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.

At this juncture the meeting had lasted four hours.  In accordance with Standing Order A11.2, the Monitoring Officer advised that the remaining business on the agenda needed to be transacted at this meeting and the meeting continued.

The Council made the following recommendation to the Mayor:

It was proposed by Councillor Excell and seconded by Councillor Mills:

That the Mayor be recommended:

(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.

On being put to the vote the motion was declared carried.

The Mayor considered the recommendation of the Council as set out above at the meeting and the record of his decision, together with further information, is attached to these Minutes.