To receive a joint presentation from Sue Bannister, Team leader for Environmental Enforcement and Kingdom representatives.

The Committee considered a joint presentation from Sue Bannister, Team Leader for Environmental Enforcement and Sandra Lovell-Struthers, Kingdom Services Group Limited.

The Team Leader for Environmental Enforcement advised Members that incorporated within the Wirral Plan was the aim to empower residents to take more responsibility for their actions, create great neighbourhoods, encourage positive behaviour and take action against environmental crime and anti-social behaviour.

It was reported that further to a survey being carried out, the perception was that 45% of people thought litter was a problem when this was actually in excess of 92% whereas 56% believed dog fouling was a major problem, however, only 2 in every 100 people failed to pick up and compliance was better in Wirral than other Authorities.  Members were advised that fines would be issued in respect of littering and dog fouling as Wirral has a zero tolerance approach.  Over 20,000 Fixed Penalty Notices in respect of litter had been issued since July 2015 and over 311 for dog fouling since May 2016.  A decision had been taken to engage private enforcement as environment crime needed to be tackled and this would be supported with extensive educational campaigns.

Members were informed that Kingdom Services Group Limited was the successful bidder and the Team Leader for Environmental Enforcement provided details of the service they provided and the benefits of the outsourced model which included the number of Fixed Penalty Notices issued for littering offences since July which was 23,498 compared to 92 from Wirral and 311 for dog fouling compared to 5 from Wirral.  The principal aim of the Contract was to change the behaviour and perception of residents and the achievement of the Wirral Plan.  The reinvestment projects from Fixed Penalty income included Grot Spots and a dog fouling enforcement campaign video.

Sandra Lovell-Struthers, National Business Manager, Kingdom provided an overview of the company.  She reported that there were over 350 officers in the Environmental Protection Section who worked with 45 Local Authorities.  She explained that their officers acted as extra intelligence whilst on patrol and that they utilised specialised equipment.  The Local Authority had full access to the system which provided data in respect of the percentages of Fixed Penalty Notices issued in specific areas, the type of offences and locations where the majority of littering occurred.  It also provided the age, gender and ethnicity of the offenders.  The footage would be kept safe in encrypted cameras, a complaints procedure was provided and the aim was to take as much work from the Local Authority as possible.

Members thanked Sue Bannister and Sandra Lovell-Struthers for their presentations.

In response to questions from Members, in respect of measuring whether streets in Birkenhead are any cleaner, it was reported that a further survey had been carried out and this could be compared to the perceptions of people recorded in the 2015 survey.  Members were advised that the 2014 legislation in respect of anti-social behaviour and the Police and Crime Act provided the opportunity to issue a litter Fixed Penalty Notice and this would be enacted in April 2018.  It was reported that Enforcement Officers wear a uniform but that there were also some plain clothes officers and that should they encounter difficulties with people providing their details when asked they would refer to the fact that this would be an offence.

A Member raised concerns in respect of dog fouling on beaches and was advised that intelligence was relied upon to carry out operations and was assured patrols would cover these areas in future and that a Public Space Protection Order was under consideration.  The fact that no feedback had been provided under the CRM system was raised and Members were advised that a better reporting system was being considered.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)  the officers from Environmental Enforcement and Kingdom Services Group Limited be congratulated on their excellent presentation; and

(2)  a follow-up report in respect of whether Birkenhead is any cleaner is brought back to a future meeting of this Committee.