The Sustainable Development Select Committee of Lewisham Council was scheduled to discuss dockless bikes, a review of waste services, and the committee's work programme. The meeting agenda also included standard administrative items.

Dockless Bikes

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the council's Dockless Bikes programme, which aims to support the operation of cycle hire schemes and manage the parking of dockless bikes to address issues of obstructive parking. The report indicated that the council is developing a formalised agreement with e-bike operators Lime and Forest via a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement would outline a model for the operation of cycle hire in Lewisham, including service standards, parking compliance, deployment rules, fleet size, user education, and data sharing responsibilities for operators. The council's responsibilities would include infrastructure provision, regulatory control, and the removal of non-compliant bikes. The report also detailed the progress of the dockless bikes programme, including the phased delivery of designated bays across the borough and plans for future phases. Performance data from Lime for 2025 was also to be reviewed.

Waste Services Review

An update on the Street Environmental Service (SES) was scheduled for discussion. This service encompasses waste collection, street cleansing, and council vehicle fleet management. The report highlighted the service's ongoing implementation of changes to comply with updated waste legislation, including preparations for upcoming deadlines and adapting operations to meet legal requirements. Key functions of SES were outlined, including waste collection (recycling, residual waste, hazardous waste, commercial waste, garden waste, and provision of the Household Waste Recycling Centre), street cleansing (fly-tip removal, graffiti removal, fly-post removal, bulky waste collection, and street sweeping), and fleet maintenance. The report also detailed legislative changes impacting waste management, such as Simpler Recycling, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), and provided an update on progress made in implementing these changes. The report also included an update on street environmental services, detailing progress on various workstreams, including new contracts for garden waste disposal and a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), revised opening hours for the CA site, and new reduced charges for bulky waste collections. Furthermore, it covered operational improvements, such as the rollout of food-waste collections and new litter bins, and highlighted the council's success in improving household recycling rates. An integrated enforcement update focusing on fly-tipping was also to be presented.

Select Committee Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to consider the end of administration work programme report, which would provide details of completed work programmes for the 2022-26 cycle. Members were invited to suggest priority topics for the incoming committee to consider as part of its work programming process. The report encouraged members to be specific about the desired outcome, timing, and evidence required for any suggested scrutiny items. The council's Corporate Strategy for 2022-2026 was referenced as a framework for framing these suggestions.