Bexley Council has issued over 2,800 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for environmental offences since July 2024, aiming to promote behaviour change and improve environmental standards across the borough. The fines were issued by Waste Investigations Support & Enforcement (WISE) Ltd, contracted by the council to enforce on-the-spot penalties for offences including littering, fly-tipping, dog fouling, public urination, and business waste violations.
The Places Overview and Scrutiny Committee discussed the Environmental Enforcement Contract Performance at their meeting on Wednesday 25 June 2025. The report provided a comprehensive overview of WISE Ltd's performance since the commencement of its contract with the council on 1 July 2024.
The scope of the contract requires enforcement officers to patrol the borough seven days a week, with staggered hours. While the enforcement activity has been effective, the report noted that staffing has been a persistent challenge, likely due to the confrontational nature of the role.
WISE Ltd has also undertaken several social value projects, including hosting a stall at the Bexley Eco Festival, supporting local schools with litter picking equipment, and committing to delivering environmental awareness presentations in schools. Plans are also underway for a borough-wide Litter Action Day.
The committee also discussed the Cabinet Member's response to the recommendations of the scrutiny project sub-group: How clean is our borough?, and received an update on the Erith placemaking programme, noting that a number of projects are reaching key stages in their delivery.