Archived decisions

Contact: Richard Chinn, tel 023 8042 7001

email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 At the County Council meeting on 1 April 2004 Councillor Wall, seconded by Councillor Mrs Dickens, proposed the following motion:

"Hampshire County Council calls on the Government to change the current arrangements regarding the collection of litter on trunk roads.

The Highways Agency, which is responsible for all aspects of the highways under their control except litter, should be required to either

(i) undertake this responsibility themselves to agreed standards; or, preferably:

(ii) resource district councils sufficiently to do the job properly, including all necessary equipment and operational support.

(Currently, litter collection on trunk roads is the responsibility of district councils, who have neither the equipment nor adequate budgets to carry this out effectively and can only work on the highways at the discretion of the Highways Agency.)

If option (i) above is pursued, since district councils are responsible for litter collection on all other roads, they should retain responsibility for overseeing the litter condition of the trunk roads within their area and have powers to enforce against the Highways Agency as necessary.

The Chief Executive is instructed to write to the Minister for Transport with a request for prompt action on this matter on the lines suggested."

1.2 Given the scheduled visit of the Highways Agency on 30 June 2004, the matter was referred to this Committee for consideration and to formulate a recommendation to County Council.

2. Corporate Strategy

2.1 This report supports the following Aims of the Corporate Strategy:

(i) Aim 2 (Stewardship of the Environment) by promoting the principles of environmental sustainability and ensuring that Hampshire remains a place where people want to live; and

(ii) Aim 4 (Building Strong and Safe Communities) by representing the views of local communities and engaging at regional, national and international levels to ensure we can influence and shape policy.

3. Background

3.1 Under current legislation, district councils are responsible for litter collection on all public highways, including trunk roads, but not motorways. Litter on motorways is dealt with by the Highways Agency through contract arrangements with contractors.

3.2 Although the County Council has no responsibility for litter collection, from time to time complaints are received about litter on roads, including trunk roads, and these are usually forwarded to the relevant district council. In respect of this particular motion, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Winchester City Council have been invited to send a representative to the meeting to put forward their views on the matter.

3.3 The problem is generally at its worst following the cutting of grass verges and central reserves. Litter collection on high speed roads can be resource intensive, especially when, for the safety of operatives, there is a need for extensive traffic management measures, including lane closures. Disruption to traffic and congestion also has to be taken into account.

3.4 Councillor Wall's concerns, as described in his Notice of Motion to County Council, were referred to the Committee for consideration.

Recommendation

That the Committee, having heard all the points of view, is asked to formulate a recommendation to County Council.

8799/RJC