Parkway Ownership

In our neighborhood in IL, the city technically owns the parkways, and the homeowners are responsible for all the upkeep.  But in the area of London that we live in, the responsibility ends at the wall of the flats... essentially leaving all the parkways and streets to the bourough. So instead of me raking all the leaves on the parkway (which I sometimes still do) the street cleaners come by with their hand carts once or twice a week.  And the food recycling truck comes through once a week to collect street leaves.  But since the ownership is on the town not individuals, the streets tend to be much more dirty.  People leave rubbish around, and are less likely to clean up after themselves or their dogs, despite the numerous sign reminders.