Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Nigel Williams.

Councillor Peter Clark was present as a substitute.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 14 July 2026.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2026 were agreed by the Committee.

To interview the Cabinet Portfolio holders for Environment, Transport and Planning, Cllr Rob Broom and for Stronger Communities and Equalities, Cllr Nazmin Chowdhury regarding their policy position for fly-tipping and any future developments to tackle fly-tipping.

The Committee interviewed the Cabinet Portfolio Holders for Environment, Transport and Planning and Stronger Communities and Equalities as part of its review of fly-tipping.

Members discussed the importance of a balanced approach combining prevention, education, communication and enforcement. It was considered important that residents and businesses received clear and regular information about what constituted fly-tipping, including simple visual communications showing examples of unacceptable waste disposal. Members noted that some residents might not understand that leaving items beside bins, at recycling sites or in other public areas constituted fly-tipping and that greater awareness of the seriousness of the offence was required.

There was strong support for maintaining an appropriate enforcement response, particularly in cases of persistent or repeated fly-tipping. Members considered that residents should generally be given an opportunity to rectify matters following an initial incident or warning, but that further action, including Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs), should be considered where fly-tipping continued. Members did not support setting a numerical target for the issuing of FPNs, as this could create an inappropriate incentive for enforcement. Instead, it was suggested that enforcement activity should be monitored as a statistic to assess how effectively cases supported prevention, clearance and behaviour change.

Members raised concerns regarding fly-tipping at recycling and bring-bank locations, particularly where black bags or other items were left beside containers. Officers advised that recycling teams attended such sites at least three times a week, while the cleansing team attended daily, including a seven-day operation to clear fly-tipping. Members nevertheless considered whether improved signage, monitoring and communications at hotspot locations could help prevent incidents. The possibility of increasing waste disposal capacity was also discussed. While members recognised that overflowing or unavailable facilities could contribute to inappropriate disposal, the preferred approach was to encourage responsible disposal alongside improvements to signage and monitoring rather than simply increasing capacity.

The Committee heard that repeated fly-tipping in particular locations remained a significant concern. Members noted that residents frequently raised complaints about persistent offenders and considered that stronger enforcement could provide an effective deterrent. It was suggested that communications could be targeted not only at suspected perpetrators but also more widely across affected streets, informing residents that the Council was investigating fly-tipping and reinforcing that the behaviour would not be accepted. Members also suggested that residents could be encouraged to report incidents or provide information anonymously where they had witnessed fly-tipping.

The use of door-to-door engagement in hotspot areas was proposed alongside letters and leaflets, enabling officers to engage directly with residents and encourage the reporting of suspected incidents. Members considered that visible Council presence in affected communities could itself act as a deterrent and help officers develop stronger links with residents. It was also suggested that conversations with suspected perpetrators could have a preventative effect even where there was insufficient evidence to issue an FPN.

Members discussed the potential publication of photographs or details of individuals who had received enforcement action. Concerns were raised regarding privacy, GDPR and the potential for such measures to be disproportionate.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To receive a mapping document for the review including an update of the actions that the review set at its meeting on 14 July 2026. An Officer Briefing Note on how Councillors should report fly-tipping using the online reporting form is also provided.

The Committee received an update on fly-tipping enforcement data for 2025/26, following a request made at the previous meeting. The data provided covered enforcement activity across the Hertfordshire district and borough councils. Members were advised that, where possible, the Council sought to intervene with offenders before formal enforcement action was required. During the period, 129 investigated cases were resolved through the removal of fly-tipped waste prior to enforcement action. Two cases were resolved through tenancy enforcement, relating to issues associated with bin stores or communal areas within Council-owned properties. A total of 13 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) were issued, of which 11 were paid and two were referred to court for legal action. Comparative FPN data for other Hertfordshire authorities was also provided for Members' consideration.

Members queried the significant variation in enforcement activity between authorities and asked whether there were lessons that could be learned from councils recording higher levels of enforcement. It was acknowledged that further work was required through the Fly-Tipping Action Plan to identify best practice both within Hertfordshire and nationally. The potential use of CCTV was highlighted as both a deterrent and a means of gathering evidence to support enforcement action. Members also discussed the importance of identifying and addressing local hotspots, with particular concerns raised regarding persistent fly-tipping around bins, garage compounds, parks and other communal areas. It was noted that the majority of residents disposed of their waste responsibly, but that a relatively small number of individuals could have a significant detrimental effect on neighbourhoods.

The Committee discussed the possibility of undertaking more proactive community engagement in identified hotspot areas. Officers advised that improved data from the Council's new digital system was helping to provide greater clarity regarding the location of incidents. As part of the Action Plan, consideration would be given to undertaking targeted visits, including door-knocking and the distribution of letters to households in affected areas. This approach was intended both to discourage further fly-tipping and to encourage residents to report incidents and provide evidence where possible. Members also suggested that greater communication was required to ensure residents understood what constituted fly-tipping, how waste could be disposed of correctly and the potential consequences of committing an offence.

Members queried the destination of waste removed by individuals who had voluntarily cleared fly-tipping following intervention. Officers advised that they did not have the specific information available at the meeting but would seek clarification from the Enforcement Team regarding how such waste was subsequently disposed of and whether it was dealt with responsibly

The Committee received an update on the provision of electrical waste recycling facilities. Officers explained that the previous collection service had been discontinued due to cost issues. The service had also experienced a 33% reduction in usage between 2019 and 2022. Officers were now reviewing whether a replacement service should be introduced and were considering a Council-led trial at a few high-priority locations, potentially including Oaks Cross, St Nicholas and The Oval. It was noted that the trial would be intended  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To receive and review the Officer Fly-tipping Task Force’s Action Plan.

The Committee received a presentation on the draft Fly-Tipping Action Plan, which had been developed in consultation with key Council officers and partners, including the Police. The Action Plan comprised eight key objectives, supported by a series of tasks and actions, and would be monitored through a Fly-Tipping Task Force, with additional governance through the SoSafe Partnership. Lead officers and target dates were being added to the document, with several actions already underway. Suggested Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) had also been included, and the Committee was invited to provide comments and suggestions for further development.

Members highlighted the importance of updating the Council’s Environmental Crime Enforcement Policy to provide greater clarity on the Council’s approach to fly-tipping, graffiti and fly-posting, and to address inconsistencies in investigation and enforcement processes. The need for clear roles and responsibilities across the teams involved in environmental crime, together with appropriate staff training on legislation, investigation and enforcement powers, was also emphasised. Members welcomed the proposed use of CCTV and a performance dashboard, suggesting that the dashboard could provide publicly accessible information and be reviewed regularly to maintain focus on delivery of the Action Plan.

The Committee discussed the importance of communication, community engagement and ensuring that residents understood what constituted fly-tipping, including the inappropriate placement of waste beside bins. Members welcomed the proposal for St Nicholas to be used as a pilot area and suggested that all Council staff could be encouraged and trained to report environmental crime, thereby increasing the intelligence available to officers. Reassurance was provided that the existing arrangements for the removal of offensive graffiti within 24 hours would continue.

Members also raised concerns regarding the quality and speed of graffiti removal at locations around the town and requested that officers consider whether further action could be taken to improve the overall standard and timeliness of removal. Members further suggested that the Action Plan should consider the definitions and reporting of fly-tipping statistics to DEFRA, with the importance of staff understanding the relevant definitions noted.

The Committee was advised of the forthcoming Keep Britain Tidy national fly-tipping campaign, running from 12 to 25 October, alongside which Hertfordshire partners would promote the local campaign using existing campaign materials and enforcement success stories through social media. Members were encouraged to share the campaign information to increase its reach.

It was RESOLVED that the Action Plan should have clear ownership and that quarterly progress updates could be undertaken to ensure that actions remained live and that incremental progress was monitored.

To consider any Part 1 business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

There was no Urgent Part I Business.

To consider the following motions –

1.  That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.  That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

It was RESOLVED: 

1. That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access toInformation) (Variation) Order 2006. 

2.That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

There was no Urgent Part II Business.