REPORT OF THE

Environment Policy Review Committee

PART I

LITTER ON TRUNK ROADS

At its meeting in April 2004, the County Council referred the following Notice of Motion from Councillor J. G. L. Wall to the Environment Policy Review Committee for consideration:

"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."

The Environment Policy Review Committee had an annual visit by the Highways Agency scheduled for its meeting on 30 June 2004, therefore it was agreed that this matter would be considered at that time.

This report outlines the information which the Committee took into account in reaching their recommendation. The Committee received a presentation on behalf of Winchester City Council, who are one of the litter collection authorities who put forward their perspective on the matter. The representative reported that current Health and Safety requirements had led to there being a limited amount of contractors who are equipped to undertake this work and this exacerbates the high cost of delivering an effective service. In addition, district councils are only responsible for litter picking on a road up to their designated boundary, which can lead to inconsistent standards, for example only part of a trunk road being cleared.

Councillor Wall, in addressing the Committee, expanded on his Notice of Motion and raised concern as to the public's perception of the presence of litter on trunk roads and of the appropriate clearance action being taken within a reasonable timescale.

In responding, and whilst being sympathetic to the problems described, the Highways Agency reported that it did not currently have sufficient budgetary provision, coupled with operational issues, to undertake this area of work. In particular, it recognised the difficulties district councils were experiencing as a result of the introduction of more stringent Health and Safety regulations in regard to traffic management work carried out on the trunk road network, but emphasised that they are developing partnership working with all local authorities to improve this service.

Taking all the issues into account, the Committee submits the following:

RECOMMENDATION

That this Council lobby Government for a change in the legislation regarding responsibility for litter collection on trunk roads, so that this becomes the responsibility of the Highways Agency with appropriate funding thereof.