A new report reveals that Labour Councillors are planning to increase the use of offenders in maintaining public areas in the City.

Over 10,000 hours were put in by “Community Payback” workers last year.

Although the so called restorative justice policy has broad support, the idea of local streets being maintained by the modern equivalent of a “chain gang” seems deeply flawed.

Apart from anything else, standards would depend on the number of offences committed (hitherto the Councils objective has been to reduce crime!) and the number of community payback sentences handed out to those who are physically capable of work.

There is a case for using offenders to give an area a one off clean up. Community Payback have been praised for their approach to projects such as bulb planting in the Foxwood area.

But they are no substitute for well equipped professional Council workers.

The Council are also apparently expecting residents to take over some maintenance tasks.

They are asking people to “become a Street Buddy and adopt a bit of your street, repaint a utility box that keeps getting graffitied, or do some litter picking or weeding” !!!

The Council are hoping that this will allow them to cut around £325,000 from their maintenance budgets over the next 12 months. Grass cutting frequencies are likely to be the next service to suffer a reduction in quality.

It follows last years decision to remove litter bins and stop filling many salt bins.