07 October 2008The Clean Kent Campaign is a multi-agency initiative helping to keep Sevenoaks District cleaner and greener by tackling the issues, and effects of littering, graffiti and flytipping as well as taking action against those responsible.
To mark the launch of the latest Community Safety Partnership three year action plan, local reporters and photographers are invited to join the Clean Kent Neighbourhood Response Team on Monday 9, Thursday 12 and Friday 13 June 2008 to see firsthand how it operates. The team will be at various locations in Sevenoaks District during the three days.
The Clean Kent Neighbourhood Response Team was set up and funded by Sevenoaks District Council, Kent County Council & Kent Fire and Rescue Service to supplement the existing District teams and to provide a resource that can react swiftly to any reported incidents. The Clean Kent Neighbourhood Response Team supports the work of the District Council, which has a duty to keep its own land and the highway clean.
The team focus on hotspot areas and residents are actively encouraged to nominate areas for cleaning via the Clean Kent website, www.cleankent.com, or by calling Kent County Council on 0845 345 0210.
Subject to permission, the Clean Kent Neighbourhood Response Team will remove rubbish from land owned by public service providers and private landowners; crucially extending help to these groups where the District has no statutory responsibility.
In addition, The Kent Probation Team, a key partner in the initiative, often provides additional labour to help as part of its Community Payback Scheme.
The Clean Kent Neighbourhood Response Team operates in Sevenoaks District one in every four weeks.
Cllr Avril Hunter, Sevenoaks District Council's Cabinet member with responsibility for sustainable development, says: "The Clean Kent team provides an additional tool over and above our own services and is instrumental in helping to keep Sevenoaks District cleaner and greener."
The Community Safety Partnership is officially launching its new three year action plan from 9 June 2008 with a week of opportunities for the media to find out more about the work taking place in the District to reduce crime and the fear of crime and strengthen communities. The action plan is available from Sevenoaks District Council by calling 01732 227000 or online at www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/communitysafety.
The Partnership brings together all of the agencies in the District who can have an effect on crime and includes West Kent Police, Sevenoaks District Council, Kent County Council, Kent Fire & Rescue Service, West Kent Primary Care Trust, the voluntary sector, Kent Drug & Alcohol Action Team, West Kent Housing Association, Moat Housing Association, Kent Youth Offending Team and the Probation Service Team, West Kent Extra and the Kenward Trust.
About the Clean Kent Campaign
1. The Clean Kent Campaign is a multi-agency project facilitated by Kent County Council in partnership with the district and borough councils, Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Crown Prosecution Service, the Highways Agency, Kent Probation Area, HM Prison Service and the Environment Agency amongst others.
2. The Clean Kent Campaign recognises that Kent is a clean and beautiful county in which to live, work and enjoy. One of the ways in which the Campaign aims to protect and preserve the natural beauty of the county is by reducing instances of flytipping and littering, thereby improving the overall quality of the Kent environment.
3. Litter, rubbish, flytipping and abandoned vehicles are seen as key manifestations of anti-social behaviour and potentially in turn, crime and fear of crime. The Clean Kent Campaign recognizes all of these issues and the adverse effect that they may have on the quality of life, tourism and economic development. Where anti-social behaviour is present, crime invariably follows.
4. With new powers under the Clean Neighbourhoods Act 2005, district and borough Councils are able to issue fixed penalty notices for those caught littering (fines which can be up to £80). For those caught fly-tipping the penalties are greater and offenders could face 5 years imprisonment or a £50,000 fine.
5. According to the Kent Agreement* (Government stretched targets) final data, Clean Kent has achieved the following:
- A 9% increase in the residents who think that Kent is a clean county.
67% of residents agree this against the baseline figure of 58% as set in 2003/04.
- A 42% reduction in loose rubbish fires across the county.
Baseline figures were set at 2,871 loose rubbish fires in 2003/04.
Loose rubbish fire figures for 2007/08 were 1,582 which equates to a 1,792 reduction over the 3 year Kent Agreement period.
- A reduction in flytipping incidents from 33,636 incidents in 2003/04 (baseline figures) to 21,546 incidents in 2007/08. This figure equates to a 35.9% reduction against baseline.
Flytipping has also gone done by 22.6% from the previous year’s figures, 27,854 incidents in 2006/07 to 21,546 incidents in 2007/08.
*Source: Kent Agreement 1, Outcome 14 Final Data, Kent County Council and Kent Fire and Rescue Service.
*Kent Agreement 1 (KA1) Outcome 14 “To make Kent a cleaner county” delivered against three indicators:
1. An increase in public perception that Kent is clean by 20%
2. A reduction in loose (uncontained) rubbish fires by 20%
3. A reduction in the number of fly-tipping incidences reported by 10%
The current three year KA ended 31st March 2008
For further information about the campaign visit: www.cleankent.com or contact: Clare Wratten, Zerofiftyone Advertising & PR.
Tel 01273 587446 or e-mail clare@zerofiftyone.com.
