Decision details

The Community Services Manager introduced the report and advised the policy would aid transparency on how the need for new litter bins in the district are assessed and decided to ensure resources would be appropriately distributed. Litter control volunteers had been consulted in the production of the plan including Mr Torrington who had previously asked a public question at the December 2021 Committee.

The Community Services Manager responded to Members questions with the following answers:

• Sometimes SDC ask litter control volunteers to place collected waste by litter bins for the street cleansing teams to collect. However, there is an ongoing issue of residual waste being left by householders. Trials are to be undertaken on the A38, where wheelie bin covers will be used to limit the material size that could be placed through the lid.
• Councillors and public needed to report to SDC where there was persistent overflowing of litter bins to allow for street cleansing rounds and frequency to be re-evaluated based on resource need.
• New recycling bins being introduced into market towns that incorporated general waste, paper and card and dry mix recycling. There were increased costs with these bin types and collection is not easy due to the needs to keep waste and recycling separate on the vehicle.
• SDC have a statutory duty to keep public highway and SDC controlled land free of litter. One measure is the use of litter bins. Currently a small number of historic arrangements for litter bin collections, exist outside of these parameters. However, going forward SDC would look to align all decisions, as per the policy.
• Continuation of engagement with national coffee chains and supermarkets would be fundamental.

Proposed by Councillor Layfield and seconded by Councillor Sutton.

Cllr Kay shared his appreciation and gave thanks for the inclusion of an equality impact assessment as part of the report. Councillor Layfield echoed Councillor Kays comments.

On being put to the vote, the Motion was carried unanimously.