Issue - meetings

On a motion from Councillor Grant Johnson, seconded by Councillor Robin Moss, it was

RESOLVED unanimouslythat

Council notes that:

1.  Bath Live and the Bath Chronicle have launched a campaign to Clean Up Bath;

2.  The actions of the Council’s contractors, 3GS, in fining a resident £150 for feeding pigeons have resulted in national interest in the way in which this Council addresses the problem of litter;

3.  There is widespread concern about litter among communities not only in Bath but also in North East Somerset and that residents would like to see action taken.

This Council believes that:

4.  The Clean Up Bath campaign is to be welcomed. Responsibility for keeping our streets, playgrounds and parks clean rests with us all. However, this Council must accept that it has a lead role in addressing littering;

5.  Any action taken to tackle littering must be proportionate.

Council resolves therefore:

6.  To ask the Climate Change and Sustainability Policy Development and Scrutiny to undertake a full review into littering in Bath and North East Somerset This review should assess the scale of the problem and identify a range of measures that could help to eliminate litter from our area including:

a.  Working with businesses to ensure that they are not encouraging the feeding of gulls;

b.  Investigating ways of reducing littering in parks, whether by providing more recycling and waste facilities or encouraging visitors to our parks to be more responsible with their litter;

c.  Promoting the Green Flag award which sets the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces;

d.  Promoting the formation of Friends of Parks to help improve public opens spaces in the context of diminishing Council resources;

e.  Investigating what more the Council can do to support and encourage existing and new community anti-litter groups;

f.  Investigating the potential for a competition to identify the cleanest street, park and playground in Bath and North East Somerset; and

g.  Continuing to review the working of 3GS to ensure that it is meeting the requirements of its contract with Bath and North East Somerset Council and that its enforcement action is proportionate and is focused on the issues of greatest concern to the public.

[Notes:

1.  The successful resolution above contains wording changes proposed as an amendment by Councillor David Wood, seconded by Councillor Sue Craig, which was accepted into the substantive by the mover and seconder.]