Agenda item - Graffiti Reduction Strategy Update

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

1)           That the committee notes the Graffiti Reduction Action Plan as detailed in Appendix 1.

2)           That the committee agrees for City Environment to proceed with the public consultation on the proposed approach to graffiti enforcement and removal, as set out in Appendix 2.

12.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that set out the Graffiti Reduction action plan and sought approval to undertake public consultation on the approach for graffiti enforcement and removal.

12.2      Councillor Moonan welcomed the report noting the issue was an important one for the city. Councillor Moonan observed that the George Street mural had been very effective at preventing graffiti. Councillor Moonan stated that she welcomed the use of the community payback team in the Strategy and suggested that it would be beneficial for other community groups to become involved in the creation of murals.

12.3      The Assistant Director, City Environmental Management stated that other community groups could certainly be involved in the creation of murals and that was something that had begun to be facilitated through the Phoenix Arts Centre who had recently created a mural on the Phoenix Estate.

12.4      Councillor West welcomed the actions detailed at paragraph 3.11 however, he was concerned that the council would not be able to enforce graffiti reduction if it could not maintain graffiti removal from its own buildings as described at paragraph 3.4. Councillor West expressed his concern that the budget allocated may not be sufficient.

12.5      The Assistant Director, City Environmental Management clarified that eleven additional street cleaning staff had been recruited and consideration was being given about how best to deploy that additional resource as well as maximising the existing resource.

12.6      Councillor Lloyd stated noted that it was proposed that homeowners would be fined for graffiti on their property which was a potential matter of concern, particularly in graffiti hotspots and asked if there would be any distinguishing on the basis of wealth, income or property type.

12.7      The Assistant Director, City Environmental Management explained that fines would be the last resort with the prioritisation being an educational approach and an understanding of resident’s individual circumstances. The consultation would hopefully provide more clarification on the broad range of views and the committee would be able to decide the best course of action when those results were presented to a future meeting.

12.8      Councillor Wares stated that he was pleased to see that progress was being made on the issue of graffiti. In reference to paragraph 3.3, Councillor Wares enquired as to what the circumstances would be that a person would not be fined if they were caught in the act of graffitiing.

12.9      The Assistant Director, City Environmental Management explained that this may apply to minors in which case, the matter would be reported to the Police and on a case by case determination as to whether the offence qualified as a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) or whether it was a Police matter, particularly for instances of repeat offending.

12.10   Councillor Wares asked how the consultation would be undertaken.

12.11   The Assistant Director, City Environmental Management answered that the council’s online consultation portal would be used, and it would be promoted through a variety of methods including social media, press releases, communication through residents’ groups, housing noticeboards and ward councillors, an approach that had been successful for similar consultations.

12.12   Councillor Wares stated that advertisement in schools and parent networks could be another route to raise the profile of the consultation.  Councillor Wares stated that he was uncomfortable with fining the victims of crime and expressed his concern of the council’s moral authority when the council could not clear graffiti on its own property. Councillor Wares stated that the consultation report should be clear about these issues.

12.13   RESOLVED-

1)           That the committee notes the Graffiti Reduction Action Plan as detailed in Appendix 1.

2)           That the committee agrees for City Environment to proceed with the public consultation on the proposed approach to graffiti enforcement and removal, as set out in Appendix 2.