Agenda item

To consider a report by the Corporate Director: Customers (copy enclosed), which seeks Members’ views on the structure and content of the draft Public Realm Strategy for the Council.

                                                                                                         10.10 a.m.

A copy of report by the Corporate Director: Customers, which sought the Committee’s views on the structure and content of the draft Public Realm Strategy for the Council, Appendix 1, had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.

 

The Head of Environment (HE) and Head of Planning and Public Protection (HPPP) introduced the report jointly.  It was explained that an Internal Audit report on the Council’s management of the public realm had recommended the creation of a strategy to develop clarity and coherence around how the Council deals with this important area.  A second recommendation suggested better joint working between key services and a more corporate approach to the way the Council planned and responded to issues stemming from the public realm.

 

The draft Public Realm Strategy had been developed at a workshop and following research into other similar strategies in Wales and overseas.  The strategic document defined the meaning of the term public realm, and how the Council could control and influence the work undertaken.  It defined the importance of partnership working in implementing change in order to improve the state of the public realm.

 

The roles and responsibilities of key Members, Scrutiny, Member Area Groups and key officers had been defined.  Four strategic principles had been identified which included:-

 

Ø     accessible and well-connected public realm

Ø     clean and tidy environment

Ø     local identity preserved and developed

Ø     a safe environment

 

Detailed descriptions of the meaning of the four strategic principles had been outlined in the draft document, together with some practical examples of recent developments.  The Strategy would help to deliver the Corporate Priorities “Clean and Tidy Streets” and “Developing the local economy” and would affect all residents, workers and visitors to Denbighshire.  Much of the work to deliver the Strategy would be incorporated into current service budgets and within any Corporate Plan allocations for the two Corporate Priorities. 

 

Consultations had taken place with the relevant officers from the various services delivering aspects of the public realm within the Authority, together with the Lead Member and the Senior Leadership Team.  Copies of the comments had been conveyed to City, Town and Community Councils, the voluntary sector and Natural Resources.

 

Councillor J.M. Davies emphasised the need for the inclusion of a general reference to the culture of the Council with regard to the involvement of all individuals in the reporting mechanism.  The HE explained that details of the changes being implemented in respect of the introduction of a single point of contact would be presented at the Lead Member Workshop in October.  

 

Councillor H.O. Williams commended the work undertaken in addressing dog fouling offences in his Ward.  Councillors R.M. Murray and P.A. Evans highlighted problems which were being experienced in their respective wards.  The HE outlined the difficulties in catching offenders because of the nature of the offence.  However, it was emphasised that services were working in partnership to address the issue and reference was made to the Dog Fouling Campaign launched February, 2013. 

 

The HPPP responded to a question from Councillor J.M. Davies and referred to Page 7 of the Strategy, Guidelines for Local Identity to the Public Realm, which acknowledged the scope for partnership working and consultation with Town and Community Councils, particular reference being made to the provision of signage and street furniture.

 

The Chair endorsed the intentions of the Strategy but highlighted the need for the inclusion of a process for assessing success, measuring outcomes and achievements and the procedures for reporting and communicating them.  The HE highlighted the difficulty of measuring the success rate of some aspects of the Strategy, for example cultural change.  The HPPP explained that the Public Realm Strategy was a strategic document and that the implementation of an additional process or mechanism would be required to measure success rates.

 

During the ensuing discussion the officers provided the following responses to questions and issues raised by Members:-

 

-               Members were informed that in instances where cycle paths were provided, cyclists could not be forced to use them as an alternative to travelling on the highway.  Councillor C.H. Williams explained that it was an offence to ride a bicycle on the pavement but this was rarely enforced.  Individuals who cycled for leisure should be encouraged to use the cycle paths provided.

-               In response to concerns expressed that debris from hedge cutting activities, resulting in punctures from hawthorn hedges, discouraged cyclists from using cycle certain cycle paths, the HE explained that in cases where the Council had an agreement with the landowners for the Authority to cut hedges there was also a policy to remove hedge cuttings from the cycle path.

-               It was explained that not all play areas were the responsibility of the County Council as in some cases play areas were linked to housing developments or provided by Town or Community Councils.  Members highlighted the importance of ensuring that when play areas were constructed they included a full maintenance programme and safety aspects should be monitored closely.  Members asked that the annual inspection of play areas should also include the identification of cosmetic public realm matters, such as painting and tidying requirements, as these would enhance the appearance of the play areas and make them more attractive to the public and residents.  The HPPP explained that from a planning perspective, and taking into consideration the current financial climate, it would be important to ensure a balance between the provision of open spaces and play areas and the subsequent maintenance costs on other service providers.

-               The HE referred to the proposed introduction of procedures to be followed in cases when members of the public fail to cut or maintain hedges which become hazardous or obstructive to other members of the public.  The Committee were informed that the proposed procedure, which would entail sending a warning letter to the offender initially, would be discussed at the Members Workshop in October.

-               The HE referred to the potentially contentious issue of trimming or tree felling.  The Chair stressed the importance of ensuring that local Members were kept fully informed of Public Realm related issues in their respective Wards.

-               Concerns expressed by Members regarding the design of gully covers were endorsed by the HE.  He explained that maintenance requirements had not been considered at the design stage. 

-               Members emphasised the need for effective CRM reporting and monitoring arrangements to be in place to ensure the Strategy’s effectiveness.  They also asked that the Strategy include some high level key goals and objectives.

 

RESOLVED – that the Committee:-

 

(a)   receive and note the contents of report, and

(b)   subject to the incorporation of the above recommendations and inclusions, endorse the draft Public Realm Strategy for presentation to Cabinet for approval.