COUNCIL chiefs at Warrington are being recommended to introduce a £400 fixed penalty notice for some offences of fly-tipping.
Members of the borough council’s cabinet will consider the proposal at their meeting on Monday next week.
The recommendation is that the £400 penalty would be reduced by £100 if it was paid within 10 days.
Most other neighbouring authorities already use fixed penalty notices – most fixed at £400.
In a report to the cabinet, Cllr Judith Guthrie (pictured) cabinet member for environment and public protection, says fly-tipping offences in Warrington are currently dealt with by way of prosecution which involved a detailed investigation report and may require officers and witnesses to attend court to give evidence.
Securing prosecutions can be a cost and resource-intensive methods of dealing with offences, which may not be proportionate for all fly-tipping offences.
In the event of an offender not paying a fixed penalty notice, the case would still be referred to the magistrates court were fines of up to £50,000 or 12 months in prison can be imposed in the event of a conviction.
It is believed the use of fixed penalty notices will slow down the growth of fly-tipping incidents.
Council set to introduce £400 fixed penalties for fly-tipping
22 Comments
2 Comments
£400? That’s only double the cost of hiring a legal builders skip and probably half the cost that the council pays to clean up the mess.
Oh and as for giving these people a £100 discount for paying within ten days, are the council serious? that makes it even cheaper to fly tip. There should be NO discounts for criminal activity and the fines should go up by£100 if they don’t pay within the ten days!