Agenda item

(For Members to note/discuss the Committee’s current work programme and to receive the Quarter 1 Performance report)

The Assistant Director – Assets presented a brief overview of the Quarter 1 performance reporting on behalf of the I.T and Transformation Manager.

Highlighting the severe impact on a number of services due to Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown period, the Assistant Director – Assets confirmed that the performance data had clearly been impacted, resulting in very differing outcomes against the same period in previous years.

The closure of the leisure facilities and the Guildhall, in accordance with Government guidance, along with the suspension of car parking charges had resulted in a significant loss of revenue.  Other service areas including Environmental Health and Anti-Social Behaviour had refocused their resources to ensure the safety of the public

On a positive note both Planning Performance and Commercial Waste Collections remained as high performing services.

The Chairman referenced the work programme and advised that the next scheduled meeting of the committee would be on 5 January 2021 and had a busy agenda, but the subsequent meeting in February had no confirmed reporting.

Committee deliberation followed which included:

Addressing the high performance of the planning service, members voiced their appreciation of the work of the Assistant Director-Planning and their team in Boston, and offered congratulations at the consistency of performance.  A member noted that following good performance on Q3/Q4 in the previous year, Q1 had reassuringly continued the trend putting Boston Planning service on a level with some of the best in the Country.  The member confirmed that having spoken with Councillors in other authorities across the Country he had found that many struggled to maintain a minimum performance level. Further acknowledgment noted the effectiveness of the recently adopted new Local Plan.  However, a member did question why month on month planning committee meetings continued to be cancelled yet there was clear construction activity throughout the borough.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee confirmed he had asked the same question and whilst agreeing that the Local Plan had impacted significantly within the decision making process, he did have concerns that applications were not being challenged by Councillors, Parish Councils’ nor members of the public.  The Chairman of Planning then stated that whilst he recognised that the experienced planning committee members were all aware of the call-in procedure and how it worked, he did want to ensure newer members were also confident in the process. As such, he had tentatively raised a need for refresher training for any members who may wish to attend, possibly in the new year.

Referencing the recycling figures a member stated it would be interesting to see how they developed throughout the year with Boston becoming one of the first Councils to change to waste and recycling.  The member requested close monitoring of the new service to ensure its effectiveness.

A number of members voiced very strong concerns at the continual increase in Fly Tipping incidents across the Borough, with some attributing the ongoing rises to the changes in the opening hours of the Waste Recycling Centre in the Borough.  Addressing the steep rise of incidents within certain roads within the borough which were subject to continual high volumes of black bags containing food and other waste materials, strewn across pavements and piling up in gardens, members voiced very serious concern that the situation was becoming a health hazard. 

There was reference to the recent Member Briefing held with Cllr Poll of Lincolnshire County Council, but some members felt that the opinion of the County Council that the waste recycling centre was doing well as it was under-subscribed, was incorrect.  Members felt the site to be under-subscribed due to the public not choosing to use it, due to the reduction in opening times and the need to schedule a timed slot, which from residents’ feedback identified problems on arrival at a time slot and subsequent refusals to accept certain goods.  Further comments noted that the centre should not be closed mid-week; that it should be open 7 days a week to accommodate people who worked long days during the week and that it should revert to working as it had historically, accepting goods as they arrived and not specifying what product could be delivered on what day.

Members asked if the Centre would remain open during the scheduled lockdown for one month from 5 November 2020 and the Assistant Director-Assets confirmed he would source the information and relay to members after the meeting.

Members who did not attribute all increases in fly tipping to the restricted hours at the Recycling Centre, also cited concerns of continual fly tipping in certain areas of the town, which once cleared were subject to further tipping almost immediately.  There was ongoing incidents of continual tipping of items at a number of HMOs (houses in multiple occupancy) where the turnover of residents was constant.

When such a residence changed hands the outgoing occupants left many large items of furniture and the incoming residents simply tipped them either down the side of the house or out onto the street, making them somebody else’s responsibility.  There was no actual evidence of the tipping taking place and members did recognise such evidence would be required to take action. A member asked if it was possible to inform Landlords of such properties of the correct procedure for new residents, in the disposal of any items left by their predecessors and to ensure they were aware of the penalty for not disposing the items in the correct manner and that it was against the law to do so. 

In response the Assistant Director – Assets advised that logistically the only address information the Council held was that of HMOs that were statutorily licensable.   He further advised members that should they ever witness such an incident then they should report it to himself or the Assistant Director- Regulation and they would take a section 9. Witness Statement and do their best to bring the perpetrators to justice.  He stressed that they needed an evidential link before they could take any action forward.

Recognising the ever-increasing workload of the existing fly tipping team for the Borough, a member questioned how much longer they could continue to maintain the level of service they were currently providing, as incidents would clearly continue to rise for the near future in line with additional lockdown(s). The team went over and above in its endeavours to rid the Borough of the increasing incidents, on top of which the Council had lost the support service from HMP North Sea Camp.  Members noted real concern that escalating demand on the team would overwhelm them, and suggested a recommendation that a review of the current Fly Tipping Team in Boston Borough be undertaken by the Joint Chief Executive to ensure they were adequately resourced, taking the increasing demand on the team forward.

A member requested an update report on the existing toilet provision within the town, in light of both Covid-19 and the permanent closure of Oldrids who had formed part of the community scheme providing free facilities.

The Assistant Director – Assets confirmed the closure of the facilities had been due to the Council not being able to guarantee they would be Covid compliant and they had to comply with the HSE assessment.  A request for an update report to a future meeting of the committee would be requested, on the provision of public conveniences, both Council owned and private owned but available for public use,

Voicing strong concern at the increase in stealing dogs, which had risen by 65% over the previous 6 months, a member enquired if the subject was suitable for consideration by the committee.

The Assistant Director-Assets advised that theft or attempted theft was a police matter and that he was aware that the Police had been actively promoting information on the subject and were aware of the escalating number of attempts and thefts.  He further confirmed he would raise the concerns with the local Inspector and revert on any follow through response.

Concluding the deliberation of the item the Chairman stated that whilst she was aware of a delay in the installation of CCTV Cameras in well know fly tipping hot spots, due to Covid, she wondered if it would be possible to get an update on the position.

RECOMMENDATION:

It was moved by Councillor Paul Goodale and seconded by Councillor Anton Dani that:

The Environment and Performance Committee request that the Joint Chief Executive be requested to undertake an urgent review of the current staffing level of the Fly Tipping Team for Boston Borough to ensure that the team is adequately resourced to undertake the level of service required to maintain clearance of continually rising incidents of fly tipping across the Borough and that the outcomes of the review be made available to the committee.

The recommendation carried unanimously.

TO DO:

1. The Assistant Director – Assets to provide members with details of the opening hours and procedures for the Household Waste Recycling Centre in Boston throughout the forthcoming lockdown period one month from 5^th November 2020.
2. The Assistant Director – Assets to relay the concerns tabled in respect of the increase in attempted theft / theft of dogs within the Borough, to the local Police Inspector.
3. That a request be made for a future update report on the provision of public conveniences within Boston to include those provided by private organisations permitting public use. 
4. That an update be provided at the next meeting on the delay in installation of the CCTV cameras in well-known fly tipping spots.