London,
12
February
2016
|
10:29
Europe/London

City of London cleans up at Keep Britain Tidy awards

The City of London Corporation has been presented with the prize of ‘Local Authority of the Year’ in Keep Britain Tidy’s annual awards. The local authority for the financial Square Mile was praised for its work to reduce litter and improve the overall street environment.

In addition it was recognised for the successes of a range of proactive campaigns, such as ‘No Small Problem’, an awareness raising exercise aimed at reducing cigarette litter and with their efforts cleaning up after the increasing night time economy. The award was shared with Braintree Council at an awards ceremony in Birmingham

The awards recognise and reward excellence and innovation in improving local environmental quality. The City had previously won a Keep Britain Tidy ‘Innovation Award’ in 2013.

Wendy Mead OBE, Chairman of Port Health and Environment Services Committee at the City of London Corporation, said:

“The prize of Local Authority of the Year for the City of London Corporation at the Keep Britain Tidy ceremony is down to the hard work or our staff and contractors who are delivering the very best service possible. They should be proud that their efforts means that those who live, work in or visit the City can enjoy a high quality, greener and cleaner environment.”

The No Small Problem campaign involved the distribution of 10,000 personal mini-bins, as well as signposting services for people wanting to quit smoking. The enforcement activities of the Street Environment Officers, supported by the City of London Police, resulted in 43 per cent reduction in dropped cigarette butts since the campaign launched last year.

Despite having a small residential population of around 7,500, the City of London hosts around 400,000 workers every weekday, as well as numerous tourists to its cultural venues including the Barbican Centre and Museum of London. Its booming night time economy has seen the City’s environment team faced with additional challenges. However, the introduction of a night time levy means the businesses that benefit from a large number of customers to pubs, clubs and restaurants, help to fund the clean-up operation.

Notes to Editors

About the City of London Corporation

The City of London Corporation provides local government and policing services for the financial and commercial heart of Britain, the 'Square Mile'. In addition, the City Corporation has three roles:

  • We support London’s communities by working in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on economic regeneration, education and skills projects. In addition, the City of London Corporation’s charity City Bridge Trust makes grants of more than £15 million annually to charitable projects across London and we also support education with three independent schools, three City Academies, a primary school and the world-renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
  • We also help look after key London’s heritage and green spaces including Tower Bridge, Museum of London, Barbican Arts Centre, City gardens, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches, and important ‘commons’ in south London.
  • We also support and promote the ‘City’ as a world-leading financial and business hub, with outward and inward business delegations, high-profile civic events and research-driven policies all reflecting a long-term approach.

See www.cityoflondon.gov.uk for more details.