It is known as a Fine City, but for some people, Norwich's storied streets could do with more than just a spring clean.
Councillors have been told to "get a grip on the mess" and tidy the city following complaints its streets were looking scruffy.
Now City Hall has agreed to spend £313,000 on projects aiming to spruce up Norwich, including investing in more enforcement officers to stop people making a mess.
Under the plans, the cash will go towards preventing and cleaning fly tipping and graffiti, as well as targeting untidy and vacant land and buildings.
At a recent meeting, councillors said one of the biggest complaints raised by people living in the city was that they wanted the authority to do more to stop the area from looking scruffy.
In a consultation about its spending plans, 525 people out of more than 800 respondents urged for streets and public spaces to be improved.
Several of the city's alleyways have been covered in graffiti, while some major buildings on the high street - including the former Debenhams building and the closed Wilko and Poundland stores in St Stephens Street - have remained boarded up for a number of years.
The decision follows years of pressure from the opposition Green group, who have urged the council to do more to tackle issues like fly-tipping. The group had tabled an amendment with similar suggestions for actions aimed at cleaning the city.
It will follow on from previous schemes, such as Love Norwich, that encouraged people to keep Norwich "tidy and beautiful" through boosting people's pride in the city.
Announcing the funding, Carli Harper, cabinet member for finance, said: "Residents consistently tell us they want cleaner neighbourhoods and visible improvements.
"And that is why we're ringfencing additional funding to tackle the blight of fly-tipping, strengthen enforcement action and clean up our estates alongside wider investment in waste services and environmental enforcement.
"This is about reinforcing pride and making sure that Norwich remains a city people are proud to call home."
Lucy Galvin, leader of the Green group, urged the Labour-run council to "get a grip on the mess".
She said: "We have said this long and loud in the last five years at least, that there are messy bin areas, fly-tipping hotspots and a lack of enforcement.
"Our list of budget amendments was tackling street cleanliness and fly-tipping so I'm really glad so much of this has been taken on by the administration."
Speaking to people in the city centre, there was a clear mood that Norwich can sometimes fail to live up to its reputation as the Fine City.
Caidon Cary, 18, who works for Cary’s Flowers in the Market, said: “In the evening’s bins opposite the market along Gentleman’s Walk are overflowing with bottles, beer cans and kebabs on the floor.
“Littering is the worst thing. People often leave takeaway wrappings on benches after eating. We’ve come in on mornings and there have been beer cans left on the steps.
“St Stephens underpass is one of the worst places in the city for littering and graffiti.”
Beckah, 21, a barista at Apricity Cafe in the market, said: “It isn’t nice at the top end of St Stephens Street or where Debenhams used to be.”
Mia, 26, a baker at Bread Source in the market, said: “There used to be needles on the floor in the surrounding areas of the West Pottergate council estate, which isn’t nice as lots of children would walk by there.
“Magdalen Street could be cleaner, and the Anglia Square demolition site is an eyesore.
“Seeing shut-up shops along St Stephens Street isn’t very motivational.”
BUDGET APPROVED
As well as plans to tidy up the area, Norwich City Council also agreed to increase council tax by 2.99pc - the maximum amount it can without triggering a referendum.
The council will also set aside £1m to support the shake-up of councils in 2027, which will mean district and county councils are abolished in favour of one or more unitary authority.
City Hall wants a Greater Norwich council created, which will cover the city and parts of what is currently in the South Norfolk and Broadland districts.
It has introduced a "dynamic budget" which will allow the authority to make changes over the next three years.
More money will be invested in improving its housing stock, with £78,014,000 assigned to its Housing Revenue Account expenditure budget.
Each ward will also be awarded £5,000 per year to invest in local community projects.
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