Local Environmental Audit and Management System (LEAMS)

Keep Wales Tidy’s LEQ team carry out an independent LEAMS survey within each local authority area in Wales. The process involves assessing the cleanliness of a 50 metre section (called a transect) of randomly selected streets. Streets are then graded from A (no litter or refuse) to D (heavily littered with significant accumulations of litter). Grade A streets are given a score of 3 and grade D a score of 0. Details of the survey methodology can be viewed here.

The contents of littered bins are also noted as are the Adverse Environmental Quality Indicators (AEQIs). These are fly-posting, graffiti, dog fouling, vandalism, weeds and detritus. LEAMS is structured so that Keep Wales Tidy and local authorities can carry out exactly the same process. In each local authority the LEQ team survey 8% of streets (4% twice each year, to allow for seasonal changes). The information collected is sent to each local authority and at the end of the year all the surveys are put into an all Wales report.

The survey is currently based on the Code of Practice for Litter and Refuse and Associated Guidance 2007, which was produced by the Welsh Assembly Government. Details of the survey methodology can be viewed here. Funding for these surveys is provided to Keep Wales Tidy by the Welsh Assembly Government. The survey data from the Keep Wales Tidy surveys is used to calculate a Cleanliness Index for each Local Authority and this is combined with six bi-monthly 2% surveys undertaken by each Council to calculate the street scene indicator ‘highways and relevant land' (Reference STS/0798/NEW1) under the Environment and Transport – Street Scene Service / Policy area.

The All Wales LEAMS report for 2009-10 can be viewed here.