This timeline is a good‑faith reconstruction of events relating to waste collections on Auckland Drive and Hornby Place, based on documents disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act, council correspondence, and other primary records. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, and all material facts are supported by cited source documents so that readers can independently verify the chronology and evidence.
AI Disclaimer
Note to reader: AI models were used in the processing of some of the information. Sources are cited. While every effort has been made to ensure every quote is accurate, AI can have hallucinations. Please check the links to the original FoI emails that are cited to ensure accuracy.
September 2024 – Initial H&S report on Auckland Drive / Hornby Place
An internal Health & Safety report is produced covering waste collections on Auckland Drive and Hornby Place. This is the earliest formal document the council later cites when describing Auckland Drive as an “H&S issue.”
Although the released PDF text is badly OCR’d, its title and date are clear, and it is attached in later correspondence when officers respond to councillor concerns about the scheme.
“Report attached.” (referring to “Sept 2024 Report Aucland drive – Horby place .docx” in response to a councillor enquiry about Auckland Drive bin collection.)
Source:
Sept-2024-H-S-Report-Auckland-drive-Horby-place-REDACTED.pdfEmails_Part1_REDACTED.pdf(p.11 – “Sept 2024 Report Aucland drive – Horby place .docx”)
26 June 2025 – Options Appraisal selects Option 4 (roadside communal bins)
Environmental Services produce a formal “Options Appraisal” for Auckland Drive, listing six options and naming Option 4 – communal bins in roadside parking bays – as the preferred option.
“There are 6 options for Auckland Dive with option 4 being the preferred option… Option 4: Communal bins placed in roadside parking bays on the opposite side of the road x 3 locations, each containing 4 x 1100L bin for refuse, 3 x 1100L bin for recycling, 1 x 1100L bin for glass.”
30 June 2025 – Highways warn Option 4 is unsafe
In response to the Options Appraisal, the council’s Highways team raise explicit safety concerns about Option 4, warning about obstructions, visibility and blocked roads.
“From a highway perspective placing bins in a live carriageway is not appropriate and not the right solution… Already a squeeze for two‑way traffic… A small part of Auckland Drive is a bus route… Bay markings: There is a risk cars will park opposite the bins and block the road entirely. Bins will not be properly visible / reflective at night causing hazards.”
Source:
FOI-23386117-All-emails_Part1-REDACTED.pdf(p.10 – Highways comments copied into email.)
3 September 2025 – Option using 1100L bins refined (two communal sites)
A separate “Option using 1100L bins” paper updates the earlier appraisal, proposing two communal‑bin sites in parking bays, with detailed layouts and a pros/cons table.
“Auckland Drive: Option using 1100L bins / updated 3.9.25… Proposal: Move existing individual waste bin collections to a communal bin collection service… Communal bins placed in roadside parking bays on the opposite side of the road at two separate locations.”
22 September 2025 – “New Bin Plan” drafted internally
Environmental Services circulate a “New Bin Plan – Auckland Drive” document describing communal bins at two locations, covering around 92 homes, with benefits and “things to think about.”
“We’re planning to change how rubbish and recycling is collected on Auckland Drive. Instead of each home having its own bins, we’ll have shared bins in two spots on the street.”
“A few parking spaces will be used for bins… People living near the bins might notice more noise or rubbish… We’ll keep an eye out for fly-tipping and clean up if needed.”Source:
Emails_Part1_REDACTED.pdf(pp.84–86)Emails_Part2_REDACTED.pdf(pp.3–5)
26 September 2025 – Consultation copy reshaped
A Strategic Communications officer rewrites the resident-facing leaflet and letter into a warmer, informal style, still presenting shared bins as something that “will” happen rather than a neutral option.
“On the options one I’d go with something more like this with the pictures – New Bin Plan – Auckland Drive… We’re planning to change how rubbish and recycling is collected on Auckland Drive.”
“And for the letter maybe a warmer tone with less council speak…”Source:
Emails_Part1_REDACTED.pdf(pp.84–86)Emails_Part2_REDACTED.pdf(pp.3–5)
2 October 2025 – Community engagement feedback applied
Community Engagement return detailed feedback on the Auckland Drive documents and ask Environmental Services to incorporate changes.
“We’ve had some feedback on the documents from our community engagement team who work closely with those living on council housing estates. Please see below, and are you able to update the documents to incorporate their feedback?”
Source:
Emails_Part1_REDACTED.pdf(pp.84, 112–114)Emails_Part2_REDACTED.pdf(pp.1–2, 14–17)
7 October 2025 – Internal timetable and “H&S issue” emphasised
An internal “Auckland drive timetable” email sets out proposed dates for letters, feedback window and installation/removal of bins. Officers frame the change as a health and safety issue and flag that ward councillors have not yet been informed.
“Please see the Auckland drive timetable. Just a refresher that this is an H&S issue in terms of the steep hills that our operatives have to climb, descend and climb and descend.”
“Letters need posting on Monday, 27th and Tuesday, 28th October. Councillors … and the ward councillors have not been communicated with. How would you like this managed, please?”Source:
Emails_Part1_REDACTED.pdf(pp.79–81, 92–93)Emails_Part2_REDACTED.pdf(pp.10–13, 21–23)
7 October 2025 – Precise bin locations softened to avoid “worry”
In an evening email, a senior officer requests that references to exact house locations be replaced with vaguer wording, explicitly acknowledging how residents would react.
“Two shared bin areas:
- Near houses [redacted], can we find another way to describe these locations – if I was at [redacted] and told it was coming near my house I would worry.
- Near houses [redacted], ditto.
Source:
Emails_Part1_REDACTED.pdf(pp.77–78, 106–107)Emails_Part2_REDACTED.pdf(pp.21–23)
7 October 2025 – Resident “consultation” logistics still unresolved
Officers are still asking who should sign the resident letter, whether ward councillors have been informed, who organises printing, and what dates to use for response deadlines and bin installation.
“Quick few questions: Have the ward councillors been informed? Do you want me to send them a copy of the letter before sending it out? … Have you got a cost code please? Who should sign the letter? I need to put some dates of when we want a response by – is two weeks from the letter date ok?”
Source:
Emails_Part1_REDACTED.pdf(pp.81–83, 95–97, 108–110)Emails_Part2_REDACTED.pdf(pp.12–13, 35–37, 59–60)
8 October 2025 – Resident letter V6 formally approved
The amended resident letter (“Letter to residents V6 8.10.25 Approved & Final”) is signed off by Environmental Services. Later emails refer back to this as the approved, “consultative” version.
“Amened letter attached for approval.”
“Approved. Thank you.”Source:
Emails_Part1_REDACTED.pdf(pp.78–79)Emails_Part2_REDACTED.pdf(pp.8–9, 31–33)Letter-to-residents-V6-8.10.25-Approved-Final.pdf
9 October 2025 – Ward councillor briefing prepared
A separate briefing note for ward councillors is drafted and shared, intended to pre‑empt questions about the new communal‑bin service.
“Are the attached of use for the ward councillors? I was trying to cover off any questions they may have but may not be a case of ‘less is more’ in this instance.”
Source:
Auckland-Drive-Ward-Councillors-9.10.25-REDACTED.pdfEmails_Part1_REDACTED.pdf(pp.76–77)Emails_Part2_REDACTED.pdf(pp.8–9)
11 August & 9 October 2025 – Bins reserved before residents told
Two separate email chains show project officers asking the depot to reserve the exact bins needed for Auckland Drive, months before the final resident letter and while the “consultation” wording is still under debate.
11 August: “We are looking to install 2 x communal bin sites for Auckland Drive outside numbers [redacted] and [redacted]. Just wondering if you could start to put aside the following bins so we are ready to install as soon as we get the final date etc.”
9 October: “Assuming all goes well… we are aiming to install the communal bins on Wednesday 19th November and remove individual refuse bins from the 96 properties… And remove their individual recycling bins on the Thursday 20th…”
Source:
Emails_Part1_REDACTED.pdf(pp.39–40, 42–43)
17 October 2025 – Internal acknowledgment that letter is only “a proposal” on paper
After food‑waste caddies are mistakenly delivered to the whole street, a Project Development Officer drafts a recovery plan and queries whether the timeline in the letter is a proposal or already fixed. Another officer replies, distinguishing between the “proposal” tone and the internal reality.
“Can I confirm if there are fixed dates for the rollout? The letter suggests that this is a proposal rather than a done deal.”
Response: “Although it does suggest it a proposal it will actually happen as it’s a H&S requirement. We are just trying to make it sound more like engagement than an instruct.”
Source:
Emails_Part2_REDACTED.pdf(pp.65, 100–108)
17–20 October 2025 – “URGENT – Auckland Drive food waste” error and cover note
A series of emails titled “URGENT – Auckland Drive food waste” record that kerbside food‑waste caddies have been delivered to the entire street, including households earmarked for communal bins from March 2026. Officers propose retrieving caddies, bringing forward the communal‑service letter and apologising in the same envelope.
“Unfortunately, yesterday we were informed that the distribution company for the food waste caddies had delivered kerbside caddies to the entirety of the street… We are proposing the following to resolve this error ASAP: 1. Retrieve the kerbside caddies… 2. Bring forward delivery of [redacted] letter… with a second letter apologising for any confusion…”
Source:
Emails_Part2_REDACTED.pdf(pp.65–73, 87–90, 94–101)
20 October 2025 – Councillors still not informed, letters being rushed
As the food‑waste fix is discussed, the project lead chases for confirmation that ward councillors have been told, while saying they want resident letters out “on Monday at the latest” and bins installed on 19 November.
“Please can you confirm that the ward councillors have been informed as I would like to send the residents letters out on Monday at the latest and install the new communal bins on the 19th November.”
Source:
Emails_Part1_REDACTED.pdf(pp.76–77)Emails_Part2_REDACTED.pdf(pp.30–32, 42–43, 70–71, 79–81)
21 October 2025 – “Regardless of feedback” email
While updating the letter to include the food‑waste confusion, a Project Development Officer objects that the edits go beyond that and notes the tension between a “proposal” tone and a scheme they regard as already decided.
“Regarding the amends, there was some concern about the communal service sounding like a proposal rather than something that is being implemented. This could put additional pressure on the contact centre which seems unnecessary if the plan is being carried out regardless of feedback. I understand we might be looking to keep letters more open to indicate we’re taking feedback, but I don’t think we should be disingenuous to residents.”
Source:
Emails_Part1_REDACTED.pdf(pp.65–71)
A separate email the same morning asks to “keep the language as consultative as suggested by the original letter,” confirming that a “consultative tone” was a conscious stylistic choice, not a description of an open process.
21 October 2025 – Maps removed “for fear of freaking residents out”
In response to a suggestion to include maps showing exact bin sites in the resident letter, an officer records the decision not to, explicitly because of likely resident reaction.
“AC have been approved to be collected by the normal team and won’t change, we decided against the maps in the letter for fear of freaking residents out.”
Source:
Emails_Part1_REDACTED.pdf(pp.74–75, 88–90)
22 October 2025 – Bins confirmed; letters and councillor emails sent
On 22 October, multiple threads confirm that:
- communal bins are in stock and ready for delivery;
- letters are printed and being delivered with the updated food‑waste paragraph; and
- ward councillors have finally been emailed.
“We have the bins, and these will be made up at Hangleton Bottom ready for delivery. Please let us know when these need to be delivered.”
“Letters printed so will head out now to retrieve caddies. Do you want me to email the ward cllrs? Will I just attach the signed letter?”
“I’ve just emailed ward councillors. All residents have been lettered.”
Source:Emails_Part1_REDACTED.pdf (pp.26–28, 31–37, 37–43)
22–23 October 2025 – Residents challenge consultation claims
Within hours of the letters landing, residents write to councillors and the council, arguing that the letter’s opening statement about “responding to your feedback” is untrue and complaining about parking loss and extra effort.
“It tells me that they are looking at ways of making things easier for me, and responding to my feedback… I never received any questionnaire to which I could respond with feedback. So the opening statement of their letter is untrue.”
Source:
Emails_Part1_REDACTED.pdf(pp.1–3, 21–22, 23–25)
An internal reply notes: “we’ve received about 20 enquiries” relating to the scheme.
January 2026 – H&S advisor: only “risk analysis”, full RA still missing
Ahead of the January 2026 walkabout, Corporate Health & Safety make clear that the previous work is only a high‑level analysis and that there is still no full, current risk assessment or method statement for Auckland Drive.
“Just to clarify, the risk analysis we completed is not a full risk assessment. A full assessment would detail the existing controls… to demonstrate why the task remains high‑risk for operatives and why a change to the current refuse collection methods is required. The exercise we carried out was simply to provide an independent view of the hazards present at the location.
… I have requested the current full risk assessment from the Ops Managers… but nothing has been shared with me to date. I’m happy to work with the team to complete this if risk assessments and method statements are not already in place.”Source:
FOI-23386117-All-emails_Part2-REDACTED.pdf(p.4)
13 January 2026 – Corporate risk review issued
The Corporate Health, Safety and Wellbeing team’s “Risk Review – Waste Collection, Auckland Drive to Hornby Road” is dated 13 January 2026. This is the formal risk‑review document the council later relied upon.
“Risk Review – Waste Collection – Auckland Drive to Hornby Road… 13th January 2026.”
Source:
Final-Risk-Review-Auckland-Drive-Issue-2_REDACTED.pdfFOI-22375833-Final-Risk-Review-Auckland-Drive-_-Issue-2.pdf
Index notes later internal emails (January–February 2026) where the Corporate H&S adviser says they have still not seen a “current full risk assessment” and offers to work with the team to complete it.
20 January & 19 February 2026 – Risk assessment still being pulled together
- 20 January 2026: H&S adviser says, “I have requested the current full risk assessment from the Ops Managers… but nothing has been shared with me to date.”
- 19 February 2026: ES‑Collections‑RA15 (“Collections on uphill terrain”) is only then being drafted and reviewed.
“I’m happy to work with the team to complete this if risk assessments and method statements are not already in place.”
Source:Draft-with-comments-ES-Collections-RA15-Collections-on-uphill-terrain-_REDACTED.pdf
19 February 2026 – H&S advisor: residents already bringing bins down
Following the January 2026 risk review, the Corporate Health & Safety Advisor goes out on the round and personally collects bins on Auckland Drive with the crew. In an internal email, they report that most residents are already bringing their bins down to the road, significantly reducing the manual‑handling risks that had been cited as justification for communal bins.
“I collected bins from Aukland Drive this week and the crew told me it is no longer an issue because most residents bring their bins down. It significantly reduces the number of trips along the path and stairs to collect bins. … If all residents are bringing their bins to the road and staff no longer need to bump the bins down and up the stairs, then this would eliminate some of the musculoskeletal hazards. Are you considering keeping the bin collections the way they are in light of residents now bringing their bins to the road or is that still going ahead? I expect the residents will argue that there isn’t a need to change if operatives are no longer having to navigate slopes?”
Source:
FOI-23386117-All-emails_Part1-REDACTED.pdf(p.23 – email 19 February 2026, Health & Safety Advisor)
Early 2026 – Only two recorded H&S incidents in a decade
When the public ask for the underlying safety evidence, Corporate H&S and Environmental Services review accident‑book entries for Auckland Drive. The FOI material shows that only two relevant incident reports in the previous 10 years can be evidenced, despite public statements about “numerous” injuries and near‑misses on the route.
Internal H&S emails discuss whether they can “release the incidents from the accident book” and confirm that the existing documentation is limited, prompting a new risk‑assessment exercise in 2026.
The Project Mandate created for this scheme has 2 primary goals. One of which is to: “Reduce the number of reported injuries”. There have been 2 reported injuries in over a decade. Both minor, both could have been avoided should proper procedures be implemented and followed.
Source:FOI-23386117-All-emails_Part2-REDACTED.pdf (pp.4–6)
27 February 2026 – Stage 1 complaint submitted
A formal Stage 1 corporate complaint about Auckland Drive waste collections is submitted to Brighton & Hove City Council (reference BHC23052087).
29 April 2026 – Council confirms no Equality Impact Assessment was carried out
In response to FOI reference 23386117, Brighton & Hove City Council was asked for the completed Equality Impact Assessment relating to the proposed transition from individual kerbside collections to communal bins on Auckland Drive, including the impact on older and disabled residents navigating the slopes and on residents who require assistance.
“Response: No Equality Impact Assessment was carried out.”
The response relates to information held up to the date of the request, 23 March 2026. A later August 2026 information request seeks to establish whether an EqIA, draft EqIA or related equality analysis has since been created as the council develops arrangements for residents who require assistance.
Source:
FOI 23386117 – correspondence and associated documentation
22 May 2026 – Stage 2 final response
The council’s final Stage 2 response on complaint BHC23052087 is issued, dated 22/05/2026.
12 June 2026 – Ombudsman case registered
The Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman registers Case 26006171, alleging maladministration in the Auckland Drive refuse changes and subsequent complaint handling. The investigation period is expected to last in excess of 8 months.
4 August 2026 – Environmental Services are trying again
Despite an open LGSCO case, the council indicates it still intends to go ahead with Option 4 communal bins at Auckland Drive.
9 August 2026 – Resident asks for pause pending Ombudsman decision
A resident emails the Corporate Director for City Operations and local ward councillors after receiving the 4 August letter about restarting the communal bin rollout. The email notes that the decision‑making process, consultation and handling of Highways safety data for Auckland Drive are already the subject of an open Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman case (Ref: 26006171), and asks that the rollout — including further resident meetings — be paused until the Ombudsman has concluded its investigation.
“Given that the independent regulator is now looking into this specific scheme, I am asking if Environmental Services would kindly agree to pause the rollout, including the proposed resident meetings, until the LGSCO has concluded their investigation. Proceeding with the implementation while the scheme is under active regulatory review seems premature.”
“Through previous FOI requests, I received internal Environmental Services correspondence explicitly stating that these assisted collections will eventually have to be removed. Presenting this upcoming meeting to vulnerable residents as a discussion about ongoing ‘arrangements’, when internal emails suggest a longer-term plan for their removal, feels contradictory and risks causing unnecessary distress.”
10 August 2026 – Ombudsman case updated as council presses ahead
After receiving fresh correspondence from Environmental Services indicating they still intend to proceed with Option 4 communal bins on Auckland Drive, the complainant updates the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman case file. The update records that the council is attempting to push through the scheme while the maladministration complaint remains open and under investigation.
10 August 2026 – Concerns escalated to local MP
A resident of The Avenue, Bevendean, writes to Chris Ward MP about Brighton & Hove City Council’s proposed move to communal bins on nearby Auckland Drive. The letter summarises the key safety, consultation and governance concerns and asks the MP to support a pause to the scheme while the Ombudsman investigates.
“Dear Chris Ward MP,
I am a resident of Bevendean (BN2), writing about Brighton & Hove City Council’s proposed move to communal bins on nearby Auckland Drive.You may be aware that one of your representatives attended the resident walk‑around on Auckland Drive in January 2026. Since then, a number of serious concerns have emerged about how this decision has been handled, including:
- Highways advice explicitly warning that the preferred option (Option 4, bins in parking bays in the live carriageway) would create hazards and potential obstructions.
- Evidence from FOI disclosures that the “consultation” was treated internally as a done deal, with information about bin locations softened or omitted to avoid alarming residents.
- The Council’s own Corporate Health & Safety Adviser confirming in January 2026 that there was no full, current risk assessment in place for Auckland Drive at the time the changes were being pushed through.
- An open Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman case (Ref: 26006171) into the Auckland Drive scheme and subsequent complaint handling, which is still under investigation.
Despite this, Environmental Services have recently written to residents (4 August 2026) indicating they intend to proceed with the communal bin rollout and “finalise locations”, including “arrangements” for residents on assisted collections. Internal FOI material suggests assisted collections are, in the longer term, expected to be withdrawn, which is particularly worrying for vulnerable residents.
I have compiled a fully sourced public timeline of the key documents, emails and decisions here:
https://bingate.bevendean.info/
Every factual point is backed by links to the original FOI disclosures so that anyone – including your office – can verify the evidence directly.I would be grateful if you could:
- Review the attached information and the timeline page, and
- Consider raising this with Brighton & Hove City Council and/or the relevant ministers, asking that the Auckland Drive changes are paused until the LGSCO has completed its investigation and a lawful, transparent process (including proper equality and safety assessment) has been demonstrated.
I would also welcome the opportunity to discuss this further with your office if that would be helpful.
Yours sincerely,
Resident, Bevendean, BN2
17 August 2026 – Ward councillors publicly oppose the proposal
Brighton and Hove News reports that Moulsecoomb and Bevendean ward councillors Ty Goddard, Amanda Evans and Jacob Taylor oppose the proposed communal bins on Auckland Drive. The councillors say that they have opposed the proposal from the beginning and that the decision is being treated by the council as an officer-led operational decision rather than a policy decision.
“We opposed communal bins in Auckland Drive and continue to do so.”
The councillors also say that they will continue to support residents and seek to bring council officers to a public meeting where all voices, including older and vulnerable residents, can be heard.
The report also records the council’s position that the proposal has been revisited and that earlier resident feedback has been taken into account. The council says that proposals are still being finalised and that it will continue to engage with affected residents before any change is made.
This public statement by all three ward councillors is significant. It confirms that the councillors oppose the proposal, while also highlighting the continuing dispute over whether residents’ feedback has genuinely influenced the outcome.
The article also reports the campaign’s concerns about the effect of roadside communal bins on traffic, parking, pedestrians, older residents and disabled residents.
Source:
Brighton and Hove News – Ward councillors weigh in on row over communal bins
18 August 2026 – The Argus reports on the resident campaign
The Argus reports that Auckland Drive residents have organised to oppose Brighton & Hove City Council’s proposed communal-bin scheme. The article covers concerns about traffic obstruction, fly-tipping, parking, access, and the effect on older and disabled residents. It also reports that the campaign has taken its case to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
The article records the council’s Highways concerns about placing bins on the road, including the possibility of obstruction on a narrow road that carries buses, and the suggestion that bin areas could instead be cut into the grass banks.
The council said that it is planning to introduce communal bins as an operational decision, that the proposals had been revisited in light of earlier feedback, and that it was still finalising the plans.
A Freedom of Information Request has been raised asking for the specific revisions that were made “in light of resident feedback”
Source:
The Argus – Bevendean residents oppose Brighton council’s bin plan