Bexley Council's Places Overview and Scrutiny Committee has reviewed the progress made on recommendations from the 'How Clean is Our Borough?' scrutiny sub-group, receiving a six-month update on efforts to improve street cleansing and environmental quality across the borough. The update, detailed in Appendix A - 6 month update [http://democracy.bexley.gov.uk/documents/s121455/Appendix%20A%20-%206%20month%20update.pdf], highlights ongoing work and challenges.
Key areas discussed included the adherence of the contractor, Countrystyle, to street cleansing specifications. The council monitors Countrystyle's performance through regular internal inspections, with financial penalties applicable if contractual requirements, such as removing rubbish from beneath parked cars, are not met. To tackle litter in these difficult-to-access areas, each cleansing team is equipped with a leaf blower featuring a swan-neck attachment, designed to remove debris without damaging vehicles. For roads that are consistently heavily parked and where cleansing is less effective, the council is investigating the possibility of implementing parking restrictions for a one-off annual cleanse in 2026/27. These restrictions would be applied to a limited number of such roads, with the aim of facilitating a more thorough clean. Residents of these roads would be informed of the planned restrictions in advance.
Progress on the FixMyStreet app was also reviewed, with the initiative now managed by the Customer Experience Transformation board as a separate project. The alignment of street cleansing and grounds maintenance schedules for weed control has been completed.
Regarding fly-tipping and overflowing bins, a trial of QR codes on signage at selected locations is underway to facilitate reporting. Phase 1 of signage installation was completed in October 2025, with Phase 2 now in progress, expanding signage to a wider range of locations and incorporating artwork from local school children.
The committee also heard that the Cabinet Member for Place Shaping has agreed to advocate to central government for stricter requirements on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) concerning waste and fly-tipping. This follows acknowledgement of the complexity in enforcing waste offences at HMO properties. Enforcing these offences is challenging due to difficulties in identifying a single responsible individual, often caused by multiple occupants, high tenant turnover, and the involvement of landlords or managing agents, which prevents officers from evidentially linking the waste to a specific person.
Furthermore, street cleansing presentations are already being delivered in primary schools through the Schools Waste Action Club (SWAC). In 2025, the program delivered 15 litter assemblies and litter picking sessions, reaching approximately 350 children. The program aims to embed issues related to littering and fly-tipping in school assemblies, with schools provided with litter-picking equipment for regular initiatives. Success is measured by the number of children reached and participation in litter picking activities.
The update also touched upon the trial of new street cleansing machinery. The council is currently testing a new mechanical sweeper capable of jet washing large pavement areas and spreading salt/grit in winter. A new street sweeping barrow has also been procured, allowing operatives to sweep, litter pick, and remove chewing gum simultaneously. The council plans to invest £0.150m to procure the new vehicle and is applying for further funding from Keep Britain Tidy in 2026/27 to continue purchasing preventative signage and materials for chewing gum removal.
The committee's discussions are part of the ongoing work of the Places Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as outlined in their work programme [http://democracy.bexley.gov.uk/documents/s121456/Work%20programme%20Report.pdf]. Further details on the committee's agenda can be found in the Agenda frontsheet [http://democracy.bexley.gov.uk/documents/g30549/Agenda%20frontsheet%2027th-Jan-2026%2019.30%20Places%20Overview%20and%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=0] and the Public reports pack [http://democracy.bexley.gov.uk/documents/g30549/Public%20reports%20pack%2027th-Jan-2026%2019.30%20Places%20Overview%20and%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10].
