The Cabinet Member for Resident Services & Tackling Inequality, Councillor Seema Chandwani, approved a one-year extension to the environmental enforcement services contract with Kingdom Services Group Limited. This decision ensures the continuation of services aimed at tackling littering and fly-tipping across the borough, with the contract remaining cost-neutral due to income generated from Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs).

Extension of Environmental Enforcement Services Contract

Councillor Seema Chandwani approved a one-year extension to the contract for environmental enforcement services with Kingdom Services Group Limited. This decision was made to continue the provision of services that address littering, fly-tipping, and other environmental offences across the borough. The contract, which commenced on 5th February 2025, will now run for an additional 12 months from 6th February 2026.

The report presented to the Cabinet Member highlighted that the services provided by Kingdom are cost-neutral. This is achieved through a model where income generated from Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) is transferred to the Council, with 34.5% of this income being shared with Kingdom to cover the costs of delivering the services. During the first eight months of the contract, Kingdom issued approximately 9,000 FPNs, with the majority for observed offences such as littering. The Council anticipates retaining approximately £500,000 annually from these FPNs.

The decision to extend the contract aligns with the Council's Corporate Delivery Plan 2024-2026, specifically the theme of A cleaner, low waste Haringey, which includes an activity for Enhanced environmental enforcement. The report noted that residents have expressed strong support for fining individuals for environmental offences, with 96% agreeing with fines for fly-tipping and 94% for littering and dog fouling.

Arguments for the extension centred on the need for continued enforcement to deter environmental crime, which is a significant concern for residents. The existing contract has provided dedicated officers to support the council's in-house team, allowing internal officers to focus on more complex cases, such as prosecutions, and preventative measures. The alternative of not extending the contract was considered, which would have resulted in reduced capacity to tackle littering and fly-tipping, potentially leading to increased costs for street cleansing and a decline in resident satisfaction. Undertaking all enforcement in-house was also deemed not to have met its full potential due to demand.

The Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) conducted for this decision found that enforcement action is evidence-driven and not targeted at individuals based on protected characteristics. While data on protected characteristics is not mandatory for issuing FPNs, the Council plans to request more detailed information from the service provider to better understand the impact of these services on individuals with protected characteristics. The EQIA also noted that dumped waste can create physical hazards, posing risks to people with disabilities, such as those using wheelchairs or with visual impairments. The training provided to enforcement officers includes modules on safeguarding and vulnerability to ensure services are delivered appropriately. The contract extension was approved in accordance with CSO 2.01(d).¹