1. Communities Directorate Environment Division Winchester Town Forum Meeting 9 th March 2006 ‘ Managing the Environment in Winchester’ Robert Heathcock Head of Environment

2. Communities Directorate Environment Division Presentation Content u Background to Environmental Issues u Air Quality Issues u ‘StreetScene’ Issues u Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act u Refuse & Recycling u Future Developments u Tracking Progress

3. Communities Directorate Environment Division BACKGROUND u Air Quality Legislation & Review u Increasing Interest in ‘StreetScene’ Issues u High Quality Environment Best Value Review 2004 u Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act 2005 u Recycling Targets u Changes to Internal Management arrangements

4. Communities Directorate Environment Division Air Quality Issues u Air Quality Assessments u NOx and Particulate issues u Declared Air Quality Management Area u Draft Action Plan written – approval early 2006 u Delivery late 2006 onwards

5. Communities Directorate Environment Division Air Quality Improvement Options u Traffic Management Review u Park & Ride/Parking Policies u Links with Local Transport Plan u Sustainable Developments u Bus Partnerships u Alternative Transport

6. Communities Directorate Environment Division StreetScene Issues u Street Cleansing u Public Conveniences u Grounds maintenance u Graffiti & Fly Posting u Dog Fouling u Abandoned Cars u Trees u Pavements u Gulley Emptying u Street Lighting u Weed Control u Highway Repairs u Grass Cutting u Road Signage

7. Communities Directorate Environment Division Grounds Maintenance u Function moved to Environment Team u New staff and skills u Improved Contract management u Grass cutting and street cleansing

8. Communities Directorate Environment Division Tree Survey Programme u Both HCC & WCC have Roles u WCC has approx. 6000 trees across the district u High risk and low risk areas u Employer Specialist Staff u Survey content & GIS recording u Risk programme of remedial work

9. Communities Directorate Environment Division Examples of Remedial Works u Abbey Gardens - £3500 u North Walls - £5000+ u Eastgate Street - £500 u St Giles Hill - £3400 u Abbotts Barton - £525

10. Communities Directorate Environment Division Public Conveniences u Keep existing facilities u Flagship Convenience - Market Lane u New discovery centre convenience to replace old Jewry Street facility u Planned Abbey Gardens refurbishment

11. Communities Directorate Environment Division Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act 2005 u Extension of litter powers & Notices u Cigarettes & Gum included as litter u New graffiti & fly posting powers powers u Revised fly tipping powers u Abandoned vehicles u New fixed penalty Offences u Shopping trolley removal u Control of free distribution materials

12. Communities Directorate Environment Division Graffiti u Perception that problem getting worse? u New Powers of removal under CNEA u Goal of better co-ordination of services – SerCo, wardens, Probation Service, etc u Possible enforcement options

13. Communities Directorate Environment Division Refuse & Recycling u Trial project completed u Recycling rate 38% plus u Decision to roll out 2006/2007 - 2 phases u 2 x 240 litre bins + free green waste sack u Refuse 1 week – Recycling Other u Support for householders u Potential future developments

14. Communities Directorate Environment Division Future Developments u Increased Enforcement activity u On line reporting of problems u Faster repair of play equipment u Citizen Panel tracking of progress u Tree programme completed u Co-ordination of Services u Sustainability Developments – Biodiversity, benches, equipment etc

15. Communities Directorate Environment Division Tracking Progress u BV 199 Data u Tourism Survey u STATUS Survey u Citizen Panel questionnaire? u Develop Local Performance Indicators u Other Ideas?