Agenda and minutes

No Declarations of Interest were received.

The Minutes of the meetings of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 27 June 2017 and 26 July 2017, were approved as a true record.

Members were reminded that the Committee had discussed fly tipping at its meeting in June 2017. Members had learned that the number of fly tipping incidents recorded in the District exceeded the performance target set by the Council.

Although the Committee had accepted that fly tipping in Ashfield formed part of a wider, national, problem, Members felt that this should not obscure the need to take action locally. They also felt that Scrutiny could play an important role in helping to identify possible ways forward. Consequently, the Committee agreed that a specific review on fly tipping be included in the 2017-18 work programme, with a focus on how it could be reduced across the District.

The report to Committee set out the draft terms of reference for this review. The Committee discussed these extensively.  It was assisted by the Council’s Service Lead – Waste and Environment, Mrs Sam Dennis.

The Committee heard from the Service Lead – Waste and Environment that much of the fly tipping in Ashfield consists of old furniture and cookers etc. Household often use people who they find on Facebook, to take the items away for them. Unfortunately, these people frequently turn out to be unlicensed, rogue, collectors, who simply dump the waste rather than dispose of it properly.

Mrs Dennis told Members that the Council is trying to get across the message to householders that they have a legal responsibility to make sure their bulky and other waste is disposed of in a correct way. In particular, it has launched the ‘Crime Not to Care’ campaign in conjunction with the environmental charity ‘Keep Britain Tidy’.

One of the main goals of the campaign is to make it clear to householders that they too could be at risk of prosecution if they use rogue collectors, who take away their rubbish and then dump it illegally. If found guilty, they could end up with a large fine and a criminal record. Moreover the Committee heard that the Council would soon have new powers to impose larger fines, so that the potential risks to householders found guilty of fly tipping would be even greater.

The Committee supported the ‘Crime Not to Care’ campaign. Members also welcomed moves to gather evidence from householders about rogue collectors, so that they can be successfully prosecuted.  This was seen as a sensible approach.

Members agreed that the review ought to look at the reasons why people fly tip. They also thought that it should identify the physical reasons why locations can become vulnerable to fly tipping; and especially whether it is more likely to occur in those places which are untidy or badly maintained. Members were keen that the problem be should be reduced across the District as a whole; and not to be tackled in certain communities only for it to reappear in less protected or more vulnerable places.

The Committee felt that local people could play an important part in helping to make their areas seem less attractive to fly  ...  view the full minutes text for item OS9

The Committee considered the latest position on the Scrutiny Workplan. Members heard that since two new topics for the Workplan had been suggested. The first of these was on the use of Closed Circuit Television in the District. The second was on the operation of the Police ‘101’ contact number for the public to report non-emergency incidents.

The Committee discussed both of these suggestions and agreed to include them as topics the Scrutiny Workplan. Members also agreed to inform the Scrutiny Manager of any additional topics that they wished to include in the plan.

RESOLVED

a)    That the Committee notes the current position on the Scrutiny Workplan for 2017/18;

b)    That a review into Closed Circuit Television be incorporated into the Workplan;

c)    That the Scrutiny Manager be informed on any suggested topics to be included in the Workplan.

Reasons

Consulting, reviewing and agreeing items for the Scrutiny Workplan 2017/18 provides guidance and direction for the work undertaken by Scrutiny in the coming year.