The Officer Key Decision meeting scheduled for Tuesday 21 April 2026 was set to discuss the extension of a contract for environmental enforcement services. This decision was delegated to the relevant officer, Rebecca Johnson, Corporate Director of Environment and Sustainable Transport.

Improving Borough Cleanliness - Extension of Contract for Enforcement Services

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the potential extension of the concession contract for environmental enforcement services. This contract, currently held by Kingdom LA Support Ltd, was due to expire on 31 March 2026. The report pack indicated that the proposed extension would be for a period of two years, from 1 April 2026 to 1 April 2028.

The report outlined that the current contract operates on a nil cost basis to the council, with income generated through a revenue share arrangement with the successful supplier. The estimated income for the council over the two-year extension period was £2,040,280, with the concessionaire receiving 56.25% of this amount.

The rationale for extending the contract was to ensure continued improvement in local environmental quality through proactive enforcement, aiming to reduce instances of environmental crime and fly-tipping. The report highlighted that the council currently exercises statutory powers under legislation such as the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 to take enforcement action.

The report indicated that the extension was recommended to allow time for a full, compliant procurement process for a new contract. It was noted that the original contract included an extension clause, and the proposed modification aligns with this provision and is permitted under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and Concession Contracts Regulations 2016 without requiring a new tender process.

Alternative options considered and rejected included running the service in-house, which was deemed not feasible due to capacity limitations, and having no environmental enforcement contract, which would result in a loss of income.

The report stated that the cleanliness of the local environment is a high priority for the council, supporting its aspirations to create a supportive and inclusive environment and contributing to the Towards a Better Newham pillars. Specifically, it was linked to Pillar 2, which focuses on the wellbeing of residents under 25, and Pillar 5, which aims to enable residents to live in accessible and inclusive neighbourhoods.

The report also addressed legal implications, noting the council's general power of competence under the Localism Act 2011. It confirmed that the provider had performed the service to a satisfactory level. Equalities implications were also considered, with the approach aiming to ensure uniform penalisation of offenders, while making concessions for those under 18 or classified as vulnerable. An Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA) had been carried out and would be kept under review.

The report indicated that the extension would mean Kingdom LAS would continue to use and operate from council premises. The decision maker for this officer key decision was Rebecca Johnson, Corporate Director of Environment and Sustainable Transport. The report stated that the decision could not be implemented until the sixth working day following its publication to allow members to consider calling it in.