Issue - meetings

The Chairman invited the Environmental Services Manager to introduce the report.  Members were reminded that an update had been requested following implementation of the new scheme, details of which had been presented to the Board at its meeting on 5th April 2011.

Members were reminded that the strategy included a staged approach where the Enforcement Officer would use their discretion in taking the appropriate enforcement action and that the work was accompanied by a publicity and campaign programme to raise awareness of the work of the team.  The particular areas currently covered by this were dog fouling, fly-tipping and littering.  The service commenced following the Council’s adoption of the strategy and publicity programme in October 2011 and was delivered by the Community Safety Team.

The Board discussed the following areas in more detail:

• The summary of Environmental Enforcement Action Taken – in particular the “no further action” statistics.
• The evidence gathering process in order to take and carry through enforcement action.
• Fly tipping - the circumstances and stage at which Enforcement action would or could be taken.
• Graffiti – in particular if this was on private land and the level of investigation involved.
• Publicity campaign, in respect of dog fouling and the difficulty in issuing fixed penalty notices for this offence.
• Development of the service – including processes (training and investigation) in order to carry out enforcement.
• The ability to issue penalties in respect of un-adopted roads.

In response to Member comment, the Executive Director for Leisure, Environment and Community Services undertook to feedback to Members in respect of whether the Environmental Protection Act 1990 was the relevant legislation which could have been used in taking action in respect of the ongoing issues at the Marlbrook Tip site.  After further discussion it was

RESOLVED that the Board receive a quarterly summary of Environmental Enforcement action taken in order to monitor progress of the new service.