Issue - meetings

Recommendation CE 23/18 of the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee of 14 June 2023

Consideration was given to recommendation CE 23/18 of the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee of 14 June 2023.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             a contract for the third-party provision of litter and fly tipping enforcement be procured through a formal tender procedure (as set out in option 3 at 1.4.1 of the report)

(D230064CAB)

Consideration was given to recommendation CE 23/18 of the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee of 14 June 2023.

The Cabinet Member for Transformation and Infrastructure commented that the procurement of a third-party enforcement contract demonstrated that fly tipping and littering would not be tolerated in Tonbridge and Malling.

RESOLVED:  That a contract for the third-party provision of litter and fly tipping enforcement be procured through a formal tender procedure (as set out in option 3 at 1.4.1 of the report to Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee)

To report on the performance of the Litter & Fly Tipping Enforcement pilot with National Enforcement Solutions after the first six months. The report identifies options for the future and asks the Committee to make recommendations to Cabinet.

Following a review of the Litter and Fly Tipping Enforcement pilot with the National Enforcement Solutions (NES) which started on 17 October 2022, Members were updated on its performance for the first six months and were requested to consider the future option for the litter and fly tipping enforcement approaches.

In general, it was considered that the pilot had gone well so far, in terms of both the expectations of the Borough Council and those of the NES, and the pilot had been proved financially viable for the NES’ business model, although significant officer resource had been required to support the pilot.  It had also been proved effective in terms of the results experienced through the use of a third-party resource to deal with many more litter and fly tipping offences than could had been tackled within the existing resources of the Borough Council.

During discussion, clarification was sought on the possibility to extend the working hours of the Enforcement Officers to carry out evening ‘hot spot’ checks under the pilot.  Furthermore, concerns were expressed by Members over litter and fly tipping at certain areas over particular times.  It was explained that changes to the inspection hours were not possible within the scope of the current arrangement, however, there would be flexibility for the inspection schedule to be considered as part of the specifications if Members were minded to support investigating the option to procure a contract for the provision of litter and fly tipping enforcement through a third party.

RECOMMENDED*: That

(1)        a contract for the third-party provision of litter and fly tipping enforcement be procured through a formal tender procedure (option 3 as set out in 1.4.1 of the report).

* Referred to Cabinet