Issue - meetings

To consider Report No. OS2008 (copy attached), which provides the outcomes of the litter and dog fouling enforcement pilot scheme, operated by East Hampshire District Council, and sets out proposals regarding the future provision of those services.

The Cabinet considered Report No. OS2008, which provided an update on the outcomes of the litter and dog fouling enforcement trial operated by East Hampshire District Council.

Members were reminded that the pilot project had been agreed by the Cabinet at its meeting on 6th February, 2018. Over the two years of operation of the trial, over 3,700 Fixed Penalty Notices had been served in respect of littering which had generated income of over £200,000 in total fines. It was confirmed that, whilst the enforcement activity had been focussed on high footfall areas such as town centres, officers were also able to patrol other hotspot areas on request. It was explained to the Cabinet that, from now on, East Hampshire District Council would pick up the legal work previously carried out by the Council’s legal officers in connection with the processing of prosecution packs but that this additional work would not affect the cost neutrality of the service to the Council.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the seeking of a contractual arrangement with East Hampshire District Council for the provision of the enforcement services for littering and dog fouling for a period of up to five years, as set out in Report No. OS2008, be approved; and

(ii)          the Head of Operational Services, in consultation with the Corporate Manager – Legal Services and the Operational Services Portfolio Holder, be authorised to re-negotiate the contract with East Hampshire District Council, to include the provision of the non-contested hearings with the courts and the delegation of these functions to East Hampshire District Council.