The Assistant Director of Public Space presented the report and gave an overview of the recent work undertaken including a draft fly-tipping strategy and a fly-tipping action plan. The Assistant Director noted that fly-tipping was on the increase nationally however there was now less addressed post and therefore often less evidence has been available within fly-tips. Recent success was outlined including monitoring of a site at which 46 vehicles had been witnessed fly-tipping waste. Following this, 12 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for £400 each had been issued, and one company which had been observed fly-tipping hazardous waste was due to be interviewed shortly.

The Committee encouraged officers to assess a number of suggestions, including:

·         Publicising the number of FPNs issued in a particular ward

·         Producing more effective signage

·         Noting that 80% of fly-tips are from end of tenancies, it was suggested that it might be beneficial to write to estate agents to give them information to pass on to tenants about how to appropriately and legally dispose of any waste arising from moving properties. It was noted this could be done via emailing a PDF to utilise technology available and reduce costs.

In response, the Assistant Director informed members of several initiatives currently also being investigated:

·         Refreshing the information on FPNs provided online to bring these more up-to-date

·         Investing with the Help Keep Britain Tidy group

·         Further use of social media to publicise work being undertaken to clear and combat fly-tipping

·         Investigating an information hotline and improved reporting facilities

RESOLVED: That Members reviewed and commented on the current status of environmental prosecutions as outlined in the report.