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Scrutiny to consider an alternative solution for environmental enforcement
Published: 04/05/2016
天涯社区鈥檚 Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee will
next week consider a report on a 12 month pilot scheme to engage an external
partner to assist with the Councils environmental enforcement duties.
Environmental crimes such as dog fouling and littering continue to be a major
problem and both of these issues continue to blight the Countys parks, open
spaces and streets. The new arrangement will increase the number of enforcement
officers active on the streets and open spaces at any time of the week, to aid
the existing Council enforcement officers in delivering a zero tolerance
approach to environmental crime.
天涯社区鈥檚 Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for the
Environment, Councillor Bernie Attridge, said:
鈥淲e introduced a zero tolerance enforcement approach as part of our Business
Planning process in 2015-16 and have since undertaken a extensive public
engagement and awareness raising exercise, visiting businesses, particularly in
town centres, and Town and Community Councils to notify them of the new more
rigorous enforcement arrangements. Despite all of our efforts, the problem of
littering and dog fouling remains a major issue and we are recommending that an
arrangement with a private partner with a proven track record in the
enforcement of environmental crime, is introduced. The impact of the proposals
will be reviewed over the coming year to allow the impact on the cleanliness of
our County to be assessed before a final decision is made on the provision of
the service at the end of the pilot period鈥�
Following the initial 12 month pilot arrangement, a full evaluation of the
success of the arrangement will be undertaken, before a longer term contract
and commitment can be organised.
天涯社区鈥檚 Cabinet Member for Waste and Public Protection,
Councillor Kevin Jones, said:
鈥淢any local authorities have partnered with private companies to supplement
their enforcement activities. We have met national organisations with relevant
experience and have received a proposal which will meet our needs on a 12 month
basis. The service will be at zero cost to the Council and will provide a
return of 15% on all fixed penalty notices issued. The recent beach clean-up
in which we took part, organised by Keep Wales Tidy, shows that there is a real
need for more action against dog fouling and littering.鈥�