added that many local councils, in partnership, had pressed the Government to increase the levels of the Fixed Penalty Notices.

Councillor Bell stated that he was pleased with the initiative.  He noted in the report it referred to monitoring taking place.  He asked, if other areas became ‘hotspots’ with regularly overflowing bins, could work be concentrated in those areas.

Councillor Williams advised that Veolia would be able to monitor areas during their rounds.  If a problem area was identified this information could be fed back to the central office and if necessary increased collections could be built into the work programmes.

In response to a question from Councillor Watkin about signage, Councillor Williams replied that the county council allowed temporary signs to be put up, but he was looking to have larger and bolder signs installed.

RESOLVED –

That the Litter Strategy for Watford 2021-2026, at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.