BMBC 21: Barnsleys Local Area Agreement 2008-2011

BMBC are working with Doncaster and Rotherham to deliver the subregional procurement of waste recycling, treatment and disposalinfrastructure beyond the expiry of the current landfill contract in 2008.This will involve a mix of treatment technologies located across SouthYorkshire, as well as the availability of landfill disposal.CleanlinessIf there is one thing that shapes an impression of a place it is itscleanliness and whether litter, detritus, graffiti, fly-posting, fly-tippingand other illustrations of an unkempt, uncared for area prevail. Whilstthe Council’s performance in recent years has been exceptionally highin performance terms, public perception has varied considerably givenits importance to them as an issue, hence the resultingperformance/perception gap. Education and enforcement havecontinued to be used alongside the ongoing efforts to maintain a cleanand well maintained environment in town centres, villages, streets,highways and in recreational areas. Further improvement is, however,required to sustain the high levels of performance and deliver betterperceptions through the prevention of litter and greater ownership bythe community. A programme of education coupled with enforcementactivity and proactive marketing campaigns have continued alongsidegreat efforts to maintain a clean and well cared for environment in towncentres, villages, streets, highways and in recreational areas. There isstill more that can be done, working alongside community groups,community champions and individual residents to re-educate others inthe community, to take a pride in their local area as well as the Councilcontinuing to learn from others, taking best practice and continuouslyimproving operational efficiency.Quality of Green and Public Open SpacesThere has been major investment in many of the Borough’s parksthrough Transforming Your Space and the Community Green SpaceFund, alongside a multitude of active ‘friends of’ parks groups. Thissignificant investment is resulting in many of the Borough’s parks beingof a higher quality which is facilitating greater usage withincommunities. However, this improvement needs to be sustained toincrease the use, quality and accessibility of the Borough’s many greenand public open spaces.Quality of the Housing StockThe condition of the Council housing has been significantly improved inrecent years through the ongoing Decent Homes programme. Theprogramme is scheduled for completion in 2010-11 and already over90% of the Council stock meets the decent homes standard.The condition of some of the older private sector housing across theBorough also needs to be improved. Barnsley MBC will continue totarget its interventions carefully to ensure that the limited fundingavailable helps to improve the housing conditions of the mostvulnerable households, encourages owners to themselves invest intheir homes and thereby help to improve the sustainability of localneighbourhoods.35Improving the Quality of Life in Our Communities: Local PhysicalEnvironment, Including the Quality of the Housing StockBarnsley’s Local Area Agreement 2008-11