Agenda item

(a)   Question from Mr Chris Nowak to Councillor Chris McGuinness, Cabinet Member for Communities, Voluntary Sector and the Environment:-

“On March 17th last year Councillor Glyn Jones told me:-

‘The Council remains committed to ensuring that the people of Doncaster are not unduly impacted by the actions of an anti-social few.’

However this commitment has not been enough.  As I predicted at the Council meeting I attended 12 months ago, I am asking the same question.

Why is fly tipping of household waste still happening on a regular basis in the alleyways behind houses in Hexthorpe and other areas?

It seems the Council is happy to clean up the mess but not take positive action to stop it.”

(A)      Question from Mr. C. J. Nowak to Councillor Chris McGuinness, Cabinet Member for Communities, Voluntary Sector and the Environment:-

“On March 17th last year, Councillor Glyn Jones told me:-

‘The Council remains committed to ensuring that the people of Doncaster are not unduly impacted by the actions of an anti-social few.’

However, this commitment has not been enough.  As I predicted at the Council meeting I attended 12 months ago, I am asking the same question.

Why is fly-tipping of household waste still happening on a regular basis in the alleyways behind houses in Hexthorpe and other areas?

It seems the Council is happy to clean up the mess, but not take positive action to stop it.”

Councillor Chris McGuinness gave the following response:-

“Doncaster Council does not, and never has, permitted or condoned fly-tipping.  Fly-tipping is a national issue and something that blights both rural and urban areas of Doncaster.  As an Authority, we have taken a range of steps to provide advice and guidance to residents in affected areas, on the correct/legal means of waste disposal, especially in areas such as Hexthorpe where we have had a more transient population.  However, there continues to be instances of fly-tipping throughout the Borough and some of this is linked to organised crime.  We continue to work with partner agencies and South Yorkshire Police to address such activities. 

From an enforcement perspective, we have and continue to use a range of approaches and powers; these include:-

•   Inspection of fly-tipped waste to identify the source(s);

•   Installation of CCTV, overt and covert, to identify those responsible;

•   Officers undertaking regular inspections of known hotspots, Borough-wide, to identify issues and problems;

•   Ongoing engagement with landlords and residents about legal means of waste disposal as part of the Selective Licensing Scheme and general advice/guidance;

•   Additional funding through the Safer Streets Programme has been secured to install additional CCTV, improved street lighting and alley gates, to prevent anti-social behaviour, including fly-tipping; and

•   Multi-agency operations to tackle fly-tipping; waste carrier permit enforcement.

I think I should point out that through our Communications Team, we have reminded Doncaster residents repeatedly and will continue to do so, that under the duty of care, residents should check whether the carriers they are handing their waste to, are licensed carriers.  If the waste is traced back to the household, the household could receive a Fixed Penalty and that tends to take some people by surprise, but we will continue to issue Fixed Penalties to people we trace.

The 2020 Enforcement figures, Borough-wide are:-

•   8 successful prosecutions completed and 21 waiting to be heard;

•   73 Fixed Penalty Notices issued; and

•   2 vehicles have been seized and one has been crushed recently.

I should point out that if people know of anyone or who have heard of anyone who is waiting to be interviewed, or is waiting for a date to appear in Court, and it has been some considerable time due to Covid that they have not heard, there is no time limit and they will be hearing from the Council.

I hope that some of this gives you some assurances that the Council continues to take fly-tipping seriously and will continue to do so in the future.  As part of the ongoing budget process at present, which will be resolved in the coming weeks, Officers have been asked to cost out a number of options to provide further resources, including staff and equipment, to both fly-tipping investigations and enforcement processes.  Those details will come before Full Council as part of the Budget process in the next few meetings, and will need to be approved by Full Council.

I hope that is an answer that gives you some assurance.”

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.10, Mr. Nowak asked Councillor Chris McGuinness, the following supplementary question:-

“Thank you for the reply to my question.

In October last year, the Council approved £547,164 grant funding from the Office of PCC for the Home Office Safer Streets Fund, in order to deliver a project in Hexthorpe.  It has been mentioned about the Safer Streets Fund in your reply to install additional CCTV and improve lighting, and alley gates.  When will this be done, is it happening now and what areas will it be done in?”

Councillor Chris McGuinness gave the following reply:-

“The Safer Streets Fund was only approved in recent months.  A programme of works is in place, the equipment is on order and the CCTV and other things will start happening in the coming weeks and months.”