The Community Scrutiny Committee of North West Leicestershire Council met on Thursday 25 June 2026 to discuss a range of topics, including an update on the new recycling containers project, resident involvement processes, and recommendations regarding water management in the Coalville Strategic Growth Area. The committee also reviewed the Cabinet's response to previous scrutiny recommendations and considered items for the future work programme.

New Recycling Containers Project Update and Policy

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the progress of the new recycling containers project, which aims to introduce a simpler twin-bin recycling system and a weekly food waste collection. The report detailed the mobilisation for the rollout, including vehicle and container procurement, staff engagement, and the communications strategy. It also outlined the proposed bin lid colours – orange for plastics, cans, tins, foil, and aerosols, and blue for card and paper – and the rationale for selecting Phase One of the rollout to cover the Wednesday collection zone, encompassing areas like Coalville and Whitwick. The draft Waste and Recycling Collections Service Statement was also presented, detailing accepted materials, procedures for excess waste, and replacement container policies. The council's aspiration to achieve a 60% recycling rate by 2028 was highlighted, with the new system seen as a key driver for this.

Resident Involvement Process

Councillor Andrew Woodman, Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder, presented a report outlining opportunities for tenants to get involved in the Housing service. The aim was to inform the development of a Resident Involvement Strategy. The report detailed various engagement opportunities, including a Tenant Scrutiny Panel (TSP), Estate Evaluators, Tenant Void Inspectors, Recruitment Panels, and an InTouch Editorial Panel. It also covered feedback mechanisms such as the Tenant Association Governance and Networking Group (TAGANG), Tenant Associations, Quarterly Update and Briefing Sessions (Tea and Talk ), Digital Involvement, Estate Walkabouts, and the process for compliments, feedback, and complaints. The next steps included promoting these opportunities and developing a revised Resident Involvement Strategy.

Recommendations of the Water Management in the Coalville Strategic Growth Area Task and Finish Group

Councillor Dr Terri Eynon, Chair of the Task and Finish Group, presented the group's final report on water management in the Coalville Strategic Growth Area. The group had reviewed issues of sewerage pollution along the River Sence, particularly in Hugglescote and Donington le Heath, linked to new housing development. The report detailed evidence considered, including submissions from local residents, parish councils, Leicestershire County Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority, and Severn Trent Water (STW). The group made five recommendations:

1. The Council should ask STW to review its approach to responding to planning applications to ensure robust technical evidence is provided regarding sewer capacity.
2. The Council should ask STW to redouble its efforts to implement interim mitigation measures to reduce the impact of pollution while long-term solutions are delivered by 2030.
3. The Council should ask STW to provide evidence of ingress, infiltration, or misconnection relating to Sustainable Urban Drainage Schemes (SuDS) in SE Coalville to enable the Council to consider enforcement action, and explore additional planning controls for future SuDS.
4. The Council should make political representations through the local MP to press for the enactment of Schedule 3 of the Floods and Water Management Act 2010 to designate SuDS Approval Bodies (SABs).
5. The Council should work with STW to reinforce public messaging about what is acceptable and unacceptable to dispose of down the lavatory, given the evidence of sanitary products, condoms, and nappies being discharged via storm overflows.

The report also included findings on sewerage pollution incidents, planning and development impacts, STW's investment plans, and the role of SuDS.

Scrutiny Annual Report

The committee was scheduled to consider and comment on the draft Scrutiny Annual Report for 2025/26. This report summarises the work undertaken by both the Corporate Scrutiny Committee and the Community Scrutiny Committee over the preceding 12 months. It includes forewords from the chairs of both committees, an overview of the scrutiny process, details of the work undertaken by each committee, and information on public involvement in scrutiny. The report also outlines the role of the Scrutiny Work Programming Group and provides details of upcoming work programmes.

Items for Inclusion in the Future Work Programme

The committee was due to consider any items to be included in its future work programme. This would involve reviewing the plan of forthcoming Cabinet decisions and the current work programme to identify potential topics for future scrutiny.

The meeting also included standard agenda items such as apologies for absence, declarations of interest, and a public question and answer session. The minutes of the previous meeting held on 23 April 2026 and an update on outstanding actions were also scheduled for consideration. A report on the Cabinet's response to scrutiny recommendations was also on the agenda.