The Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Tendring Council met on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, to discuss the rollout of the new waste and street cleaning contract and to review the committee's work programme for the upcoming year. The meeting's agenda also included an update on previous recommendations and a summary of forthcoming decisions.

Waste and Street Cleaning Contract Rollout Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the rollout of the council's new waste collection and street cleaning contract, which commenced on 1 April 2026. This contract was awarded to Veolia Environmental Services at a Cabinet meeting on 14 November 2025. The report detailed various activities and achievements associated with the contract's implementation, including the deployment of seasonal bins, additional street cleaning operatives, and electric cleaning carts. For waste and recycling, the report outlined the delivery of food waste caddies, the review of collection rounds, and the distribution of additional recycling boxes. General management updates included the development of Veolia's IT systems and the introduction of operational meetings and situation reports. Key future activities were also noted, such as employing temporary staff for enquiries and monitoring, and promotional activities for food waste recycling. The report highlighted that the contract's award was close to its start date, necessitating ongoing enhancements to IT and operating practices. The committee was asked to consider this information and determine if any recommendations should be put forward to the Cabinet or relevant Portfolio Holders.

Review of the Work Programme

The committee was presented with its approved Work Programme for 2026/27. This included an overview of progress on ongoing enquiries, feedback on decisions made regarding previous committee recommendations, and a list of forthcoming decisions for which public notice had been given. The report referenced updated statutory guidance from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) issued in April 2024, which emphasises the central role of scrutiny in ensuring transparency, evidence-based decision-making, and accountability. The guidance also highlights the importance of strategic focus, alignment with council priorities, and public engagement. The committee's terms of reference were outlined, focusing on the effective use of council resources, financial forecasting, budget setting and monitoring, and procurement and contract management. The committee was asked to consider its updated Work Programme for 2026/27, feedback on previous recommendations, and a list of forthcoming decisions to inform its strategic direction.

The committee's work programme for 2026/27 included specific enquiries such as the waste and street cleaning contract rollout, an overview of the financial outturn for 2025/26, pre-budget scrutiny, and quarterly financial performance updates. It also noted plans for joint working with scrutiny counterparts at Colchester City Council and Braintree District Council in preparation for Local Government Re-organisation (LGR).

The report also included a recommendations monitoring report, detailing actions taken in response to previous resolutions, such as those concerning potential use of property in Clacton town centre for temporary emergency accommodation. Finally, a summary of forthcoming decisions was provided, outlining items scheduled for consideration by the Cabinet, including financial performance updates, policy reviews, and budget proposals.