Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Public Realm.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at its meeting on 17 June 2014 and its comments will be reported.

The report of the Assistant Director Public Realm was submitted, seeking Member approval to create an Enforcement Team for off street parking, illegal encampments, litter and dogs from existing staff resources.

Two Members expressed serious concerns regarding the cut in resources and the subsequent consequence of a reduction in the Enforcement Team. They stated that they could not support this proposal.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment, Health and Wellbeing endorsed the recommendation stating that, in light of the budget position, the proposal enabled a cohesive approach to enforcement issues to maintain the standard of community safety whilst protecting important revenue streams.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at its meeting on 17 June 2014 and the comments of the Members were noted.

RESOLVED that the creation of an Enforcement Team of five Full Time Employees from the current four Community Patrollers and the Environmental Enforcement resource to focus on statutory and business critical enforcement work be approved.

(In accordance with Standing Order no.43, Councillor Fullam and Leadbetter requested that their vote against this recommendation be recorded)

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Public Realm.

The Assistant Director Public Realm presented the report seeking approval to create an Enforcement Team for off street parking, illegal encampments, litter and dogs from existing staff resources. Reasons for a new team were:-

• reduced capacity and resilience as a result of previous budget savings;
• transfer of parking and enforcement staff to Devon County Council; and
• to ensure budget discipline in respect of illegal camping issues.

A Member expressed regret that a Task and Finish Group had not been established in June 2013 to examine some of these issues. The reduction in the out-of-hour service was of particular concern. As noise and anti-social behaviour were significant problems in certain areas of the City he did not feel that the previous re-assurances he had received would be adequately addressed by the measures proposed and the new system being established.

Other Members expressed the view that the City Council was increasingly taking on responsibilities of other bodies without appropriate recompense.

Scrutiny Committee - Community supported the report and requested Executive  to approve the establishment of an Enforcement Team of five FTE’s to be created from the current four Community Patrollers and the Environment Enforcement resource to focus on statutory and business critical enforcement work.