Two new measures to improve the look and feel of the city are being discussed by councillors at tomorrow’s Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee.
If agreed, the measures will allow for more effective responses to deal with persistent flyposters and bins left obstructing pavements where a property has adequate and easily accessible outside storage space.
Our consultation about action to tackle household waste and recycling bins and boxes obstructing pavements followed an increase in complaints about the issue
The aim is to improve accessibility across the city and tackle bins and boxes blocking the pavements, a particular issue for anyone with mobility problems, using a wheelchair or pushing a buggy.
We had 770 responses to the consultation, with almost 70% of respondents in support of introducing action to tackle bins and boxes causing a problem.
The proposed 3-stage process would begin with a visit from our Environmental Enforcement Officers to a property reported to us to check if a bin or box left on the pavement is causing an obstruction or nuisance, and if there’s adequate space to store elsewhere.
If we consider bins are causing a problem, we’d write to residents telling them how they should store their bins and boxes between collections and asking them to move them.
If the advice is ignored, a second warning letter will be sent, which could result in a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) being issued if the request is not complied with. FPNs will only be issued where the first two stages have not resolved the problem.
It’s important to note that we’ll be taking a proportionate approach with this measure. But where residents have the space, access and ability to store bins and boxes causing a nuisance off the street, they must.
We do acknowledge that some households only have the option to store bins and boxes on the highway.
Following feedback to the consultation, we amended the proposal to remove any expectation for residents to need to take bins or boxes to rear gardens where the only access is through the house.
Flyposting is putting up posters or sticker on properties, lampposts, telephone boxes or other structures on the streets, without consent.
Flyposting and stickering is a recurring problem which has a detrimental effect on the city’s public realm. It’s unsightly and cost the city thousands each year to remove.
The consultation focussed on the proposal to introduce Community Protection Warnings (CPWs) and Community Protection Notices (CPNs) to help us reduce the amount of flyposting and stickering in Brighton & Hove.
This will allow us to tackle individuals and organisations and advertisers responsible for illegal flyposting, with the key focus on those who use it for commercial gain.
This will be a more effective enforcement process than the current option of issuing FPNs to anyone who’s seen flyposting, which has very limited success.
We’re proposing to extend the use of CPWs and CPNs across the city to help us reduce the amount of flyposting and stickering in Brighton & Hove.
If approved, the process will involve issuing a CPW to an individual, business or organisation suspected of causing the problem. This will ask them to take reasonable steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
If the behaviour persists a CPN will be issued and, if the recipient fails to stick to this, the council may take further action such as issuing a Fixed Penalty Notice or court order.
Councillor Jamie Lloyd, Deputy Chair of the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee, said:
“We need to cut down the number of bins and boxes left out longer than they need to be to make sure pavements are clear and accessible for everyone.
“People with disabilities or pushing buggies shouldn’t have to walk into the road because pavements are blocked by bins left out longer than they need to be.
“Taking actions against bins and boxes left out unnecessarily left out is also an important part of improving the look and feel of the city
“We recognise it’s not possible everywhere and that will always be a consideration.
“However, there are many streets in the city where bins don’t need to be left out and removing them will make a great difference to the public realm, particularly in terms of accessibility.
“We’re also very keen to have a more effective way of tackling illegal flyposting and stickering. It’s not only a blight on the environment but very costly to clean up, especially at the rate it currently reappears.
“We know the bulk of the problem is illegal flyposting from companies, clubs and advertisers. Our aim in using the community protection warnings is to be better placed to tackle these repeat offenders more effectively.”
If agreed, both measures will be updated in the Environmental Enforcement Framework. This framework is reviewed regularly to consider additional measures to address anti-social and illegal behaviour and minimise waste clean-up and disposal costs.
You can read the full environmental enforcement report in the 15 November 2022 Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee papers (agenda item 45).
