The Environment and Community Services Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to meet to discuss Veolia contract performance, highway maintenance and a Local Implementation Plan (LIP) funded traffic and road safety programme, amongst other items. The committee was also expected to discuss updates from the Environment Portfolio Holder and the Portfolio Holder for Transport, Highways and Road Safety.

Veolia Contract Performance

The committee was scheduled to review the annual performance of the three environmental services contracts managed by Veolia ES UK Limited: Waste Disposal, Household Waste Collection and Recycling, and Street Environment. According to the report pack, the contracts have been delivering high quality environmental services and completing projects that are designed to assist the council in delivering its priorities.

The report pack noted that for the third year running, zero percent of residual waste was sent to landfill, exceeding the contractual target of 2%. The household recycling rate for 2024/25 was 50.3% (unaudited), slightly off the Portfolio Plan target of 51%, but still recognised Bromley as having the highest recycling rate in London for the third year running.

The report pack stated that for the year 2024/25, a satisfactory level of performance has been achieved against the Street Environment Contract KSOs/KPIs as well as the broader objectives laid out in the Portfolio Plan. It also noted that 98.5% of reported flytips were cleared and 97% of reported incidents of graffiti were removed within the agreed target timescales.

Highway Maintenance Policy

The committee was scheduled to discuss existing policies and practices employed to maintain the borough's carriageways and footways.

The report pack noted that the council has moved from traditional visual inspections to using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify planned maintenance more effectively. Over the past two years, the council has used ROAD AI technology, which analyses video footage to detect and assess road defects.

The report pack also stated that the council has eight inspectors who carry out regular safety inspections across the borough, and that all roads and footpaths are inspected at least once a year.

The report pack noted that the council's annual revenue budget for reactive and emergency road repairs is currently £1.7m, but in recent years this has not been enough to keep the highway network in a safe condition.

The report pack stated that the council is exploring innovative ways to improve highway condition monitoring, and that discussions are underway to assess the feasibility of installing video capture devices on routinely operated vehicles, such as street cleaners and refuse trucks.

LIP Funded Traffic and Road Safety Programme

The committee was scheduled to discuss and provide pre-decision scrutiny on the draft 2026/27 transport improvement programme set out in Appendix A of the report pack for submission to Transport for London (TfL) for approval of funding.

The report pack noted that the amount allocated to Bromley for 2025/26 is £1.254m which covers the core funding stream – SCN (Safer Corridors and Neighbourhoods). In addition to this, funding is allocated to Bromley for Cycle Training (£76k), Cycle Parking (£29k) and Bus Priority schemes (250k).

The report pack stated that officers recommend submitting a bid to TfL for 2026/27 for £2.106m for all the schemes set out in Appendix A. In summary, the bid will be £1.321m for Safer Corridors and Neighbourhoods schemes, £680K for Bus reliability improvements, £29k for Cycle Parking and £76k for Cycle Training.

Parks Management and Grounds Maintenance Services

The committee was scheduled to provide pre-decision scrutiny of a report regarding the options for the future of parks management and grounds maintenance services in Bromley. The report sought a decision in principle to extend the contract for parks management and grounds maintenance services with idverde for a further 8 years, from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2035.

The report pack noted that the Council is custodian of 28km2 of such sites, including 121 parks, 45 heathland, meadow or woodland sites, 52 allotments and 17 cemeteries or closed churchyards.

The report pack stated that the strategic aims for environmental services are set out in the Environment and Community Services Portfolio Plan agreed annually by the Portfolio Holder for Environment.

The report pack also stated that the Council retains a slim client function made up of a dedicated Contract Manager and two Contract Monitoring Officers.

Parking Services

The committee was scheduled to provide pre-decision scrutiny on a report regarding a collaboration agreement and contract procurement strategy for parking services. The report sought approval to proceed with the procurement process for the retendering of the Parking Services Contract, covering Parking Enforcement and Associated Services. The new contract is proposed to commence in April 2027 and will be for a period of 10 years.

The report pack noted that in April 2017, the Shared Parking Service, between LB Bromley and LB Bexley procured a 10 year straight Civil Traffic and Parking enforcement and associated services contract with APCOA Parking.

The report pack stated that the joint working agreement which has been in operation since 2013 between the two Boroughs has provided efficiencies both in terms of expenditure savings and resource sharing.

Other Matters

The committee was also scheduled to:

• Appoint Eythan Soysa as a non-voting co-opted member of the committee.
• Review matters arising from the minutes of the meeting held on June 10th 2025 and the forward work programme.
• Receive updates from Councillor Will Rowlands, Portfolio Holder for Environment, and Councillor Nicholas Bennett J.P., Portfolio Holder for Transport, Highways and Road Safety.
• Review the Environment & Community Services Performance Overview.
• Review the Contracts Register.
• Review the Risk Register.