Issue - items at meetings - Communal Refuse Collection in Hanover, Elm Grove and The Triangle Areas

Report of the Strategic Director, Place (copy attached).

1.     That the Committee notes the outcome of the consultation in the Hanover area which is inconclusive.  Recommendations for this scheme will be brought to a later committee meeting pending the outcome of a public meeting.

2.         That the Committee approves the implementation of communal refuse collection in the Lewes Road Triangle area as set out in Appendix 3, with the exception of Park Crescent and Park Crescent Terrace.

49.1         The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director, Place regarding the results of the consultation on communal refuse collection in the Hanover, Elm Grove and Triangle areas and proposed recommendations based on the results.

49.2         The Chair stated that the benefits of communal refuse for improving street cleanliness and reducing pavement clutter were well accepted.

The results from the Hanover consultation were inconclusive, and ward members had agreed to hold a public meeting to hear views on revised proposals

            Residents of the Lewes Road Triangle had given a clear indication in support of a scheme, and the proposal was to go ahead with a scheme but not including Park Crescent and Park Crescent Terrace.

As a ward Councillor for the Triangle he was very pleased with the proposal as a way forward on reducing the impact of waste had been sought for many years.

49.3         Councillor Mitchell asked if a public meeting would be an appropriate forum to gather sufficient feedback.

49.4         The Head of Projects and Strategy replied this would not be known until the meeting was held. He added that there was some confusion over the location of bins and the next course which he hoped would be resolved.

49.5         The Chair supplemented that the meeting would assist in potentially finding better locations for communal refuse bins. Ward councilors for the area had also been eager to hold a public meeting.

49.6         Councillor Pissaridou noted that this was the fourth consultation undertaken in the Hanover area and each one had created some element of confusion. She stated her concern that the council’s consultation process was not robust enough.

49.7         The Chair replied that the council had a good record on consultations in general and this was constantly improving.

49.8         Councillor Deane stated that she welcomed the report and the flexibility therein which took account that a ‘one size fits all’ approach could not be applied.

49.9         As ward councillor for the Hanover area, Councillor Wakefield noted that the consultations had been very close. She believed it was fair to hold a public meeting on the issue and that rubbish and clutter had become a serious concern.

49.10    RESOLVED-

1.     That the Committee notes the outcome of the consultation in the Hanover area which is inconclusive.  Recommendations for this scheme will be brought to a later committee meeting pending the outcome of a public meeting.

2.         That the Committee approves the implementation of communal refuse collection in the Lewes Road Triangle area as set out in Appendix 3, with the exception of Park Crescent and Park Crescent Terrace.