I am somewhat ‘confused’ (again) having read the article in the Cambs Times © this week with reference to Refuge collections and Street Scene. I have written many times about this department, mainly more negative than positive.
The Good.
1/ Lets be fair, at present (although no fan of fortnightly collections) our refuge service is very good – I have not heard through our Town council off any complaints.
2/ In general our street cleaning is fairly good – having said – it depends on which street cleaner we get.
3/ Street Scene, again it rather depends who we get?
The Bad.
1/ Why is it then that if FDC has paid out what is reported a ‘considerable’ (£29,000) amount of Rate payers money on a consultancy, with again (As I have not seen the report) – ‘That it would not be financially feasible at this time to tender out these services’.
2/ As above (The Good) it rather depends on who and when we get our streets serviced.
There is a lot of ‘spin’ and confusion about if and when the mechanical sweeper ever sees a great amount of daylight (that’s of course if it is working and where-ever it maybe parked).
3/ Street Scene, again as (The Good) one or two Street Scene Officers are very good and engaging with the public, community groups and councillors – there are a few who do not meet this important criteria.
The Ugly.
1/ In order to save money first we have to spend money! (The moving of council offices come to mind first and recently). I can envisage the ‘Peterborough Effect’ which if mentioning anything about the city – Whittlesey councillors get Very uptight.
We may well end up with more ‘Taxes’ for Brown Bin waste.
We could end up with a 3 weekly cycle of Bin collections.
Although not directly FDC’s remit it looks very likely our recycling centre will close.
2/ It is not too long ago – a no longer employed Whittlesey Street Cleaner had over 100 negative/disciplinary offences against him – he remained. One such alleged incident was when he took ‘The Purple Wagon’ – FDC’s truck with his Jet Ski in tow to Hunstanton for the afternoon and was spotted by a council official. His answer at the time was – Well no one told me as couldn’t !.
3/ I have on a number of occasions questioned the financial and effective ‘Worth’ of the Street Scene department, on paper it looks great in practice – well?
Whilst I somewhat question – Why so much of the above resources goes to Wisbech – We are always ‘lectured’ by officials that ‘We’ in Whittlesey get our fair share.
I hope FDC/Whittlesey District Councillors make a fair and well balanced decision when this item appears on their agenda.
I/we await with high hopes !!!
