The Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee of Camden Council met on Thursday 3 September 2026 to discuss a range of topics including the annual report from the Cabinet Member for Community Resilience, improvements to food waste recycling, performance updates from Trading Standards, and the management of the borough's trees. The committee also reviewed its work programme for the upcoming year.

Cabinet Member for Community Resilience: Annual Report 2026

The committee was scheduled to discuss the annual report from Councillor Pat Callaghan, the Cabinet Member for Community Resilience. This report was expected to provide an overview of the council's work in strengthening community resilience through partnerships, focusing on the voluntary, community, and faith sectors. It was anticipated to detail the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Investment Programme 2024-2031, which allocates over £4.1 million annually in grant funding, alongside organisational support and access to community spaces. The report was also set to cover initiatives related to equalities, inclusion, human rights, building cohesion and trust across communities, and efforts to combat violence against women and girls (VAWG). Finally, it was to highlight the promotion of health, wellbeing, and active communities, as well as updates on the Coroner Service and mortuary services.

Response to the Cabinet Adviser Report on Improving Food Waste Recycling in Camden

A key item on the agenda was the response to a report by Councillor Joseph Ball, the Cabinet Adviser on Food Waste Recycling. This report was expected to detail recommendations for improving food waste recycling across Camden, particularly in light of the forthcoming Simpler Recycling legislation which mandates food waste collection for all households by April 2026. The officer response was scheduled to outline actions being taken to implement Councillor Ball's ten recommendations, including targeted communications, empowering local advocates, rolling out fox-proof caddies, establishing a food waste recycling taskforce, prioritising larger estates for service expansion, and engaging with private landlords and businesses. The report also highlighted the ongoing rollout of food waste recycling for flats above shops and plans to lobby for additional funding and policy changes.

Trading Standards - 2025/26 Performance, Sector Leadership and Legislative Landscape

The committee was to receive an update on the performance of Camden Trading Standards during the 2025/26 period. The report was expected to detail the service's contributions to protecting residents, supporting legitimate businesses, improving public health, and disrupting organised crime. It was also to highlight national recognition received for excellence in consumer protection and public safety, with case studies on illicit tobacco and vapes, hallmarking and counterfeit jewellery, and unsafe counterfeit children's toys. A significant part of this agenda item was to outline the implications of the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 and the council's preparations for its phased implementation, which includes new age-of-sale restrictions, retailer licensing, and enhanced enforcement powers.

Camden Managed Trees

An update on the council's work in managing the borough's urban forest was scheduled for discussion. This report was to detail the policy, management practices, and planting initiatives related to Camden's approximately 29,000 managed trees. It was expected to highlight the benefits provided by the urban forest, as estimated by the itree eco inventory surveys, and outline the structure of the tree management team and their contractor, Treehab Limited. The report was also to cover the council's tree policy, which has been recognised internationally, and detail the progress of the 2020-2025 planting strategy, alongside plans for a new strategy focused on tree equity. Information on tree maintenance, including inspections, epicormic growth removal, Massaria inspections, and a biennial re-reduction programme for subsidence risk, was also to be presented. The report was to address the duty to consult on tree felling and introduce the Carbon Heroes initiative, an innovative model for funding tree planting.

Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee Work Programme and Action Tracker

Finally, the committee was to review its work programme for the 2026/27 municipal year and track actions from previous meetings. This paper was intended to provide an overview of the committee's planned scrutiny topics, informed by corporate priorities and community issues. It was also to outline key Cabinet decisions scheduled for discussion and present an update on the progress of actions arising from past meetings. The committee was invited to provide input on future scrutiny priorities and any forthcoming key Cabinet decisions they wished to examine in advance.