Purpose

This report seeks approval to enter into an agreement with Environmental Enforcement Agents ‘Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement Ltd’ (WISE) for the provision of environmental enforcement services.

Decision

THAT the Portfolio Holder – Public Protection:
1)Agrees to enter into a three-year contract (with an optional extension period of one year) with ‘Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement Ltd’ (WISE), enabling them to act on behalf of Gedling Borough Council to enforce against, and reduce environmental crime.
2)Delegates the authority for the ongoing oversight and management of the arrangement to the Director of Place and Community Protection and Pollution Control Manager.

Reasons for the decision

To ensure that Gedling Borough Council can tackle environmental crime strongly without cost to the Council

Alternative options considered

The Council do not use an environmental crime agency meaning that the Council does not have any resources to carry out environmental enforcement. This could potentially be damaging to the credibility and reputation of the Council as it would be unable to effectively enforce environmental offences such as fly tipping, littering and dog fouling.