Issue - meetings

To advise the Cabinet about a draft Partnership Litter and Fly-Tipping Engagement and Enforcement Strategy and seek approval to go out to public consultation (report of the Assistant Director - Regulatory enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director Regulatory which advised Cabinet of a draft Partnership Litter and Fly-Tipping Engagement and Enforcement Strategy.

The Portfolio Holder for Public Protection presented the report, which introduced the draft Litter and Fly-Tipping Engagement and Enforcement Strategy for adoption across the S&ELCP.

The strategy set out the ambition to tackle these issues through a stronger focus on engagement, education and enforcement.  An Action Plan had also been provided to detail the key activities to take place, which included a social media campaign, improved signage and the use of overt cameras.  The strategy supported the new enforcement contract, which had just been agreed across the Partnership.

Members were advised of a change to the recommendation as published within the report, as it was felt that a review and consultation after six months would be more meaningful in order to measure the impact the Strategy was having.  Members were therefore asked to approve the Litter and Fly-Tipping Engagement and Enforcement Strategy and Action Plan with the commitment to review and carry out a consultation in six months.

The following points were raised:

·       While welcoming the proposals, concern was raised around how effective the new Strategy would be in addressing the constant issues faced in the area around litter and fly-tipping.  The proposals would not assist private landowners who regularly had to deal with fly-tipping.  Cabinet members responded that it was felt that the proposals were a step in the right direction, but it was also acknowledged that the rural nature of South Holland made it a particularly difficult problem to resolve.  Education was important, and nationally there should be higher fines to act as a deterrent.  The recent decision to award the Enviro-Crime Enforcement Contract to Kingdom L A Support Ltd would allow the Authority to work alongside the contractor, providing more scope to address the problems of littering and fly-tipping.

·       With regard to cameras that had already been purchased, it was noted that some had already been deployed.  Cameras could be used for covert and overt surveillance, and the new contract with Kingdom L A Support Ltd would provide more capability in this regard, in addition to undertaking some overt surveillance with them in the future.  It was acknowledged that stronger regulation around surveillance at a national level was required.

DECISION:

That the Litter and Fly-Tipping Engagement and Enforcement Strategy and Action Plan be approved, with the commitment to review and carry out consultation in six months’ time.

(Other options considered:

·       To do nothing;

Reasons for decision:

·       To enable the Council to take forward the Strategy and Action Plan to tackle the issues of Litter and Fly-tipping.  A review to be carried out in six months to consider the impact that the Strategy and Action Plan are having on the issues of litter and fly-tipping).

To advise the Panel about a draft Partnership Litter and Fly-Tipping Engagement and Enforcement Strategy and ask for feedback (report of the Assistant Director - Regulatory enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director - Regulatory which advised the Panel about a draft Partnership Litter and Fly-Tipping Engagement and Enforcement Strategy and requested feedback.

The Assistant Director – Regulatory introduced the report by outlining the following background to the strategy:

• a sustained increase in litter and fly-tipping had been experienced on both a local and national level and the draft strategy outlined a proposed approach of engagement and enforcement to address these issues throughout the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (S&ELCP);
• a distinction was made between the aim of the draft Litter and Fly-Tipping Engagement and Enforcement Strategy and that of the infrastructure waste requirements reflected in the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership which related to services delivered by Lincolnshire County Council and district council waste collection services;
• a litter and fly-tipping strategy had not previously existed within any of the three sovereign councils of the S&ELCP and therefore the implementation of a new partnership strategy would help to steer the priorities set out within each of the authorities’ Corporate Plans.

• Appendix A set out The Draft Litter and Fly-Tipping Engagement and Enforcement Strategy.

• Appendix B was a presentation which outlined the salient points of the strategy.

Members considered the report and presentation and made the following comments:

• Members welcomed the document and stated that monitoring processes, milestones and timelines needed to be included in the strategy. 
  • The Assistant Director - Regulatory stated that:
    • approval of the strategy was expected by February 2023; the interim period enabled the strategy to be presented for consultation/scrutiny across the partnership before being presented to respective Executive Board/Cabinets for approval;
    • a Portfolio Holder briefing note had been issued regarding the procurement of a joint environmental crime enforcement contract. The procurement process for the contract was complete and it was anticipated that the preferred bidder would be approved and in place by February 2023, as the selected contractor needed eight weeks to mobilise. 
    • an Action Plan and Communications Plan would be presented alongside the strategy for approval by Cabinet and a suite of performance indicators would be implemented to monitor performance. The communications campaign would be broad, accessible in multiple languages and circulated through appropriate mechanisms.
• Members stated that the communication strategy needed to set out residents’ responsibilities regarding:
  • the illegal fly-tipping of privately collected waste; and
  • adherence to new legislation regarding the separation and collection of different forms of waste in order to avoid contamination.
• The Chairman requested the strategy be reviewed by the Policy Development Panel in November 2023.

• Members noted the importance of the strategy and the impact of environmental crime upon the district. It was hoped that the enforcement contract would facilitate a higher number of prosecutions for persistent offenders and when this had occurred, that details be widely publicised. Financial penalties were supported by members to motivate behavioural changes and serve as a deterrent to fly-tipping.
  • The Assistant Director – Regulatory responded that the environmental crime contract enabled the utilisation of patrols  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54