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Briefing Note – Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Environmental and Waste Crime Enforcement

Preamble

its 20 June 2023 meeting, the Committee agreed to undertake a review into Environmental and Waste Crime Enforcement, to take place via meetings of the Committee.

The scope is attached to this briefing note.

In July 2023, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman met with the relevant officers to discuss the review, with the following subjects being highlighted as important to Members and/or Officers as part of the review, based off the review scope and committee sentiments:

·         Team focus & resources (including technological resources);

·         Waste Crime Enforcement, to include fly-tipping, littering, fouling;

·         Decisions made by KCC and their impact to Maidstone; and

·         Fixed Penalty Notice increases and Member input into application of FPNs. 

An information pack has been produced to support the review, which includes:

Example Questions

·         What aspects of enforcement are carried out well?

·         What are the main areas for improvement?

·         How could these be improved?

·         Is there an additional resource need or are there other changes that could be made to benefit the service’s efficiency?

·         What would be required to make this improvement and support it in the long-term?

Officer Attendees (Oct 2023 Meeting)

Jennifer Stevens, Head of Environmental Services and Public Realm

Responsible for the Environmental Services and Public Realm service area, including (but not limited to):

Enforcement of litter and waste control, street cleansing, refuse collection, public conveniences, grounds maintenance and parks and open spaces. 

John Edwards, Public Realm Operations Manager and Carl McIvor, Waste Crime Manager.

See information pack for further information on team structure and responsibilities.

Next Steps

·         Note any initial recommendations from internal stakeholder reviews;

·         Conduct external stakeholder interviews (Nov 2023);

·         Review if further information is required;

·         Summarise recommendations for report;

·         Submit report to Cabinet.