Dear Spurtle, 

Over the years, I have repeatedly complained to the Council that two litter bins in Broughton need to be emptied on a daily basis during school term times: one at the corner of Melgund Terrace outside the convenience store and the other in Rodney Street. These requests have fallen on deaf ears – nothing changes. 

It is obvious that members of the public are very good at using litter bins, as the photographic evidence shown here (Newhaven Harbour, 4.00pm, 23 August) makes clear. But it is pointless using litter bins when they constantly overflow onto the footpaths. 

It is a pity that officials lack the gumption to organise an adequate schedule for the emptying of litter bins. 

Similarly, ward councillors of all political parties have lacked the wherewithal to drive better performance. The latter labour under a misapprehension (as one ward councillor put it at a recent community council meeting) that they can do nothing about ‘operational matters’ appertaining to the Council's in-house service provider. 

On the contrary, councillors decide policy and performance measures and officers faithfully implement these under councillors' direction. Accordingly, councillors are entitled to speak to any Chief Officer of the Council about operational service failures and, if those negotiations prove intractable, to pursue matters vigorously to represent residents through the Council's various political structures. 

This city’s Council Tax payers are paying for Waste and Cleansing Services which are seriously deficient, with officials seemingly unresponsive to requests for improvement. Perhaps the Scottish Government should consider bringing in a Waste Management and Street Cleansing Commissioner to pull Edinburgh into the 21st century. 

Time for a change? I think so. 

Shane Carter 

(East Claremont Street)

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