Monday 28 July 2008

ENVIRONMENTAL WARDENS WITH LOCAL KNOWLEDGE SHOULD BE SAVED


The way some Environmental Wardens are used in Birmingham is now under threat, due to ill conceived ideas from the Council Administration.
Environmental Wardens like the one we have in Oscott, may be teamed up with others across the city to work as a team. These teams would travel to parts of the city where there are particular problems and blitz that area.
This is all very good but wards like Oscott, where we have probably the best warden! in the city for some years, will miss out. This is because her local knowledge and day to day hands on approach will disappear for much of the time. The area will get dirty as a result.

The only wards where the "Pan Birmingham" approach will be an advantage, is in my view, is where there is a poor history of Local Councillors, the Community and their wardens working closely together. This situation has occurred for a number of reasons, such as, poor or lazy Councillors and wardens not working together correctly, or in some cases, lack of strategic thought on how to use Environmental Wardens. I am sure in these areas the idea of the "Pan Birmingham" approach will be popular.
It also interesting to note where some wards in the past, have had the funding for more than one warden, they have not always been as successful as in Oscott, where we could only afford one. Why should a ward with a good track record like Oscott have to suffer to bring other parts of the up to standard? The Council is now consulting on their proposals lets hope they see the light and abandon them!

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