Waltham Forest Council faced scrutiny over its contract with a private litter enforcement company, 3GS, during a recent council meeting. Councillors raised concerns about transparency regarding the contract's financial details and highlighted an instance where a constituent was issued a £200 fine for an alleged littering offence that appeared to be based on a misunderstanding.
Councillor Mitchell Goldie questioned why the amount the contractor receives and the council's share of revenue from fines is not publicly known. Councillor Sarah Bentley, Portfolio Lead Member for Climate and Air Quality, acknowledged the desire for greater transparency but noted that officers had informed her of a level of commercial confidentiality that needed to be respected when dealing with 3GS. She stated she would continue to investigate this matter.
Councillor Goldie also shared a specific case where a 78-year-old constituent was fined £200 after a trolley returned to a supermarket contained someone else's receipt. Councillor Bentley agreed that this was not the appropriate spirit of enforcement and stressed that the primary purpose of the contract with 3GS is to improve environmental quality and deter crime, not to generate income. She urged residents who experience similar issues to report them to councillors and the council as soon as possible.
