To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Cleaner, Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 3 February 2022.

The minutes of the Cleaner, Greener, and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 3^rd February 2022 were approved as a true and correct record of the meeting.

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972. To agree any relevant briefing notes submitted to the Committee.

There were no items of urgent business.

There were no interests declared

Terry Fisher updated members on the progress of Operation Ceasar. He explained that in the year 2022 they have issued 35 Section 59 warnings which is more than double the number that were issued in all of 2021. They have seized three vehicles and crushed one. They have also not identified any repeat offenders which is something they were not expecting and this shows that some of their actions are acting as a deterrent as they are not seeing the same individuals being stopped over and over again and receiving the same warning. In 2021 they were mostly seeing offending mainly taking place on a Sunday, however from reviews of social media and responses this has now switched and most activities seem to be taking place on Saturdays.

Five hotspot areas have been identified and the Police are ensuring that they are putting their resources where they need to be.

For June the top 5 areas are : -

1.       Rainbow Lane, Stanford-Le-Hope

2.       Rear of Essex arena /Davey Down Nature Reserve

3.       Orsett Heath, Chadwell St Mary

4.       Blackshots and Grays

5.       Colne, East Tilbury

Terry Fisher further updated the members that:  -

·       The Off Road Vehicles team which is a quad bike team to be trialled in Thurrock is on track to launch in September.

·       In relation to drones, it was confirmed that the Leader has offered his support in ensuring that they can use some of the Council’s assets however they also have a meeting scheduled with their own drone single point of contact in Essex Police to hopefully obtain their own drone for the Community Police Team.

·       The Police are also continuing to run pop-up engagement events at the areas of concerns.

·       In respect of the potential application for a PSPO (Public Spaces Protection Order), a meeting took place yesterday with the Council’s Legal team and they are collating data and an evidence package to submit to the Legal team to review.

Terry Fisher also gave an update in relation to target hardening in the top 5 areas of concern as follows: - 

·       In Belhus Country park, the only work outstanding is a fence gap in Hamble Lane which they are looking to close.

·       In Orsett Heath they are looking at a number of options, barriers have been erected in 4 locations and whilst it wont prevent access it will slow down bikes.

·       Mobile CCTV is due to be erected on King George’s Avenue at the end of the Bridleway.

·       The Butts Lane fencing has been repaired, they are looking at a barrier at Butt’s Lane to restrict access to the footpath.

·       In Billet Lane they are looking to identify areas to target harden but this is likely to be a longer piece of work due to proposed work of 4G pitches in the area where potential restrictions would have been put up.

·       In Blackshots, the site has been visited however due to it being very vast with many access points trying to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Assistant Director for Street Scene and Leisure introduced the PowerPoint presentation.

Michelle Cunningham (Thurrock Community Safety Partnership Manager) presented the slides regarding Community Safety and Prevent Duties.

Councillor Redsell commented that she was pleased to note that on the first slide at point one that men and boys has been added as this issue had been discussed previously and she hoped that the same would be applied to men and boys.

The Assistant Director for Street Scene and Leisure presented slide 3 about Waste and Recycling.

Councillor Redsell confirmed that she had a few complaints lately about the steps that residents have to use to dispose of their waste at the Household Waste and Recycling Centre and from her own previous experience she knows the staff at the HWRC are not always able to help as two women helped her take her rubbish up the stairs the other day as staff could not assist her. She stated that other Boroughs run it better than we do. Councillor Redsell explained that In Lincolnshire you can drive round and drop your rubbish off as you go round. She clarified that the Council workers are usually really helpful but she is concerned about the steps especially when wet and that they could be dangerous.

The Assistant Director for Street Scene and Leisure responded that residents can ask the team for assistance when they enter the site, wherever possible the team provide assistance and he needs to know if members of staff are refusing to help. He confirmed he is aware of more modern sites that have areas you can drive up to and drop the waste off from the back of the vehicle. This was included in the design of the redevelopment of the site, unfortunately as those proposals have been put on hold, we are having to work with how the current site is configurated. However, the site is much more organised and safer than it was when it was taken back from Essex County Council. The manager of the site is very insistent staff should be helping and he will pass this information back to her.

Councillor Thandi raised that he had a couple of complaints about traffic on the weekends where people want to turn right.

The Assistant Director for Street Scene and Leisure responded that since they have been controling the number of cars going into the site, the reports are that we don’t appear to be seeing the same amount of traffic problems that took place before. He explained that there will of course be individual days where a lot of people decide to clean out their garages and shed, however the controls they have put in place seem to be helping with the traffic situation. He reiterated that he is happy to look at individual cases if traffic problems are raised.

Councillor Redsell highlighted that people have lost track of when the brown bins are collected and asked if there is something on the website. Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Strategic Lead for Clean and Green Services introduced the report and confirmed that it is his recommendation that the Committee support his recommendation to Cabinet to adopt the abandoned Trolleys policy. He confirmed there will still be a number of processes to follow and there will be a consultation with stores and other interested parties and local retailers prior to consideration of the adoption of these powers.

The Strategic Lead for Clean and Green Services clarified that he hopes it will act as a mechanism to get compliance from stores and that it is not a money making scheme. It puts the onus back on the retailer and it is also beneficial for them as the trolley is worth more than the fee to recover them.

Councillor Pearce questioned where they would store the trolleys recovered.

The Strategic Lead for Clean and Green Services confirmed that they had a couple of sites in the area where they could store them. They would need to take pictures in situ, tag each trolley and notify the stores. Once they have agreement that this policy is going to be pursued these details would be clarified.

Councillor Muldowney commented that it is a sensible policy and she likes that it is putting the onus back on the stores to manage their trollies rather than it being down to the Local Authority.

RESOLVED

That the Cleaner, Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee support the recommendation to Cabinet, and the initiation of the process for the adoption of the new abandoned trolley cost recovery policy.

Councillor Muldowney requested a report on air quality.

The Environmental Health and Trading Standards Manager agreed this could be prepared for the November meeting.

It was also queried whether this Committee would be the correct one to consider the issue of Grays Athletic Football club stadium.