What is Clean Glasgow?

Clean Glasgow is an initiative that seeks to look at the range of issues that link to cleansing and the environment.  It is a generally accepted view that Glasgow has a long way to go in terms of improving the City’s local environment.

 

Improving the city’s cleanliness is a responsibility shared by the public and private sectors and ultimately, those who live and work here.   Currently, Glasgow City Council provides de-littering services, sweeping streets, removing chewing gum, uplifting fly tipping and de-littering gap sites.  The Council also provides an educational programme for schools in relation to litter and refuse.  Targeted initiatives in specific areas encourage local communities to be proactive in their approach to litter.  The Council also has an enforcement role, issuing fixed penalty notices to those dog fouling or discarding litter in the street and in relation to offences involving commercial and domestic waste.  Through the Clean Glasgow strategy, Glasgow City Council will develop opportunities to improve the services provided, as well as building on the strengths of existing services.  This strategy recognises there are areas where significant improvements are possible.  Many of these improvements will be directly addressed in 2007, through service reform, with the integration of the two key Council Services that currently share responsibility for cleansing.

Who's responsible?

The city’s cleanliness is also a responsibility of Glasgow Community & Safety Services, a company established in October 2006 to prevent crime, tackle antisocial behaviour, and promote community safety in Glasgow.  GCSS provides environmental enhancement services to tackle fly-tipping, graffiti, and de-littering.   It proactively links the Crime and Grime agendas and seeks to progress integrated solutions.

In April 2006, ten Community Planning Partnerships were established across Glasgow.  The primary role of the Partnerships is to bring together the public sector, partner organisations and the community to deliver better, more joined up public services in the city.  Cleansing is one of the core services covered by Glasgow Community Planning Partnership through Neighbourhood Management, an initiative which forms a key component of this strategy.

Responsibility is also shared amongst local businesses and everyone who lives and works in Glasgow.  Individuals, businesses and community organisations have the ability to transform our society by demonstrating and promoting responsible behaviour amongst family, neighbours and friends. 

This shared responsibility is the cornerstone of the Clean Glasgow Strategy, vision and objectives. 

The approach

Glasgow City Council is therefore embarking on a long term commitment to tackling litter and graffiti.  The £17 million spent by Glasgow City Council each year on de-littering and graffiti removal mainly address the symptoms of the problem.  Only a long term strategy can address the causes.  At the moment an individual drops litter or creates graffiti, they may view their behaviour as either socially acceptable, or unacceptable, depending on their personal set of values.  An effective strategy must recognise and address both mindsets.  If someone drops litter or creates graffiti and they believe it is acceptable to do so, a strategy is required to change their core values and take ownership of their actions.   On the other hand, the strategy must also address individuals who understand that their actions are socially unacceptable but they do it anyway to demonstrate, for whatever personal reason, their disregard of society’s values.

A strategy to change both the core values and behaviour of individuals in a society is no small undertaking.  There are three over-arching issues to be addressed by this strategy: communication, ownership, and enforcement.