Issue - meetings

The report of the Leader of the Council was submitted setting out the details of the business undertaken by the Executive.

The Leader and the Cabinet made statements and responded to questions. 

The following questions were submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.1.

1.  Appearance of the High Street Above Bar

Question from Councillor Laurent to Councillor Rayment

What plans are there to improve the sorry state of the High Street Above Bar?

Answer

A deep clean was carried out in early September of this year. The Business Improvement District provided some support and we are liaising with them over continued support.

2.  Maintenance of the Cenotaph

Question from Councillor Laurent to Councillor Rayment

The Cenotaph is the focus of Remembrance Day in the City. Why is it not maintained to a high standard?

Answer

The Cenotaph is maintained on a routine basis within the resources we have the teams involved include Parks, Street Cleansing and the Ancient Monuments Teams. The routine tasks include:

•  On a daily basis we litter pick, empty bins, and inspect the paving and monument for any obvious defects.

•  During the spring and summer the grass is cut in line with our city wide program (approximately every 4 weeks)

•  Hedges are cut two to three times per year dependant on growth

•  Grafitti is removed from the monument as required

•  Chewing gum, detritus etc. is jet washed from the paving as required

•  Leaf debris is swept and cleared away during autumn.

In the weeks leading up to remembrance Sunday the teams work together to ensure that the Cenotaph and surrounding area is to a good standard. During this time they will usually:

•  Ensure that the hedges are all clipped

•  Ensure that the grass is cut

•  Ensure that there is no residual litter

•  Undertake a deep clean of the paving areas

•  Ensure the glass panels are all thoroughly cleaned

•  Ensure the monument itself is cleaned

The standard therefore is in line with the resources available to the Council. We usually get good feedback after the remembrance event.

3.  Fly Tipping Fines

Question from Councillor Laurent to Councillor Rayment

It has been reported that Southampton has not fined anyone for fly tipping. What is the reason for this?

Answer

The investigation of serious fly tipping offences is carried out by the Environmental Health service, sometimes working in partnership with the Environment Agency. These investigations focus on organised commercial activity or fly-tips that have an impact on public health (e.g. the deposit of asbestos containing material). The covert nature of fly tipping, together with restrictions on the use of covert CCTV evidence presents challenges to these investigations.

In 2016, legislation allowed local authorities to issue a £200 fixed penalty notice as an alternative to prosecution. Southampton City Council has not issued any fixed penalties for fly tipping using these powers due to the need to witness the fly-tip or to have evidence beyond all reasonable doubt to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53