Leader's blog - w/c 3 March 2025

"One of the things we are hearing loud and clear from our communities is that you want to see more action on litter and fly-tipping. We’re stepping up our work on that front in lots of ways, with money in the 2025/26 Budget for new bins and a range of litter projects, many of them inspired by our Litter & Clean Environment Champion, Cllr Gill Thomas.

At this Thursday’s Environment Committee meeting, as well as our usual budget review and reports from various sub-committees and outside organisations, we’ll also look at what we can do to help those on lower incomes to dispose of bulky waste. Bulky items like fridges and sofas are among the commonest fly-tipped items, as it can be difficult for those without transport or the means to pay for it to get them to a County Council tip. So this week, we’ll be considering whether a concessionary scheme for those in most need, coupled with more community clear-ups, might help us keep our streets tidier and our natural environment fly-tip free.

Finally, I’d like to celebrate the success of our partnership with Lifecycle UK, who have been installing free bike hoops for small businesses and community organisations across the district, on us. Promoting walking and cycling is a priority for the Council, and we’re delighted this initiative has proved so popular. We’ve just agreed a third round of funding with Lifecycle, so if you’d like a funded bike rack for your premises, please get in touch with the team "

Cllr Chloe Turner, Chair of Environment Committee