BARNET's streets could be cleaned a lot less often as the budget faces up to £750,000 cuts. 

A “street cleansing framework" was discussed by councillors at an environment committee meeting last Thursday at Hendon Town Hall.

The online report said they recognise that high quality cleansing services play a big role in ensuring Barnet is a “desirable, prosperous and family friendly borough”.

An action plans for the street cleansing, is noted to be delivered and developed over the next 15 months, and sets out nine action points.

They include an alternate side cleansing trial, which involved different options for the cleansing of residential streets, as well as initiating a keep Barnet clean campaign.

Labour councillors moved an additional recommendation, to say the frequency of street cleaning in residential streets should be maintained and enhanced in certain areas.

However, the proposal was rejected.

Labour's Environment spokesperson, Cllr Alan Schneiderman said “nearly half of residents are not satisfied with street cleaning in Barnet.”

Cllr Schneiderman said: “This move is going to be hugely unpopular. We know from casework that people are already complaining their street is not cleaned often enough, so saying it will be hard to maintain high levels of public satisfaction is a gross understatement. We already don't have high levels of satisfaction.

"The Tories have just launched a poster campaign via their £1 million communication department, telling people to #KeepBarnetClean right before they cut spending on street cleaning. I say to the Tories - save money on the posters and #CleanUpBarnet

"Rather than spending £10,000 to put barcodes on litter bins so that people can report when they're full, why don't they spend that money emptying them more often?"

However, Cllr Dean Cohen, chairman of the environment committee, said street cleansing is a "vital part of making our borough an attractive place to live and work."
Cllr Cohen said: "The framework makes the service more intelligence-led, meaning the hot spots are dealt with more frequently and intensively; it utilises technology and mechanisation so that interventions are more effective; and it heralds a more rounded approach by both positively engaging with the community and enforcing against those who create the mess, to prevent litter building up in the first place."

"The frequency of sweeping is important – and the review will establish minimum standards so that everywhere is appropriately looked after – but it is one piece of a larger jigsaw."

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