Agenda item

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 for small electrical items such as kettles and toasters, and that clear communications would be required to prevent larger appliances being deposited at the sites.

Members raised concerns regarding the safe disposal of lithium batteries. Officers advised that lithium batteries would not be accepted through the proposed electrical waste facilities and confirmed that the Council was also investigating a kerbside battery collection service, with the intention of trialling this from January 2027. Members welcomed the proposed approach, particularly in light of recent fires at waste facilities and the risks associated with lithium batteries.

A Member queried whether the Council had received complaints following the withdrawal of the electrical waste facilities and whether reinstating the service represented value for money. Officers confirmed that, to their knowledge, no complaints had been received, but noted that significant quantities of electrical waste were being collected at the Cavendish transfer station and that some of this appeared to originate from fly-tipping. It was therefore considered appropriate to test whether providing a local service could reduce fly-tipping levels.

The Committee discussed repeat offenders and the challenges associated with identifying individuals responsible for repeated incidents. Officers advised that limited data was available because evidence was required before enforcement action could be taken. However, more targeted work could be undertaken in areas where repeated problems were identified, particularly around flat blocks and communal bin stores. Officers also highlighted the need to address commercial waste being deposited at bring bank sites and confirmed that further work with local traders would be undertaken.

Members were reminded of the Council's new online reporting system for fly-tipping. Officers explained that residents could report incidents either as registered users or as guests, with reports being sent directly to the relevant team. Once the waste had been removed, the case would be closed and the person reporting the incident would receive an email notification.

Members discussed whether the Council's prompt removal of fly-tipping could inadvertently encourage further incidents by creating an expectation that waste would be removed quickly. It was acknowledged that the Council needed to balance an effective cleansing response with the importance of discouraging repeat behaviour.

The Committee considered potential visits to identified fly-tipping hotspots and discussed the difficulty of observing incidents if sites had already been cleared. It was suggested that officers could take photographs of sites before clearance over an agreed period, providing Members with a representative pictorial record of the issues. Members also suggested undertaking unannounced spot checks of a number of locations to provide a more accurate picture of conditions at the sites.

The Committee considered the possibility of engaging with a neighbouring authority as a critical friend to identify alternative approaches to fly-tipping enforcement. Officers agreed that information could be sought from other authorities, while noting concerns regarding the wider use of private enforcement companies and the risk of enforcement activity being the priority rather than addressing the underlying causes of fly-tipping.

Members also queried whether Civil Enforcement Officers could potentially be given powers to undertake fly-tipping enforcement. Officers agreed to investigate the relevant legislation and whether such an approach was possible. Members expressed a preference for enforcement to remain closely connected to the Council's existing waste services and local knowledge, rather than being undertaken by an external private organisation.

The Committee subsequently considered comparative fly-tipping data presented in the report. Members raised concerns that the data did not necessarily provide a fair comparison for Stevenage, particularly given the Council's 8,000 housing properties, associated communal areas and other Council-owned land and buildings. It was suggested that Stevenage's distinctive Radburn layout of its housing stock could also affect how incidents were classified, particularly where pathways, footpaths and areas around properties were concerned.

Concern was also expressed regarding the classification of incidents on highways and footpaths, with the data appearing to show significantly fewer highway incidents in Stevenage than in other authorities. Members suggested that this might reflect differences in definitions or reporting practices rather than the actual level of fly-tipping experienced by pedestrians and cyclists. Officers acknowledged that Stevenage's reporting arrangements differed from those of other Hertfordshire authorities and that this could affect the figures presented.

The Committee noted that the comparative data had originated from DEFRA and suggested that clarification should be sought regarding the definitions used for the different categories. It was agreed that the Council should consider raising concerns with DEFRA where appropriate, while continuing to review its own reporting methodology to ensure that the data accurately represented the scale and location of fly-tipping in Stevenage.

It was RESOLVED that the reporting instructions should be circulated to all Members to ensure they were readily available when reporting incidents.