Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: December 3, 2025

Purpose: This report provides an update on Croydon Council’s strengthened approach to environmental and regulatory enforcement, directly supporting the Executive Mayor’s Business Plan 2022–2026 priority to make Croydon a cleaner, safer and healthier borough. The report highlights measurable progress since the refocused enforcement was introduced.   In 2021 the decision was taken to discontinue the Neighbourhood Safety Team. This service had previously provided a visible on-street presence and supported a broad range of community compliance and environmental enforcement activity. The reduction in frontline capacity affected the Council’s ability to proactively deter and respond to environmental crime. In light of these impacts, and the increasing concern about fly tipping, a new, fit-for-purpose team is being established with a more targeted focus on environmental crime, underpinned by a clear zero-tolerance approach.   Since the new Community Compliance Team started in September they have issued over 100 Fixed Penalty Notices for waste-related offences (paragraph 5.8), with early indicators showing a reduction in reported fly-tipping in hotspot areas. The Council has also secured several prosecutions including a £7,951 court fine and costs order against a persistent offender. Broader data demonstrates enforcement outcomes across multiple environmental disciplines (Appendix A in the full report).

Content: For the reasons set out in the report, the Executive Mayor and Cabinet AGREED to:   Note the progress made in delivering the refocused approach to environmental and regulatory enforcement across the Streets and Environment Department since April 2025 (paragraphs 5.5–5.10).   Note that the formal approval process for the draft Streets and Environment Enforcement Policy 2025 is currently underway (paragraphs 5.1–5.5).   Agree that future updates on enforcement performance are reported to Cabinet on an annual basis, ensuring sustained visibility of progress and outcomes against the Executive Mayor’s Business Plan priorities.