The Scrutiny Streets & Environment Sub-Committee met to discuss the highways maintenance contract, streets and environment enforcement, and the period eight financial performance report. The committee received an update on the highways maintenance contract with FM Conway, noting that officers proposed a further one-year extension to the contract, running until September 2027. This extension is conditional on negotiating further improvements with FM Conway, particularly regarding budgetary savings and financial consequences for performance failures. The extension aims to provide sufficient time for member engagement in detailed service specification work before a new procurement process begins in late 2026. The committee heard that market engagement indicated a strong competitive field of potential contractors for the future procurement.

Discussions focused on the quality of pothole repairs, with assurances that inspectors check materials and that contractors are obligated to rectify work not meeting specified standards. The contract management has been significantly enhanced since the extension, with increased regular meetings and closer monitoring. The committee also discussed the gully cleansing programme, acknowledging challenges with access due to parked cars and exploring new ways to improve planning, such as integrating gully clearing with road resurfacing. A significant Highways Capital Programme for 2026-27 is planned to address backlogs in gully cleansing.

Regarding the procurement strategy, the one-year extension was deemed necessary for practical timing reasons, allowing for a more effective procurement process in the autumn. The council believes this extension offers budgetary savings and ensures best value without detriment. The potential for innovation and new technologies within the extended contract was discussed, with the understanding that contractors may hold back some innovations for the future procurement process. The committee also noted the find and fix element being agreed with FM Conway, which should lead to fewer potholes needing resident reporting and quicker repairs.

Contract management has been tightened with regular operational and strategic meetings, culminating in quarterly governance meetings. The committee also discussed the process of reporting service failures, clarifying that reports from residents via Love Clean Streets are logged and then task orders are issued to FM Conway, requiring council instruction for payment. Residents can help by providing clear location information and photos. Penalties for contractor underperformance were discussed, with existing fines considered too low and the contract restricting total annual penalties. The committee suggested these fines need to increase to provide adequate leverage.

Streets and Environment Enforcement Update

Councillor Scott Roche, Cabinet Member for Streets & Environment, introduced the report, highlighting the council's strengthened approach to environmental crime, including fly-tipping, littering, and unmanaged waste. He emphasised the broken window effect and the administration's zero-tolerance approach. The report detailed progress over the past year, including strengthened enforcement capacity, the introduction of a community compliance team, improved data intelligence, and a more targeted response to resident reports.

Charles Baker, Head of Environment and Sustainable Neighbourhoods, presented the findings, noting that Croydon had a high number of reported fly-tips, partly due to the ease of reporting via the Love Clean Streets app. He explained that data cleansing and the exclusion of duplicate reports were crucial. The council issued over 310 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for various environmental offences between April 2025 and February 2026. The report detailed the breakdown of FPNs issued, with household duty of care offences being the most common.

The committee discussed the effectiveness of the Love Clean Streets app, including efforts to mitigate duplicate reports through AI technology and improved location data. Concerns were raised about the complexity of reporting categories, and the council is working with Love Clean Streets to simplify the process and improve automation. The council is also collaborating with other boroughs using Love Clean Streets to share best practices.

The council's approach to fly-tipping on private land was clarified, with the council working with landowners to ensure clearance and recharge them. The introduction of a community compliance team has enabled more proactive intervention. The use of CCTV, including mobile deployable units, has been increased in hotspot locations. The council is also developing a dump busters webpage to publicise ongoing investigations and seek public assistance.

Discussions also covered trade waste compliance, with a new digital process for businesses to confirm their arrangements. The council is introducing designated coloured bags for flats above shops to distinguish between household and trade waste, and plans for designated collection points with clear signage. The report highlighted work with housing estates to address waste issues, including redesigning bin locations and providing dedicated bulky waste crews. The use of covert surveillance was discussed, with compliance with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act being paramount. The council is also exploring how to better utilise privately held CCTV footage.

The committee noted that approximately 37% of FPNs issued had been paid, with a further 29% progressing to prosecution. Concerns were raised about the low payment rate and the need for stronger deterrents. The council is moving towards prosecuting unpaid penalties. The cost-effectiveness of enforcement was discussed, with the aim of reducing fly-tipping leading to cost savings in contract management. Mobile recycling centres have been piloted, with lessons learned being gathered to inform future rollouts.

Period 8 Financial Performance Report

Venetia Reid-Baptiste, Interim Corporate Director, Sustainable Communities, Regeneration and Economic Recovery, informed the committee that as of period eight, the directorate was forecasting an overall net underspend of £600,000, with £400,000 of this relating to street and environment services. This was in line with previous reporting, with additional savings coming from street lighting costs due to the change to LED lanterns and extended periods of light reduction. The directorate's main stabilisation plan target was around parking, with a forecast increase of £1.3 million against a target of £1 million. The committee noted that the council was on track to deliver a saving by the end of the year despite unexpected challenges.

Cabinet Response to Scrutiny Recommendations

The committee noted the report detailing the Cabinet's responses to previous recommendations made by the Sub-Committee. The responses indicated that recommendations regarding the publication of street cleansing zone data and education on waste reporting were either partially accepted or already in progress. The use of AI in the Love Clean Streets app to differentiate waste event types and land ownership was also noted as being in progress.

Scrutiny Work Programme 2025-26

The committee noted the completed work programme for 2025-26 and discussed potential items for the 2026-27 Work Programme. Suggestions included tree mapping, the Climate Action Plan, enforcement and the abandoned vehicle service, the Love Clean Streets app, flood risk management, the highways maintenance contract, the waste contract and Beddington Incinerator, the Mayor's Business Plan KPIs, local plan implementation, air quality, the electric vehicle charging point strategy rollout, active transport, and the Blitz Clean Programme. The committee sought clarification on which Cabinet brief Climate Adaptation and Mitigation sat under.