Decision details

RESOLVED that: -

(a)           Cabinet approves an extension to the fly-tipping and fly-posting pilot with WISE until November 2022, with additional emphasis on:

                        i.         effective and increased communications with public and businesses;

                      ii.         enhanced joint working with the Council’s Waste Compliance Officers;

                     iii.         consideration of learning from best practice in other Councils

(b)           A further Cabinet report be brought in November 2022 with recommendations for the service long-term.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holders: Community Safety and Regulatory Services

                             Council Priorities and Delivery

                             Environment and Place

Reason

Prior to this Pilot, the Council did not investigate all reports of fly-tipping and had limited data on the scale of the problem in the area.

The Pilot has delivered its original objectives to investigate all reports of fly-tipping and fly-posting, to take enforcement action where an offence has been committed and fundamentally supports the Council’s Cleaner, Greener, Safer campaign.

The initial pilot period presents too short a timescale for the data collected by WISE to date to fully illustrate the challenges these environmental crimes cause BCP Council. Extending the pilot will provide further understanding to help enable officers and Members make the best decision for how the service operates longer term.

A more effective communications campaign will help mitigate some of the adverse reactions by those found to have committed an offence and closer working with the Council’s Waste Compliance Officers will ensure better co-ordination of efforts and improve the public’s understanding of the impact that fly-tipping and fly-posting has on the environment.

Further time with the Pilot will enable officers to speak to other Councils who are exhibiting best practice with regards to deterrents against fly-tipping and other environmental crimes and this information and subsequent recommendations will be provided at the further Cabinet meeting in November 2022.