Fly-Tipping Scrutiny Review
Argyll and Bute Council · 14 March 2024
Back to Audit and Scrutiny Committee — 14 March 2024 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL AUDIT AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE FINANCIAL SERVICES 14 MARCH 2024 FLY-TIPPING SCRUTINY REVIEW 1. SUMMARY 1.1 The Fly-tipping scrutiny review commenced as per the 2021/22 scrutiny plan agreed by the Audit and Scrutiny Committee at their development session on the 27 April 2021 and concluded as per the 2023/24 scrutiny plan. 1.2 The initial Fly-tipping scrutiny panel comprised of Councillor Jim Lynch (Chair), Councillor Freeman and Councillor Vennard and concluded with Martin Caldwell replacing Councillor Freeman due to changes in Council membership in the intervening period. Support was provided by internal audit officers throughout. 1.3 Fly-tipping was chosen for inclusion in our scrutiny priorities for 2021/22 as it had been identified as an escalating national issue with Councils facing considerable costs to clear up the discarded waste. The Committee chose to re-visit this review in 2023/24 as insufficient reliable data was available at the time of the initial review and improvements had been implemented as a result of the interim report agreed at the 23 June 2022 meeting of the Committee. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 Committee to agree the Draft Fly-tipping Scrutiny Report. 2.2 Committee to agree that the Fly-tipping scrutiny report to be presented to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee for consideration. 3. DETAIL. 3.1 The agreed objectives of the scrutiny review were to: • ensure the council’s systems record sufficient information to provide an indication of the extent of fly-tipping across the four administrative areas • ensure the Council’s duty to investigate, clear and take appropriate enforcement action in relation to fly-tipping on public land is appropriately managed • ensure there is good collaborative working arrangements in place
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• ensure that the Council’s charging structure is fair and proportionate across all businesses. 3.2 Throughout this review two panel meetings were held to gather evidence. • Panel one – Council’s Head of Roads and Infrastructure Services and the Operations Manager with responsibility for the Environmental Wardens and Amenity Services • Panel two – Operations Manager with responsibility for the Environmental Wardens and Amenity Services 3.3 We would like to extend our appreciation for the cooperation and assistance received from all witnesses invited to provide evidence over the course of the review. 3.4 Based on the information obtained during the early course of the review, an interim report including three initial recommendations was considered by the Committee. It was decided this review was a work-in-progress and should be re-visited when improvements had been made to provide more reliable datasets for analysis. 3.5 The Committee agreed to conclude the review as per the Scrutiny Plan for 2023/24 where two further recommendations were identified. The panel has identified a total of five findings specific to this review which are detailed in the report attached as appendix 1. 3.6 The report has been discussed with the officers and panel members involved in the review to confirm accuracy. 4. CONCLUSION 4.1 The Committee is requested to agree the attached report and agree the most appropriate Committee or other Council group for the Fly-tipping scrutiny report to be presented to for consideration. 5. IMPLICATIONS 5.1 Policy – None 5.2 Financial – None 5.3 Legal – None 5.4 HR – None 5.5 Fairer Scotland Duty – None 5.5.1 Equalities – protected characteristics – None 5.5.2 Socio-economic Duty – None 5.5.3 Islands – None 5.6 Climate Change – None 5.7 Risk – None
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5.8 Customer Service – None 5.9 The Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – None Councillor Jim Lynch Chair of the Fly-tipping Scrutiny Panel 14 March 2024 For further information please contact: Paul Macaskill, Chief Internal Auditor, 01546 604108 Appendices: Appendix 1 – Fly-tipping Scrutiny Report