Deputy Leader - Neighbourhood, Environmental and Communities Cabinet Member - Minutes - 9 April 2008

32 (32) WASTE AND RECYCLING CONTAINER PROVISION – The Service Director Neighbourhood and Environment submitted a report seeking agreement to amendments to policies relating to the provision of waste and recycling containers to households within North Lincolnshire.

Current policies on the provision of wheeled bin and other waste containers were agreed by the Health and Public Protection Committee of the council in June 1999. When the current policies were adopted, most households were in possession of a single container. The general policy of charging for both new issues and replacements acknowledged the relatively high individual cost of bins at that time.

Changes made to waste and recycling service delivery in the intervening period had prompted a review of the relevant policies, a number of which were no longer appropriate in the current circumstances.

Resolved - That the following policies for waste and recycling container provision be approved:

(a) That new and replacement containers be provided to households free of charge in the standard sizes of 140L for residual waste and organic and plastics/cardboard recyclables, and 38L boxes for glass, cans and newsprint.

(b) That 240L residual waste bins be available in lieu of a 140L container for an additional charge (of £30 inc VAT for 2008/09).

(c) That 240L organic and plastics/cardboard recycling containers be available on demand and free of charge, provided the total capacity in wheeled containers does not exceed 520L or 640L for households of 5 or more persons.

(d) That householders can downsize from a 240L residual container to a new 140L container free of charge.

(e) That existing defective wheeled containers be replaced free of charge on a like for like basis, with an option of a 140L container.

(f) That a larger 360L container for residual waste be loaned to households which contain one or more incontinence sufferers.

(g) That the other existing policies which relate to provision of larger containers and replacement of containers remain unchanged.

33 (33) INTRODUCTION OF ‘SCORE ON THE DOORS’ SCHEME FOR NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE – The Service Director Neighbourhood and Environment submitted a report seeking approval for the introduction of a ‘Scores on the Doors’ scheme for food premises in North Lincolnshire.

The council had a statutory duty to inspect food businesses in its area and to enforce legislation to ensure that the requirements of relevant food law were being met. Food hygiene legislation was aimed at protecting consumers and required the business to comply with minimum standards.

When officers of the Food and Safety Team inspected food businesses they were scored in accordance with the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) national risk rating scheme. This score was used to determine how often a business was inspected. The national scoring system, which related overall risk to inspection frequency, was complex and was not generally conveyed to the public. Assessment of the business by consumers was based upon ‘front of house’ areas, which might not always represent a true reflection of hygiene standards throughout the premises.

The Freedom of information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 provided a right of public access to a range of information held by public authorities. Previously legislation prevented local authorities from releasing information about inspections to the public. Since the introduction of the above legislation, local authorities had received an increasing number of requests for information on hygiene inspections of local food businesses both from local journalists and the public.

The proposed ‘Scores on the Doors’ scheme would use the scores generated by the FSA’s risk assessment scheme to generate a star rating which would be made public. Under the scheme businesses were awarded up to five stars. The higher the standard of compliance the more stars were awarded. Very poor standards could be awarded a no star rating. Business would be provided with a window sticker/certificate for optional display on the premises.

It was proposed to launch the scheme during National Food Safety Week which would be 9 – 13 June 2008 as this would provide a raised level of awareness and increased local exposure.

Resolved – (a) That approval be given for the adoption of the ‘Scores on the Doors’ scheme and (b) that the scheme be launched on 9 June 2008 to coincide with National Food Safety Week.

34 (34) LAUNCH OF AIR QUALITY WEBSITE FOR NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE – The Service Director Neighbourhood and Environment submitted a report for consideration of the launch of the new air quality web site in order to raise the profile of air quality issues.

In 2005 after significant expansion of the air quality monitoring network in North Lincolnshire and operational difficulties with existing analysers the council sought to harmonise the way in which data from the numerous different systems was collected, managed, ratified and retained on a day to day basis.

The website project involved colleagues from IT and was funded by a successful air quality grant from DEFRA to the value of £32,000. A financial contribution was also received from the Environment Agency and a number of local companies.

The web site www.nlincsair.info was completed in January 2008 and was recently made available to the public but without a formal launch.

Resolved – (a) That the North Lincolnshire air quality web site be formally launched with a press release and public relations involvement, and (b) that a briefing and ‘hands on’ access session be held for elected members and senior officers.

35 (35) ANNUAL REVIEW OF FEES AND CHARGES – The Service Director Neighbourhood and Environment submitted a report seeking approval for the level of fees and charges for the financial year 2008/09 for services provided by Neighbourhood and Environmental Services.

Neighbourhood and Environmental Services provided a wide range of services, some of which were rechargeable to members of the public and the local business community.

The proposed fees and charges were set out in the report. All charges were inclusive of VAT where this applied.

Resolved – That the schedule of Neighbourhood and Environmental fees and charges for the financial year 2008/09 attached to the report be approved.

36 (36) CREATION OF MOBILE PARK KEEPERS – The Service Director Neighbourhood and Environment submitted a report seeking approval to create two Mobile Park Attendants within Streetscene and Landscapes, Neighbourhood Services.

North Lincolnshire parks and open spaces were maintained to a high standard resulting in the council being successful in gaining green flag status for two parks in Scunthorpe at Kingsway Gardens and Sheffield Park.

The parks and open spaces were kept looking at their best by dedicated teams of skilled craftmen gardeners. Nevertheless, it was increasingly difficult to deter anti social behaviour and general misbehaviour in some parks that had no permanent personnel working in them.

In the past, councils throughout Great Britain employed park keepers to help manage the parks and inform the public of events and field general enquiries. They were able to deal with situations at the time and could pass on information to relevant authorities should the need arise.

The implementation of park attendants would enable the work invested within parks, particularly the status of the Green Flag parks, to be maintained and restrict anti social behaviour within the boundaries of parks and open spaces. It was intended to deploy a vehicle suitably equipped to transfer the park attendants around the area so they could cover all the areas on a cyclic basis.

Resolved – (a) That the implementation of a mobile park keeper service as set out in the report and appendix be endorsed, and (b) that the report be referred to the Corporate Services Cabinet Member for approval.

37 (37) FOOD AND SAFETY TEAM – EXTENSION OF SMOKEFREE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER POST – The Service Director Neighbourhood and Environment submitted a report seeking approval for the three month extension of the post of Smoke Free Enforcement Officer.

The council approved the creation of the 12-month temporary post of Environmental Health Officer with responsibility for Smoke Free Enforcement in April 2007. The post was filled in May 2007. Funding was provided by the Department of Health with a grant of £68,340. The post became vacant on the 11 February 2008.

The Department of Health had confirmed that surplus funds from 2007/08 (£5,700) could be carried forward into 2008/09. The balance of extending the post for a three-month period could be funded from Food and Safety budget vacancy management savings.

The post had been instrumental in engaging with business and the public delivering an information campaign and has been successful in implementing a business friendly introduction to the new legislation.

Resolved - That the extension of the post of Environmental Health Officer with responsibility for Smoke Free Legislation for three months from the date of appointment be supported.

38 (38) ANIMAL WELFARE ACT 2006 – The Service Director Neighbourhood and Environment submitted a report informing the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood, Environment and Communities that the Animal Welfare Act received Royal Assent on 8 November 2006 and had now come into force, and seeking authority to appoint officers within Trading Standards, Communities and Environment and Licensing as Inspectors in accordance with section 52 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

A report was presented to the Licensing Committee on 27 March 2007, detailing the provisions contained in the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which received Royal Assent on 8 November 2006.

Animal welfare issues were currently dealt with by officers in Neighbourhood and Environmental Services, in Licensing, Trading Standards and Communities and Environment. The Licensing Division licensed and regulated activities which included, animal boarding establishments, dog breeding, dangerous wild animals and pet shops. Trading Standards enforced Animal Health legislation to prevent and control disease in farm animals and ensure the welfare of the animals on the farm, in transport and at markets. It also enforced the provisions of the Performing Animals Act and Rabies legislation. Communities and Environment had responsibility for the Dog Wardens.

Section 51 of the Act created the role of Inspector. Inspectors would have a number of enforcement powers under the act. In order to make use of these powers, the appropriate officers within Trading Standards and Communities and Environment needed to be authorised as inspectors.

Resolved – That the report be submitted to full Council for the appropriate delegations.

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