Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Neighbourhood Services regarding the adoption of a Litter Strategy for Rother.

The Litter Strategy for England 2017 had been designed to apply best practice to reduce litter and littering behaviour, as well as outlining how tackling litter could be done in partnership with central and local government, volunteers, campaigners and businesses.  A fundamental part of the strategy was the development of local government level litter strategies and a review of their ‘binfrastructure’.  Binfrastructure meant having the ‘right bin in the right place’.  Through the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs and Waste and Resource Action Programme, the Council applied for and was granted a financial award of £22,500.  This enabled the Council to purchase multiple bins, including solar bins, signage and installation, some of which had already been allocated to appropriate locations.  Full information was detailed in the draft Litter Strategy at Appendix A to the report.

It was noted that additional costs would be required to maintain the bins and that Hastings Direct (via the Welcome Back Fund) had provided financial support to empty the additional bins.  Additional funding might be available, as a result of local businesses supporting litter bins.  A local business sponsorship education and publicity campaign would be launched once the UK Environment Bill had been ratified.

Cabinet congratulated the Head of Neighbourhood Services and her team for achieving the award and were fully supportive of the draft Litter Strategy.  It was important that the negative “throw away / throw down” culture was tackled, as this had a detrimental impact on everyday life.  Officers would continue to explore all funding options to purchase suitable (affordable) bins and ensure that they were placed in appropriate areas to alleviate accumulated rubbish in high footfall locations e.g. seafront / promenade etc.  Partnership working with food outlets and community groups was considered essential to reduce littering and create a clean environment across the district.

RECOMMENDED: That the draft Litter Strategy for Rother attached at Appendix A to the report be approved and adopted.

AND

*RESOLVED:  That the:

1)    Litter Strategy for England 2017 be noted; and

2)    successful award of Binfrastructurefunding and its requirement for a Local Authority Litter Strategy be noted.

*The RESOLVED parts of this minute are subject to the call-in procedure under Rule 16 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.