Overview of Environmental Services Committee

The Environmental Services Committee met on May 14, 2024. Below is an overview of what was discussed.  

1. Publication and Responsibilities:

   • Public sessions of the meeting will be published on the council’s website within two days.
   • Elected members are responsible for their comments.
   • Press and public will leave when the meeting moves to committee sessions.
   • Photographing or recording the proceedings is prohibited unless by authorised officers.

2. Apologies and Attendance:

   • Apologies were noted by the Councillors.

3. Declarations of Interest and Minutes:

   • Declarations of interest were confirmed, and minutes of the previous meeting were approved.

4. Electric Vehicle Charging Points:

   • A proposal to conduct a needs analysis of EV charging points across council areas was brought forward.
   • The proposal was agreed to go through to the full council and the partnership panel.
   • The discussion highlighted gaps in charging point infrastructure, particularly in coastal tourist areas.

5. Recognition for Portstewart:

   • Portstewart was named Best Place to Live in Northern Ireland by the Sunday Times.
   • A proposal to place signs acknowledging this accolade at each entry to the town was discussed.
   • Some concerns were raised about the potential overabundance of signs if every accolade was acknowledged.

6. Entertainment and Street Trading Licensing:

   • A grant for an outdoor entertainment license was approved.
   • Amendments to the street trading application process for the Lammas Fair 2024 were discussed, including suspending criminal record checks due to limited grounds for refusal.

7. Fly Tipping Enforcement:

   • New enforcement powers to deal with fly tipping were discussed. Fixed penalties are set at £400, which can be reduced to £300 if paid within 14 days.
   • Regular reporting and the potential use of CCTV for enforcement were emphasised.
   • A proposal was made to bring back reports on the number of fines issued and to explore partnerships with other councils for enforcement.

8. Vehicle Replacement:

   • The purchase of a second-hand vehicle for street litter and bin collections in Ballycastle was approved.
   • Discussions included exploring leasing options and the potential for using electric or hybrid vehicles.

9. Business Plans:

   • The business plans for 2024-25 were presented, highlighting achievements and setting targets.
   • The need for better communication about the council's work and potential use of GIS for service improvements were discussed.

10. Dog Control Orders:

    • The existing dog control orders were reviewed, noting gaps in enforcement capability in certain areas.
    • A proposal was made to scope out the need for new dog control orders in areas not currently covered.

11. Litter Strategy:

    • The effectiveness of the litter strategy was discussed, and a significant drop in fines issued after ending a contract with a third-party enforcement company was noted.
    • A proposal was made to explore the option of bringing back third-party enforcement.

12. Partnership Panel and Funding:

    • Issues to be reported to the partnership panel include enforcement funding and related challenges.
    • Correspondence from DERA regarding funding for the Animal Welfare Enforcement Service was noted, indicating a partial one-off allocation for the service.