The Community Safety Business Unit is responsible for environmental enforcement. This Business Unit has a wide range of enforcement responsibility.  Included in these responsibilities is litter and dog fouling enforcement of which the team currently issues approximately 80 FPNs per annum.

In order to reduce anti-social behaviour, the Authority is seeking an appropriately qualified/accredited organisation to issue fixed penalty notices (FPNs), on its behalf, to offenders who are seen breaking the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act in the streets, parks, beaches and open spaces within Torbay with a particular focus on dog fouling and littering.  The proposal is for a one year pilot to be undertaken across Torbay.

(i)       that a preferred bidder be appointed, following the outcome of a competitive tendering process, in order to commence the environmental crime enforcement pilot project outlined in the submitted report; and

(ii)      that the Assistant Director (Community and Customer Services) be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Executive Lead for Community Safety, to progress the appointment of a preferred bidder to undertake the environmental crime enforcement pilot project.

The community are concerned about the level of dog fouling and littering across Torbay.  The public want to see a more visible presence to act as a deterrent for this type of environmental crime.  This pilot provides the opportunity to increase visibility, increase enforcement and re-educate the wider public of the negative impact that dog fouling and littering has on the community.

The proposed pilot will be evaluated and may offer future opportunities for the Community Safety Team as an alternative method of delivery of some of their regulatory activities.

If this Enforcement Pilot is not pursued then the current status quo will remain, with no additional enforcement activity being undertaken.

This decision will come into force and may be implemented on 5 August 2015 unless the call-in procedure is triggered (as set out in Standing Orders in relation to Overview and Scrutiny).

The submitted report set out a proposal for an environmental crime enforcement pilot to build upon the work undertaken by officers to maintain the cleanliness of the local environment and street scene throughout Torbay.  The pilot will provide additional capacity to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for littering and dog fouling offences.

The Mayor considered the recommendations of the Council made on 23 July 2015 and his decision is set out above.

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