The Sustainable Development Select Committee met on 25 February 2026 to discuss dockless bikes, waste services, and the committee's work programme. Key decisions included noting the progress on the dockless bikes programme and the ongoing improvements within Street Environmental Services, alongside discussions about the committee's future priorities.

Dockless Bikes Programme

The committee received an update on the council's Dockless Bikes programme, which aims to support active travel by providing cycle hire schemes and managing the parking of these bikes. The council is developing a formalised agreement with e-bike operators Lime and Forest through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to regulate their operation. The programme has been delivering marked designated bays across the borough in phases, with plans for further expansion. Phase 4 proposals for an additional 33 bays were out for statutory consultation, and locations for Phase 5 delivery were identified for 2026/27. The MoU outlines key responsibilities for both operators and the council, including service standards, parking compliance, and data sharing. Operators are required to ensure bikes are parked only in designated bays, with penalties for non-compliance. The council, in turn, is responsible for infrastructure provision and regulatory control. The report highlighted Lime's performance in 2025, showing a significant increase in trips and a generally positive response time to complaints, though a number of vehicles were vandalised or stolen. An access fee of £45,000 per operator will contribute to the costs associated with the programme. The report also noted the legal challenges in regulating dockless bikes due to the lack of a clear central government framework and the ongoing engagement with Transport for London (TfL) for a pan-London approach. Equalities implications were considered, particularly regarding obstructive parking affecting accessibility, while also acknowledging the positive implications for assisted mobility. The environmental benefits of promoting active travel and reducing car use were also highlighted.

Waste Services Review

An update was provided on the Street Environmental Service (SES), which encompasses waste collection, street cleansing, and fleet management. The service is actively implementing changes to comply with updated waste legislation, including preparing for upcoming deadlines and adapting operations. Key functions include the separation and disposal of waste, street cleansing activities such as fly-tip and graffiti removal, and the maintenance of the council's fleet of approximately 320 vehicles. The Strategic Waste and Environment team oversees contract procurement, performance monitoring, and waste strategy. The report detailed tonnage data for waste collection in 2023/24 and 2024/25, showing a reduction in residual waste and an increase in recycling performance.

Significant legislative changes impacting waste services were discussed, including:

• Simpler Recycling (2025): This reform aims to standardise recycling collections and introduce weekly food waste services. Lewisham already collects the required materials and is assessing the feasibility of dual-stream collections.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) (2025): This scheme transfers responsibility for packaging waste management to producers, with revenue distributed to local authorities. Lewisham has received £5.5 million in ringfenced grant funding.
• Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) (2027): This will involve a cash return on certain recyclates, potentially decreasing the tonnage processed by local authorities and affecting income from material sales.
• Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) (2028): The inclusion of Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities in the scheme is expected to introduce significant financial and operational challenges, with potential annual costs ranging from £1,000,000 upwards.

Progress on these legislative changes was reported, including the recruitment of key roles such as a Communications and Behaviour Change Officer and Project Officer. Operational improvements have been made, including securing new contracts for garden waste and materials recovery, extending the food waste disposal contract with a favourable rebate, and approving revised charges for bulky waste collections. The report also detailed the phased rollout of new litter bins and an improved weed-control contract. New Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are being agreed with Lewisham Housing to clarify responsibilities for cleansing and waste management.

An integrated enforcement update highlighted a renewed focus on fly-tipping, with officers from various departments working together to strengthen the approach to tackling it. A new joint operating framework is being developed to integrate data and identify hotspots and persistent offenders more effectively. Operational improvements have been introduced to speed up fly-tip collection, and a focused education and enforcement campaign is being developed. The report cited a successful case in Rushey Green involving evidence-led enforcement, multi-agency problem-solving, and improvements to commercial waste management.

Select Committee Work Programme

The committee considered its end-of-administration work programme report, which outlined the completed work programmes for the 2022-26 cycle. Members were invited to identify priority topics for the incoming committee to consider for its future work programming. Suggestions for the incoming committee were encouraged to be specific regarding the desired outcome, timing, and evidence required for effective scrutiny. The report referenced the council's Corporate Strategy for 2022-2026, which sets out priorities such as a cleaner and greener environment, a strong local economy, and health and wellbeing, as a framework for members to consider when proposing new topics.