Title

BUSINESS

Veolia to take action after complaints

Street cleaning and waste management giant Veolia has agreed to take action after three London boroughs complained about standards of service.

Street cleaning and waste management giant Veolia has agreed to take action after three London boroughs complained about standards of service.

Croydon, Merton and Sutton LBCs served the firm with service improvement notices following concerns over street cleaning, waste and recycling collections and delivery of waste and recycling containers.

Merton said it had issued the notice following ‘significant and ongoing concerns' over the quality of street cleaning services in the borough. 

Cabinet member Natasha Irons said: ‘Over a sustained period of time, Veolia has consistently failed to meet its contractual obligations and we are not afraid to take action to drive much-needed improvement

‘The council has demonstrated its commitment to clean streets through investment in new mechanical sweepers and pavement washer equipment.

'Veolia must now match this commitment by addressing its underperformance and our concerns.'

Croydon cabinet member Muhammad Ali said the council's notice had been served on Veolia for poor performance, adding: ‘We appreciate the workforce pressures they have previously cited as a factor but must see urgent improvement to this core service across the board.'

The three councils, together with Kingston LBC, are members of the South London Waste Partnership, which manages the contracts.

A partnership spokesperson said Veolia had responded to the service improvement notices by providing improvement plans and was working with the boroughs to address the service issues raised.

BUSINESS

Reorganisation, Reform and devolution

By Ann McGauran | 02 October 2025

Change is rippling through local government, from structural reform and new combined authorities, to health integration and the push for financial sustainabi...

BUSINESS

Dear secretary of state – part 2

By Steve Leach | 01 October 2025

As the new secretary of state Steve Reed settles into his new role, Steve Leach and Colin Copus tell him that now is not a good time for a ‘disruptive, expen...

BUSINESS

Outgoing DCN chair calls for genuine devo

By Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen | 29 September 2025

As he steps down from his DCN role, chair Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen reflects on four turbulent years, key wins for districts, and the urgent need to protect loc...

BUSINESS

Embedding healthy eating within local communities

By Corin Bell | 29 September 2025

Corin Bell explains how a pioneering partnership that makes fruit and vegetables available on prescription in Tower Hamlets is building an evidence base for...

Popular articles by Mark Whitehead