Issue - meetings

To consider the report on fixed penalty notices for environmental offences.

RESOLVED to

1)    Agree the use of the penalty charge notices as identified within the report with immediate effect.

2)    Agree new penalty charge sums as outlined within Appendix 1.

3)    Authorise the Assistant Director Housing Health and Communities to issue fixed and civil penalty notices with immediate effect.

4)    Delegate the authority to add new fixed and civil penalty charges as may be prescribed in legislation to the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services.

Members considered the report by the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services recommending that the scope of fixed penalty notices be expanded to include littering from vehicles, vehicle engines left running unnecessarily whilst stationary (“idling”) and smoking in cars and other vehicles with someone under 18 present. The report also recommended the level of fixed penalty for these offences and increases to the level of penalty for other environmental offences.

In response to a Member question as to whether the cost charged by the Council for removing large domestic waste was prohibitively expensive and therefore encouraged fly tipping, the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services said she would look into this issue further.

RESOLVED to

1)    agree to the use of the penalty charge notices as identified within the report with immediate effect.

2)    agree new penalty charge sums as outlined within Appendix 1.

3)    authorise the Assistant Director Housing Health and Communities to issue fixed and civil penalty notices with immediate effect.

4)    delegate the authority to add new fixed and civil penalty charges as may be prescribed in legislation to the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services.