This report provides an overview of the outcomes of the enhanced environmental enforcement trial and seeks approval to proceed with the procurement of a fixed?term enhanced environmental enforcement contract.

The Committee considered a report that provided an overview of the outcomes of the enhanced environmental enforcement trial and seeking approval to proceed with the procurement of a fixed?term enhanced environmental enforcement contract, in line with the Council Plan 2025–2028.  Attached to the report at Appendix 1 was the Kingdom Local Authority Support (KLAS) partnership key performance indicators & monitoring and at Appendix 2 an Equality Impact Assessment.  An Annexe to Appendix 1 contained exempt information that had been redacted from the Appendix and was submitted separately from the main report.

The report noted that the Council Plan 2025–2028 committed the Council to maintaining high environmental standards, promoting fairness across communities and ensuring the organisation remained fit for the future within a constrained financial context.  Environmental enforcement was a discretionary, but strategically important, function that contributed to these objectives by deterring environmental crime, encouraging responsible behaviour, and maintaining public confidence in the management of public spaces across the borough.

The Council’s in?house Recycling & Environmental Enforcement Team delivered a range of statutory duties alongside discretionary enforcement functions, including resident engagement and the implementation of the Simpler Recycling reforms.  These competing demands had historically limited capacity to deliver sustained, high?visibility environmental enforcement activity. In response, the Council had entered a 12?month trial enhanced environmental enforcement partnership in September 2025 with KLAS.  The trial had delivered a significant increase in enforcement activity, improved visibility, and positive environmental outcomes, while maintaining appropriate governance and without introducing undue financial risk to the Council.

It was noted that as the trial concluded in September 2026, a decision was required on the future delivery model for environmental enforcement.  Based on the evidence from the trial, it was recommended to proceed with the procurement of a fixed?term enhanced enforcement partnership, to sustain improved outcomes while protecting in?house capacity required to deliver statutory priorities, including Simpler Recycling.

Resolved –

(1)          That the outcomes, benefits and lessons learned from the 12-month enhanced environmental enforcement partnership with Kingdom Local Authority Support (KLAS) which would conclude in September 2026 be noted;

(2)               That the Executive Director of Economic Growth & Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Environmental Services and Community Safety, the Director of Finance, and the Director of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to procure and enter into a contract for an environmental partnership for a period of three years, with an estimated value of £300k per annum.