Agenda item

To enable Cabinet to consider the recommendations of the Service Development and Delivery Committee in respect of dog fouling and bin provision.

That the Environmental Portfolio Holder’s response was endorsed.

Cabinet was informed that, at its meeting held on 19 September 2016, the Environmental Services Technical Officer, Mr Hamlet, had given the Service Development and Delivery Committee, an overview of the services currently offered by his team in relation to dog fouling in Tendring.

Mr Hamlet had informed Members that the Council had two designated dog wardens that covered the whole of the District and that they could issue a fixed penalty notice to any dog-fouling or littering offenders. He had also mentioned that other authorised Officers, including himself, had the ability to issue Fixed Penalty Notices. Mr Hamlet had informed the Committee that there were approximately 1,200 litter bins around the District and that wrapped or bagged dog waste could also be put in the normal black waste bins. 

Mr Hamlet had said that the street sweeping contract also had a dog waste disposal machine called “Faeces Intake Disposal Operation” (FIDO) which could collect dog waste on grassed areas such as the Greensward and other grassed areas and playing fields.  Finally, Mr Hamlet had reported that By-Laws were in place for certain fenced-off play areas and that that a Public Space Protection Order could be used in the future to make it a lot easier to enforce and protect sensitive areas such as children’s play areas.

There had been a general discussion amongst Members about the different services undertaken by Essex County Council, Tendring District Council, and Town and Parish Councils, including grass cutting and street cleaning. It was noted that there was some overlap and that there might be opportunities to improve efficiencies and save funds.

The Service Development and Delivery Committee had agreed to recommend to Cabinet that:

(a)        That the relevant Officers work with the Council’s Communications Manager to compose a press release reminding residents of the number of litter bins the Council provided and that they could be used for bagged dog waste and that the press release should include details of the number of Fixed Penalty Notices that had been issued regarding dog fouling;

(b)        That the relevant Officers produce a schedule for the Faeces Intake Disposal Operation (FIDO) which would state when and where FIDO would be in operation and that the schedule should be placed on the Council’s website;

(c)        That an information sharing forum be created to include Members from the Council, County Council and Town and Parish Councils, to discuss topics affecting them, such as street sweeping, dog fouling and waste bin provision, in order to promote the co-ordination of activities and promote best practice; and

(d)        That the relevant group look at incorporating dog fouling within the new Open Space Public By-law.

The Environment Portfolio Holder had considered the Service Development and had responded as follows:-

“The Portfolio Holder for Environment has confirmed that he is very happy with the report of the Service and Development Committee and its recommendations to Cabinet.”

Having considered the recommendations of the Service Development and Delivery Committee and the Portfolio Holder’s response thereto:-

It was moved by Councillor Talbot, seconded by Councillor Watling and RESOLVED that the Environment Portfolio Holder’s response be endorsed.