COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
MOTION NO. 11
MOTION: Councillor P. Foley
"Residents groups in the area are reporting a surge in graffiti on utility boxes. What checks and balances are in place to ensure that graffiti is being removed from utility boxes as part of the Memorandums of Understanding with the utility companies? Can the process be explained."
REPORT:
"All reports of graffiti are investigated by the Litter Warden Service, who ascertain the extent and nature of the graffiti, and also verify the ownership of the defaced property.
Where graffiti is observed on Council/public property the location is referred to our Public Realm Section to arrange for removal.
Where graffiti is observed on private property a letter is issued advising of the property owner's responsibility.
The Council renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with four of our most significant utility companies, namely ESB Networks, Gas Networks Ireland, Eir and Telco Providers in late 2016. If the area in question is in the ownership of one of the companies who have a Memorandum of Understanding agreement with the Council, a referral is made to the company involved.
These MoU’s set out agreed procedures to deal with illegal dumping of waste, litter and graffiti at sub-stations, and other utility premises and structures in South Dublin County Council’s administrative area.
Among the key features in the MoU are:
- Standardised procedure for reporting illegal dumping of waste, litter and graffiti issues.
- ESB Networks, Gas Networks Ireland, Eir and other significant Telco Providers remove illegally dumped waste and litter within 5 working days of being notified by South Dublin County Council.
- Any graffiti issue are be addressed within 10 working days (racist or other provocative graffiti will be removed within 5 working days).
- In cases where utility company cannot revert within this response timeframe due to circumstances outside of its control, utility company notify SDCC and agree a response timeframe
- Utility company can if requested provide photographic evidence to SDCC highlighting that a clean-up of the premises or structure, has been carried out and the date completed
A specific work flow chart accompanies these MOUs which generally follow these lines:
- SDCC receives complaint and identifies proprietor
- SDCC refers to utility company at a dedicated email address
- Complaint received in utility Contact Centre
- Utility contact centre directs the complaint to utility works areas
- Utility works area schedules work
- Utility works areas contacts SDCC to confirm receipt of complaint & advises SDCC of clean up date
While utility providers have submitted images of their utility boxes to ease identification of ownership, the single biggest issue now remaining in addressing the plight of graffiti on utility boxes is ensuring that incidents, when observed, are reported to the Council so that procedures as agreed can be initiated.
Assumptions should not be made that someone else has reported the incident, and the Council urges the public to assist by ensure that every incident observed is reported."