Colchester City Council is looking at ways to improve its Greening and Street Care services as part of its Fit for the Future transformation programme. On 11 February, its Scrutiny Panel will discuss a report with ideas to make these services more efficient and save money, while still taking care of the city and its residents.
The report outlines a few changes to make things run more smoothly. These include updating contracts to better match costs, using compacting litter bins in busy areas to manage waste better, and changing how teams are organised to be more flexible. The council also wants to get more businesses involved and encourage more people to volunteer to help.
These changes form part of a bigger plan to work smarter, collaborate with local groups, and make sure services meet the needs of residents in a sustainable way.
The Greening and Street Care team oversees many things that help keep the city clean and green. They take care of 1,772 litter bins, over 27,000 trees, 16 parks and nature reserves, and a volunteer group of 70 people. Last year, they cleared 2,457 fly-tips and issued 181 fines. They also maintained three Green Flags for local parks for the 19th year in a row.
Cllr Martin Goss, Colchester City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Waste, Neighbourhood Services, and Leisure, said: "This review is important so we can keep delivering services while staying within our budget. We currently spend over £5 million a year on these services. Our goal is to save £1 million, £250,000 of that in 2026/27. With rising costs, some changes will be needed in what we can do and how we do it.
"By updating how we work and partnering with the community, we can create a better future for the city. We know some changes might not be popular, but they are necessary to keep providing these important services."
After the Scrutiny Panel meeting on 11 February, the report will be discussed at a Cabinet meeting on 12 March 2025.
The council’s Fit for the Future transformation plan focuses on keeping services within budget, adjusting to the changing needs of the community, finding new ways to make money, and investing in technology and staff training. This work is a key part of the council’s goal to build a strong and sustainable future for the city and its residents.
Page last reviewed: 6 February 2025