In a statement yesterday (12 March), council leader Bella Sankey explained that CCTV cameras at the council’s Hollingdean depot are being analysed after the wires on two lorries were “purposely cut to ensure the vehicles couldn’t operate and therefore couldn’t go out on collection rounds”.
This has added to the recent disruptions to the service and the high number of missed refuse and recycling collections throughout the city.
Review
The council leader seemed to point the finger at disgruntled former staff.
The statement explained that no vehicles leave the depot until they are checked by managers, but “town hall bosses” say the sabotage and vehicle defects have increased dramatically following dismissal action that was taken as a result of the KC report published last October.
The council said the review is part of efforts to lead “a programme of culture change to reorganise, improve and modernise the service after the damning King’s Counsel report into Cityclean, commissioned by the council, which highlighted a culture of racism, sexism, homophobia, bullying and violence at the depot”.
‘Hard-working’
The council leader said: “We know the vast majority of Cityclean staff are extremely hard working and want to do an excellent job for our residents and the city.
“However, the sabotage and resulting disruption of recent weeks shows there are a small minority who are disrupting our waste and recycling service. Under my leadership, we will not be held to ransom by these people. The cutting of lorry wires is unlawful and scandalous, and is extremely dangerous to our staff.
“It’s also criminal activity which has been reported and is being investigated by Sussex Police.”
The council has also bought four more RCVs following the ‘sabotage’.
Letter
A letter has also been sent to staff at the council-owned Cityclean from Donna Chisholm, the council’s executive director for economy environment & culture.
This reads: “The vast majority of you take pride in your work and set out every day to provide a great service to our residents and businesses.
“Sadly, I’m also writing to everyone regarding the recent disruption to services due to an increase in the number of vehicle defects.
“As you may know, there’s been deliberate damage to two vehicles where wires have been cut. This is unacceptable.
“I know you’ll be concerned because deliberate damage can be very dangerous and certainly causes disruption to your rounds.
“I want to reassure you, we take deliberate vehicle damage extremely seriously.”
Service
Brighton added that Cityclean managers are “beginning to clear the backlog” of missed collections – for both residential and communal bins – and are trying to ensure extra waste around the latter is cleared away as soon as possible.
There’s also been a recruitment drive which will see 10 new drivers and operatives joining the service.
Additional agency staff have been recruited to help get the service back on track.
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