Decision details

Decision:

1.    Cabinet adopts the Enviro Crime Enforcement Policy attached at Appendix 1 to report number ENV686

2.    That the Fixed Penalty Notice charges remain at the levels proposed by Council until they can be reviewed based on experience

3.    Cabinet supports the principle of delivering the enforcement service through alternative, council-owned delivery arrangements

Considerations:

1.    Report number ENV686 of the Cabinet Member for Environment and draft policy attached as appendix 1 to the report

2.    Commitment through the Big Clean and development of a higher street standard to improve the street environment and make the district attractive to investors, residents and visitors

3.    Feedback from an all Member workshop held in December 2017 at which the main areas of environmental crimes were considered

4.    Comments and recommendations from the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee and assessment of those recommendations

5.    To increase the level of fine to the Government-allowed maximum was considered to be disproportionate and was considered to impact on the payment rate and additional enforcement costs

6.    The equality analysis undertaken on the proposed policy and attached as appendix 2 to the report

Other options considered:

Various options for the response to each offence were considered in the Members’ workshop. Following feedback, Members wished for the Public Space Protection Order (dog control) to be reviewed to consider the inclusion of extra conditions relating to dog fouling and a requirement to carry the means to pick up dog waste.