Agenda item

Report from the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet note:

1. The progress delivered by the RVGC team since mobilisation.
    

2.    The planned April–October gateway cleansing and maintenance programme and the improved data capture now in place to inform future scheduling.

Consideration was given to the report which provided a progress update on rural verge cleansing, outlined the forthcoming gateway maintenance programme, and noted the agreed development of a second Rural Verge & Principal Gateway Cleansing and Maintenance (RVGC) team. In March 2025, Council had approved a £307k investment to create the new team to improve the cleanliness and appearance of rural verges and key gateway locations across the Borough. Following recruitment and traffic management (TM) training, the Team became fully operational in October 2025.

Headlines to date (since mobilisation):

·       117 sites completed (133 remaining, targeted for completion by the end of March 2026.)

·       146 km of roadside verge litter-picked.

·       4,200 bags of waste removed and 12 tonnes collected, plus additional tonnage from several large fly-tipping jobs.

·       Data capture enhanced: daily bag counts, weights, and hotspot intelligence (flytipping, asbestos, drug paraphernalia) now recorded to inform future schedules and enforcement.

From late March/early April the RVGC team would switch to the gateway programme, while the established verge team commenced its May–October cycle. The gateway work was a new scheduled activity covering several key routes in and out of the borough. The scope included detritus removal, weed treatment/clearance, litter-picking, removal of overhanging branches/hedges, grubbing out, and other tasks needed to improve gateway appearance. Officers would monitor progress, recognising that some locations might require a return visit to complete the full scope of works required. This programme was in addition to any routine jobs logged by residents in these areas.

In March 2026, Council approved a further revenue investment of £272k to create a second RVGC team. Recruitment commenced in mid-March 2026 and a full-year update on both teams’ performance would be reported in April 2027.

Resolved:

That Cabinet note:

1.    The progress delivered by the RVGC team since mobilisation.

2.    The planned April–October gateway cleansing and maintenance programme and the improved data capture now in place to inform future scheduling.