Agenda item

DECISION: that the minutes of the Walworth Community Council meeting held on June 10 2009 are an accurate record of that meeting.

The chair duly signed the minutes of the above meeting.

Philip Murphy, Area Management and Engagement Team Leader South, submitted the following written feedback to the meeting:

Original question: “Wheely bins are not available in the Surrey Square area of Walworth.  Residents put their black bags out the night before the collection, and foxes, rats and birds prey on the contents.  When the collection takes place a great deal of rubbish is left behind.  The street cleansing team does not sweep the same day.  Officers will not change the timetable to deal with this problem, please help.  There should be a Refuse Strategy as part of the Area Plan.”

Response: “Residents of Surrey Square have a bag collection on Mondays.  They have to put their refuse out for collection between 6pm on Sundays and 6am on Mondays in order to ensure that it is collected.

There has been a problem with some residents putting rubbish out earlier than 6pm on Sundays, and in some cases on Saturdays.  The Council has written to those residents to remind them when rubbish can be left out for collection.  Our Enforcement Team has been made aware of the complaint and will take action if they find evidence of residents putting their refuse out other than at permitted times.

Collection of refuse in black sacks is the favoured method for many local authorities (Richmond and Kensington & Chelsea for example).  Southwark's preference is for refuse to be contained in bins wherever possible, as refuse bags are prone to attack by vermin and wildlife. Unfortunately, there are about 20,000 homes in areas of Southwark that are unsuitable for wheeled bin collections, and Surrey Square is one of these.  Officers visited Surrey Square recently to review the collection arrangements, but concluded that the area is not suitable for wheeled bins, and that bag collections are the only viable option.

Residents have suggested that the refuse collection could be timed for later on Mondays, and that refuse should only be put out on the collection day.  Regrettably, we can't guarantee to collect refuse or recycling during a specified time slot.  Our collection rounds are organised on the basis of completing the collections in the most efficient manner, minimising fuel consumption, miles driven, time and emissions.  We also have to take account of known congestion problems such as those that can occur near schools.  Although many residents will normally get a collection at approximately the same time each week, operational conditions on any given day can affect the time when we provide the service. 

Residents have also suggested that Surrey Square could be provided with underground storage units.  Underground storage has been introduced in some parts of London as part of large regeneration programmes.  If Southwark was ever to introduce of underground storage, this would have to be done as part of a Borough wide strategy, as special collection vehicles are needed.  Aside from the cost of special collection vehicles, introducing underground refuse storage in Surrey Square would be expensive due to the need to excavate the necessary voids and survey and possibly re-route underground services (gas, electricity, waste, sewage). 

With regard to the cleanliness of Surrey Square, the refuse collectors are responsible for clearing any spillage that they cause while carrying out the collection, and Southwark Cleaning pick up litter in Surrey Square on a daily basis.

If you have any further questions please contact Philip Murphy on 020 7525 0814 or e-mail: philip.murphy@southwark.gov.uk”

The following response came in too late to be read out at the meeting. The original enquiry was: ”Is the Council compliant with the Sustainable Communities Act in the consultations it runs?”

Response from Daniel Gilby, Corporate Policy Officer:

“Southwark Council took a number of actions in order to publicise the Sustainable Communities Act and encourage local people to put forward proposals for action by government. The Act itself does not set specific guidelines for how local authorities should consult with local communities, but the Council has taken the following steps to publicise the Act:

·  Held a public meeting on 15th April, run jointly with the Active Citizens Hub, and attended by Local Works (a coalition of over 90 national organisations which is campaigning to promote the use of the Sustainable Communities Act) who gave a presentation about the Act and the type of proposals that could be included. Officers from Southwark Council also explained the process that Southwark Council would be following and how people could get involved.

·  Set up a dedicated page on the Council's website

·  Announced details of the SCA and how to get involved through Community Councils and engagement networks

·  A leaflet and proposal form were distributed through Community Involvement & Development team, area management and other Council staff

·  An article was published in Southwark Life

·  Details of the Act were presented at each of the thematic partnerships which make up the Southwark Alliance, asking them to engage with stakeholders (including any hard to reach groups or communities) and encouraging them to submit proposals

Following the receipt of a number of proposals from the public, a panel was established in accordance with the regulations made under the Act and this panel met to agree which proposals would go forward to the Local Government Association. These proposals were then agreed by Council Assembly, also in accordance with the Act.”