Issue - meetings

On 26 May 2021 Cabinet considered the report Fly-tipping and Fly-posting Enforcement Pilot and resolved that:

(a) Cabinet approves the commencement of a 12-month pilot scheme to deploy a suitable qualified contractor to undertake investigations and prosecutions of fly-tipping and fly-posting incidents;

(b) Cabinet agrees to receive a further report following 6 months of this pilot, which will include recommendations for the future of this service; and

(c) Cabinet approves the levels of fines for relevant offences as per paragraph 10.

This report provides a review of the first 6 months of the pilot which, from September 2021 has been delivered by Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement Ltd (WISE), together with recommendations for the future of the service.  WISE have been contracted on a cost-neutral basis to investigate and enforce against offenders of fly-tipping and fly-posting and ensure businesses meet legal requirements to manage waste lawfully and responsibly.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)           Cabinet approves an extension to the fly-tipping and fly-posting pilot with WISE until November 2022, with additional emphasis on:

                        i.         effective and increased communications with public and businesses;

                      ii.         enhanced joint working with the Council’s Waste Compliance Officers;

                     iii.         consideration of learning from best practice in other Councils

(b)           A further Cabinet report be brought in November 2022 with recommendations for the service long-term.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holders: Community Safety and Regulatory Services

                             Council Priorities and Delivery

                             Environment and Place

Reason

Prior to this Pilot, the Council did not investigate all reports of fly-tipping and had limited data on the scale of the problem in the area.

The Pilot has delivered its original objectives to investigate all reports of fly-tipping and fly-posting, to take enforcement action where an offence has been committed and fundamentally supports the Council’s Cleaner, Greener, Safer campaign.

The initial pilot period presents too short a timescale for the data collected by WISE to date to fully illustrate the challenges these environmental crimes cause BCP Council. Extending the pilot will provide further understanding to help enable officers and Members make the best decision for how the service operates longer term.

A more effective communications campaign will help mitigate some of the adverse reactions by those found to have committed an offence and closer working with the Council’s Waste Compliance Officers will ensure better co-ordination of efforts and improve the public’s understanding of the impact that fly-tipping and fly-posting has on the environment.

Further time with the Pilot will enable officers to speak to other Councils who are exhibiting best practice with regards to deterrents against fly-tipping and other environmental crimes and this information and subsequent recommendations will be provided at the further Cabinet meeting in November 2022.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Regulatory Services presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was reminded that on 26 May 2021 Cabinet considered the report Fly-tipping and Flyposting Enforcement Pilot and resolved that:

(a)          Cabinet approves the commencement of a 12-month pilot scheme to deploy a suitable qualified contractor to undertake investigations and prosecutions of fly-tipping and fly-posting incidents;

(b)          Cabinet agrees to receive a further report following 6 months of this pilot, which will include recommendations for the future of this service; and

(c)          Cabinet approves the levels of fines for relevant offences as per paragraph 10.

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that this report provided a review of the first 6 months of the pilot which, from September 2021 has been delivered by Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement Ltd (WISE), together with recommendations for the future of the service.

Further to this Cabinet was advised that WISE have been contracted on a cost-neutral basis to investigate and enforce against offenders of fly-tipping and fly-posting and ensure businesses meet legal requirements to manage waste lawfully and responsibly.

Councillor Hadley addressed the Cabinet highlighting that the report was interesting and seeking clarification in terms of the longer-term plan and what the plan was beyond the six-month extension, whether we would then be looking for a further extension or to tender it out or bring it inhouse?

The Portfolio Holder advised that the six-month extension provided the opportunity to continue learning, particularly from other local authorities and to ensure any gaps can be filled and that the scheme fits with what we are trying to do.

In addition, Cabinet praised the work of officers and expressed thanks in recognition of the work which had been involved.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)           Cabinet approves an extension to the fly-tipping and fly-posting pilot with WISE until November 2022, with additional emphasis on:

                        i.         effective and increased communications with public and businesses;

                      ii.         enhanced joint working with the Council’s Waste Compliance Officers;

                     iii.         consideration of learning from best practice in other Councils

(b)           A further Cabinet report be brought in November 2022 with recommendations for the service long-term.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holders: Community Safety and Regulatory Services

                             Council Priorities and Delivery

                             Environment and Place

To consider the Fly-Tipping and Fly-Posting Enforcement Pilot Review report scheduled for Cabinet consideration on 25 May 2022.

The Committee is asked to scrutinise and comment on the report and if required to make recommendations or observations as appropriate.

Cabinet members invited to attend for this item: Councillor Mark Anderson, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Place; Councillor Bobbie Dove, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Regulatory Services; Councillor Nicola Greene, Portfolio Holder for Council Priorities and Delivery.

Officers invited to attend for this item: Jess Gibbons, Chief Operations Officer and Matthew King, Regulation Team Manager

The Cabinet report for this item is included with the agenda for consideration by the Committee.

The Portfolio Holder for Council Priorities and Delivery presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these minutes in the Minute Book. There were a number of points raised and responded to by the Portfolio Holder, Community Enforcement Manager and the Regulatory Services manager including:

·       The Portfolio Holder was asked what the most prevalent type of fly-tipping was, whether it was chargeable or non-chargeable items. A Councillor commented that a lot of items fly-tipped appeared to be general household waste. The Portfolio Holder didn’t have a breakdown of the types of waste but advised that as part of the communications strategy moving forward people would be made aware what items were chargeable for disposal and also how members of the public could make sure they were using a reputable company to remove waste. The Committee was advised that if the domestic waste was being collected by a commercial company it would be chargeable if taken to the tip. A lot of fly-tipping was carried out by waste removal companies.

·       In response to a query, it was confirmed that untaxed cars abandoned on the public road were not considered fly-tipping. 

·       It was noted that the majority of inspections carried out were given a fixed penalty notice and a Councillor commented that they were aware of some adverse reaction to a number of calls. The Councillor asked if letters could be sent in advance. Notifications were given through the BIDS and the business development email circulation. The challenge was that businesses needed to provide proof of suitable waste collection for the previous 12 months, which some businesses were not prepared for. Waste environment officers provided feedback that warnings were given to businesses.

·       A Councillor commented that they supported the extension to the trial which appeared to have done some good work. However, they questioned if a further 6 months would be sufficient to conduct all inspections required. It was noted that there was rational behind the businesses which were chosen for inspection.

·       A Councillor commented that the Council’s online system for arranging collection of bulky items was difficult to navigate and they could see why residents would choose to use a third party.

·       In respect of a particular case where a resident was fined for a disputed fly-tipping incident it was noted that there was a need for better face to face interactions in these instances. Another Councillor commented on another disputed case of fly-tipping in which the fine was rescinded and praised the reactions in this case.

·       It was understood from the report that Communications did not have the resources to support the campaign, despite having 42 members of staff. It was suggested that if an outside contractor was brought in to conduct this there should be a way for its effectiveness to be audited. It was noted that the Communications team did provide support at the beginning of the pilot, but this was largely based  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7