Agenda item

Questions to the Portfolio Holder for Direct & Trading Services

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Direct & Trading Services presented a report updating the Committee on recent achievements and challenges ahead. Some of the challenges ahead surrounded behavioural changes around recycling, fly tipping and dog fouling. Recent achievements were enforcement action against fly tipping and the other work carried out by the Environmental Enforcement Officer, an extensive maintenance programme had been undertaken on car parks. New refuse freighters would include the slogan ‘see you next week’.

 

The Portfolio Holder responded to Members’ questions. 

 

Members were advised that in regards to parking appeals they were still waiting to hear back from the TPT to advise the number of successful appeals. Bradbourne car park would be opening on Monday 10 April 2017 and sales of season tickets were taking place.  Petitions that were received by the Sevenoaks Joint Transportation Board (JTB) could take over 1 year to be implemented, unless there were substantial safety concerns where they would then be prioritised. Review of parking restrictions could also be brought to the JTB. Direct Services itself employed more than 100 Members of staff on refuse collection, street cleaning, vehicle maintenance and other cleansing services.

 

The Portfolio Holder responded to questions informing Members that the introduction of Safer School Parking zones was to strengthen enforcement against those parking inconsiderately around schools. Kent County Council were supportive of the scheme however it was important that the schools were also in support. The Council employed 7 Civil Enforcement Officers, which was a limited resource as they also had to be deployed elsewhere across the District.

 

When asked about the Pest Control service being brought into profitability, the Portfolio Holder advised that an action plan had been implemented after an informal tender exercise. The service had now fully covered its costs for the last two years.

 

In response to questions Members were advised that the CCTV control room would not be expanding however two awards had been won and one of them was for the innovation of joint partnership working. Unless Members were minded to change the way the service was provided then a manned CCTV control room would continue. The CCTV control room was maintained within budget and there were no recuperation costs from the Police, only for airwaves and streaming costs.

 

Members asked questions about the dog fouling initiative. The Portfolio Holder advised that DNA of the dogs would be stored and therefore dog fouling samples could be traceable to the owners. Dog fouling was a reputational issue and could have significant health issue for residents. Although the scheme would not completely solve the problem, by tracing the owners and fining them it could improve the perception of the Council’s efforts and provide value for money.

 

When asked about the profitability of Direct Services, the Portfolio Holder advised that Direct Services should return a surplus of approximately £200,000 in 2016/17; that the garden waste service provided over £400,000 worth of income and services such as trade waste collection and cesspool emptying returned a net surplus. In response to further questions in regards to parking, Members were informed that there was no formal way of logging parking problems on the website, apart from reporting abandoned vehicles. Contact details for the parking team were available, and they should be contacted with parking problems.

 

In response to a question Members were advised that Oriental chestnut gall wasp issues continued. Costs to date were at £60,000 however some of the expenditure would be reclaimed from Timber sales, unfortunately the infestation had already spread to neighbouring sites. The Chestnut trees that had been coppiced would grow again. The Portfolio Holder advised that information regarding Night Flights in connection with Gatwick airport would be circulated.

 

          Action 1: Night Flights consultation response be circulated.

 

Members thanked Cllr. Dickins for his attendance.

Supporting documents:

 

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