Take Pride in Your City campaign highlights

Councillors are to be updated on the recent highlights of the Take Pride in Your City campaign with further work outlined for the next two years.

The Take Pride initiative exists to encourage collaborative efforts across the city in preventing and tackling litter, dog fouling, chewing gum litter, fly-tipping and graffiti amongst Dundee’s neighbourhoods.

Now, if approved, the refreshed campaign will place a greater emphasis on increased involvement and wider participation from stakeholders and community partners, such as schools, clubs, businesses, and residents, to take pride in their local communities and build on the recent Take Pride successes.

Progress made by Council services and community volunteers in the last two years have included:

• A total of 130 registered community litter picks were supported with the launch of Community Litter Picking Hubs in April 2024;
• Take Pride in Your Sports Pitches litter initiative launched in April 2024;
• During 2023/24, Countryside Rangers facilitated 600 hours of volunteering;
• Multi-service Community Clean-Ups have continued and been co-ordinated with fly-tipping-focused ‘Days of Enforcement Action’;
• Bin App launched in January 2024 (initial uptake of over 8,250 users);
• Successful bid for nearly £700,000 from Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund for upgrades to Baldovie and Riverside Recycling Centres;
• Over £375k spent since 2022 on additional revenue to support street cleaning activities;
• External funding acquired through Chewing Gum Task Force Grant Fund for the purchase of new machinery to remove gum staining;
• Implementation of new fixed penalty notice fine amounts for fly-tipping from £200 to £500 in January 2024;
• ‘Duty of care’ inspection programme for tyre-fitting garages in the city to tackle fly-tipping of tyres.

Climate, Environment & Biodiversity Committee Convener Heather Anderson said: “Good work is being carried out through Take Pride in Your City. A wide range of initiatives are now commonplace in the campaign and are making a positive difference.

“The last two years have seen a continued progression of the work being carried out between Council staff, members of the public, groups, organisations and businesses.

“This Update details the comprehensive action being taken to target the demands of the city, our neighbourhoods and of residents. A lot of work has been undertaken to adapt to the challenges in new and fresh ways.

“Efforts through the campaign have resulted in more widespread recognition for the city and its greenspaces. The proposals to Committee are to carry on the work through the campaign for a further two years with fresh efforts to get even more Community partners to take part.

“Members of the public are strongly encouraged to get involved in their own way through the many Take Pride-related initiatives which are positively impacting Dundee’s neighbourhoods.”

Dundee has also recently been recognised nationally in a number of schemes by independent bodies:

• Bonnie Dundee received a Silver Gilt in the City category at RHS Britain in Bloom Award Finals 2024 with Ninewells Community Garden being given the first-ever RHS Health and Wellbeing Award;
• Dundee community groups were represented in the Beautiful Scotland Awards and Dundee City Council being awarded the Wright Sustainability Award;
• Broughty Ferry Beach retained its Scotland’s Beach Award each year with the Bathing Water Quality classification remaining Excellent. Likewise, Green Flag Awards were retained for all Dundee sites;
• Twelve groups received an outstanding level certificate in the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ (IYN) scheme – with ten also receiving a distinction level certificate;
• Continued certification (PAS 100) for the composted materials processed at Riverside.

The report will be put to councillors at the city’s Climate, Environment & Biodiversity Committee on Monday 18th November 2024.

More information and on how to get involved with Take Pride in Your City can be found on the Dundee City Council website.

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