Agenda item

SHorne took the report as read and highlighted the improvements made to a number of indicators compared to last year, including on fly-tipping removal and missed bin collections. SHorne also noted the amount of partnership work with schools and third sector organisations. It was also noted that the Regulatory Services team are now back on target following Covid for inspections and continue to perform well for investigations into fly-tipping and waste crime.

Cllr Guest referred to paragraph 2.4 of the report regarding the percentage of fly-tips collected within a set timescale of 7 days. Cllr Guest noted that she was contacted by a constituent this year to state that they had reported a fly-tip in Chaulden Lane two months ago and it is still there. Cllr Guest suggested that the 7-day target needs to be worked on. Cllr Guest next looked to paragraph 2.5 of the report on graffiti removal and asked if obscene or racist graffiti remains a priority.

SHorne stated that obscene or racist graffiti should still be a priority for removal and has a removal timescale of 24 hours. SHorne noted that a reference number is provided for all reports and that if a reference number is provided then any issues can be investigated.

Cllr Guest commented on partnership working under paragraph 3.4 of the report and the work with Butterfly Conservation. Cllr Guest asked if further work is being done with Butterfly Conservation on the chalk bank in Spring Fields. It was noted that work is ongoing with Butterfly Conservation on a number of spaces and that this can be checked.

The Chair noted that SHorne was not in post when the issue at Chaulden Lane was first reported and Cllr Guest confirmed that she would email SHorne separately to provide an update.

ACTION: To confirm with Committee if the Council is working with Butterly Conservation on the chalk bank at Spring Fields.

ACTION: To provide an update on fly-tipping issue at Chaulden Lane to SHorne. (Cllr Guest)

Cllr Gale commented on page 22 of the report and noted the 12.1% percent increase in household recycling from the preceding year and the decrease in the reports of missed bins, and the councillor queried how this was achieved.

SHorne advised that the focus has been on how the waste service can perform more efficiently through systems and processes, so they should see continuous improvement. JMooteealoo added that there has been an upgrade in the Bartec system that is used for waste services. On garden waste, the wet summer has resulted in increased garden growth and other partners have seen a similar increase in garden waste.

Cllr Bromham noted the continuous progress made due to the optimisation of waste collection and the introduction of the Bartec system, which provides faster feedback on any issues. Cllr Bromham advised that the intention is to continue to improve systems.

Cllr Santamaria referred to the work to improve the River Gade and asked if a report or update could be provided from the Environment Agency on their proposal.

SHorne noted that the Environment Agency is currently looking at business planning and that once an update has been received, an update can be provided to the Committee, though the plan will not proceed until the budget has been approved. The Chair recommended that it be added to the work programme to invite a member from the Environment Agency to provide an update.

ACTION: To provide update from Environment Agency regarding proposal on River Gade. (SHorne)

ACTION: To add inviting a member from the Environment Agency to a future meeting to provide an update on River Gade. (LFowell)

Cllr Timmis commented on fly-tipping and asked if the 486 incidents is an increase or decrease. Cllr Timmis then looked to item 3.6 in the report and noted the comment that fines are increasing up to £50,000 and suggested that this would be more of a deterrent than current fines being applied. Cllr Timmis stated that she hoped CCTV could be used more in future to help catch fly-tippers.

EWalker advised that fines are issued by courts and that the Council does not have direct control over this. There are sentencing guidelines in place and the fly-tipping partnership group have been lobbying government to get these changed, though this has been unsuccessful to date. EWalker explained that there is now a new government Anti-Social Behaviour plan that has looked at fly-tipping FPNs and has increased the maximum that councils are now allowed to charge. EWalker noted that current fines for fly-tipping are £400 and that there is the option to increase this.

On the number of fly-tipping incidents, EWalker confirmed that this would be confirmed on whether it is an increase or decrease.

Regarding the use of CCTV, EWalker noted that this has been particularly successful in Watling ward, though one of the covert cameras was stolen in the last quarter. EWalker confirmed that more cameras have been purchased and that court permission has to be sought before they are installed, though they have always been granted permission. EWalker advised that they have been successful in their use of cameras with a number of prosecutions made and it was noted that Dacorum take more enforcement against fly-tippers than most other authorities within Hertfordshire. EWalker acknowledged that it is not possible to prosecute all fly-tippers and that cameras have limitations, particularly when fly-tipping is done by foot as it is more difficult to identify people.

ACTION: To confirm if the number of fly-tipping incidents have increased or decreased. (EWalker)

Cllr Timmis commented on the River Gade, River Bulbourne and River Ver, all of which have chalk streams, and asked if pressure would be put on the Environment Agency to look at these streams. Cllr Timmis noted that there have been reports regarding the River Ver that Thames Water have been allowing sewage overspill. The Chair suggested that this be raised when then Environment Agency attends a future meeting.

Cllr Timmis asked if it would be possible to extend the time that green bins are collected given how popular the service has been. JMooteealoo confirmed that he would look at the costs of extending the service.

ACTION: To provide update on cost impact of extending green bin collection service. (JMooteealoo)

Cllr England noted that there is an environmental campaign that states leaves are not litter and should not be cleared away. Cllr Timmis suggested that this be discussed further outside of the meeting.

A comment was raised on enforcement and it was noted that Dacorum has issued almost a quarter of all recording local authority FPNs in Hertfordshire. It was asked if more FPNs are issued due to there being more fly-tipping incidents in Dacorum. EWalker confirmed that this is due to the team being more successful at identifying culprits compared to other authorities due to investing in CCTV cameras.

The Chair noted that small groups of councillors are invited to shadow investigative work regarding fly-tipping.

Cllr Pringle asked if compensation applications and confiscation of vehicles has been explored. EWalker confirmed that vehicles have been confiscated in the past and that compensation costs for legal and clearing expenses are claimed for all cases. EWalker noted that this is reinvested back into CCTV, though a number of cameras have been stolen over recent years.

Cllr Williams noted that he has reported around 10 fly-tipping incidents this month and, with the exception of the 2 reported yesterday, all were cleared within 7 days. Cllr Williams thanked the team for their efficiency.

Cllr Williams referred back to recycling rates and remarked on the figure of 45% quoted for last year, noting that they have been consistently above 50% in recent years. Cllr Williams asked if councillors could be sent the quarterly figures for the last 3 years as a comparison.

ACTION: To provide quarterly figures for recycling rates over the past 3 years