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LEAMS

Local Environmental Audit and Management System
In June 2000, six Scottish local authorities participated in a KSB benchmarking group called the Local Environmental Audit and Management System (LEAMS).

The level of cleanliness in these local authorities was monitored internally and externally over the period of one year.
Performance indicators for
street cleanliness
In April 2003, LEAMS was piloted on a national scale at the request of Audit Scotland. For the first time all 32 local authorities in Scotland took part in the programme, and comparative data on local environmental quality and cleanliness levels was collected from the Shetland Islands to the Scottish Borders, enabling a nationwide picture to be created. Following the success of the pilot year, LEAMS was chosen by Audit Scotland as the Performance Indicator on street cleanliness in 2004.

LEAMS is designed to help local authorities meet their obligations under Best Value. This is done in the following ways:

  • Establishment of a base-line standard for street cleanliness
  • Provision of a method of self monitoring to asses continuous service improvement
  • Facilitation of independent monitoring by neighbouring local authorise
  • An annual independent validation audit by Keep Scotland Beautiful
  • Distribution and sharing of good practice across the Scottish local authorities


Each local authority conducts bi-monthly surveys, four internal audits and two conducted in another local authority area. These surveys cover a minimum random sample of 2% of streets. In addition, an annual validation survey is carried out by Keep Scotland Beautiful, also assessing a 2% sample survey within each of the local authority areas. This provides the external, independent evaluation recommended under Best Value.

The following criteria are assessed during each of the surveys; Cleanliness grade, servicing and coverage of public use litter bins, types of litter, sources of litter and the local environment quality (dog fouling, vandalism, graffiti, weed growth, detritus and fly-posting).

At the end of the financial year, a full report is provided to the local authority. The results from all 32 local authorities are also combined each financial year to create a national picture of street cleanliness. The 2010/2011 national report is now available for download:

PDF LEAMS 2010-11 National Report (colour) (1.5 MB)

PDF LEAMS 2010-11 National Report (mono) (1 MB)

Although LEAMS was developed for local authorities, the methodology has frequently been tailored for other environments to suit specific client needs; from assessing train stations, schools, business improvement districts, beaches and fly-tipping.