Agenda item

To consider a confidential report by Councillor Tony Thomas, Lead Member for Housing, Regulation and Environment (copy enclosed) detailing options for delivering environmental enforcement in the county.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       note the options for the delivery of the enforcement of environmental crime in the report and authorise officers to proceed with option 3 with colleagues in procurement to procure an external service provider;

(b)       agree that the Head of Planning and Public Protection agrees the content of the final specification for the service delivery of environmental enforcement following consideration of the draft specification by Scrutiny Committee, and

(c)        officers continue to investigate the opportunity for regional or sub-regional collaboration and report back to Scrutiny Committee on progress of that work in six months.

Councillor Tony Thomas presented the confidential report detailing options for delivering environmental enforcement in the county.

Some background had been provided regarding the previous enforcement regime delivered by Kingdom Security Ltd and the collaborative approach in tackling environmental crime through education/public awareness and effective street cleaning resulting in a cleaner local environment.  Following early termination of the contract by Kingdom Security Ltd an options appraisal for future provision had been undertaken as set out within the report.  It was recommended to re-tender the contract for delivery of environmental crime enforcement whilst continuing to explore the option of a regional or sub-regional collaborative solution.

Cabinet considered the options appraisal and advantages and disadvantages of individual options.  The need for a cost neutral solution and clarity on the specification for service delivery was emphasised together with the need for appropriate interim measures pending re-commencement of enforcement action.  A preference was expressed for regional working but given the timescales involved it was considered appropriate to support the option to re-tender to ensure no undue delay in enforcement provision whilst the viability of a regional option was being explored.  Given the importance of the specification for service delivery and to allow members input into that process, Cabinet supported a proposal by Councillor Richard Mainon for the draft specification be considered by Scrutiny Committee and it was also agreed that an update on progressing the opportunity for regional/sub regional collaboration be reported back to Scrutiny Committee in six months.

In opening debate to non-Cabinet members there were concerns expressed that re-tendering to a private company would give rise to the same issues experienced under the previous contract and it was considered that greater control over service delivery could be exercised with in-house provision.  The possibility of amalgamating all on-street enforcement services, including parking enforcement was also raised.  The Lead Member and Head of Planning and Public Protection reiterated the significant cost implications and recruitment difficulties with in-house provision.  They explained there would be a revised specification on service requirements taking into account past experience and feedback in that regard and members would have further input into those terms through the scrutiny process.  It was clarified that the purpose of the contract would be to tackle environmental issues as opposed to being a means of income generation.  An amalgamation of enforcement services could be considered as part of the forthcoming restructure.  There was also some support for regional collaboration, whether in-house or external provision, and members were advised of the latest position in that regard in terms of interest and discussions with other North Wales authorities.  There would be no public consultation on the options.  Members also discussed the education and public awareness campaign and the possibility of re-introducing the triangular signage in dog fouling hotspots together with future opportunities to work with education services in schools.  Officers agreed to consider those options and also to liaise with the Police regarding the potential for them to take enforcement action in the interim period.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       note the options for the delivery of the enforcement of environmental crime in the report and authorise officers to proceed with option 3 with colleagues in procurement to procure an external service provider;

(b)       agree that the Head of Planning and Public Protection agrees the content of the final specification for the service delivery of environmental enforcement following consideration of the draft specification by Scrutiny Committee, and

(c)        officers continue to investigate the opportunity for regional or sub-regional collaboration and report back to Scrutiny Committee on progress of that work in six months.