Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director (DB).

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 14 June 2018 and its comments will be reported.

The Service Manager Community Safety and Enforcement presented the report on introducing the Clear Streets Charter for Exeter.  The Charter sets out how Exeter City Council and Devon County Council proposed to work together to ensure that the built environment of the City, was as safe and obstacle free as possible.

Members welcomed the development of this Charter acknowledging the adverse impact that pavement clutter had on those affected by sight loss or mobility problems.

In response to Member’s questions, the Service Manager Community Safety and Enforcement clarified that Place Scrutiny Committee would receive updates on the implementation of the Charter.

The Environmental Health and Licensing Manager clarified the position with regard to the difficulties of commercial waste collection and A-board enforcement which was a Devon County Council function. 

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 14 June 2018 and its comments were reported.

RESOLVED that Clear Streets Charter be supported.

To consider the report of the Director of Place.

Councillor Owen attended the meeting Under Standing Order 44.

The Director (DB) presented a report and proposed the introduction of a Clear Streets Charter for Exeter.  The Charter would demonstrate the commitment of Exeter City Council and Devon County Council to work together to ensure that the built environment of the City, was as safe as possible for everyone but in particular those affected by sight loss or mobility problems. 

Councillor Owen welcomed the ethos and aims of the Charter and referred to his past involvement as a Portfolio Holder.  He commented on his experiences with representatives from the Royal National Institute for the Blind, which had included a ‘blind tour’, when he became acutely aware of the potential hazards on the city’s footpaths.  Exeter City Council had a responsibility to consider such issues during all planning, decision making and operational tasks including licensing, and refuse collection. However the management of ensuring that the streets remained free of temporary obstacles and obstructions fell to the Highway Authority. He had also accompanied a Local Highway Officer visiting local businesses to offer advice or seek the removal from any obstruction and there were occasions when there was a level of challenge. He hoped that the Charter would offer the necessary support.

The Director responded to a number of Members’ comments including:-

• noting the suggestion that street bollards could emit an alarm on approach or be individually decorated to improve their visibility as part of a sponsorship with local businesses. The Director advised that he would look into the suggestions.
• parking on footways was difficult to enforce under existing legislation but following new legislation in Scotland, where enforcement is proposed for any motorist parking on pavements, it may be only a matter of time before this was taken up in the rest of the UK.  He thanked a Member for some background information on Section 30 of the Exeter City Council Act 1987, prohibiting parking vehicles on verges, central reservations and footways in a number of Exeter’s streets.
• the Charter set out the need to proactively encourage residents to consider how they presented their bins and the responsibility for the bins to be replaced back on the property where possible. He did refer to enforcement action and education which could be used for individuals who repeatedly left their bins out on the city’s pavements.
• the Charter had to progress through Devon County Council’s Committee cycle, before it could be signed and enacted.

The Director requested a Member to forward the details of an issue of overgrown vegetation in a back alley so that ownership and responsibility for maintenance could be established.

Place Scrutiny Committee requested that Executive fully support the Clear Streets Charter and its aims.