Bin collection fines 'complex', council claims

Derby City Council has been running a pilot programme to clampdown on bins being left out on nine streets

A crackdown on residents leaving bins on Derby streets was proving more "complex" than first envisaged, the city council said.

Earlier this year, Derby City Council launched a pilot scheme to tackle the problem of people leaving bins out after collection day at selected streets across the city.

The initiative was to allow council-led public protection officers (PPOs) to take action under Section 46a of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which states councils may issue fixed penalty notices when people leave wheelie bins on the pavement.

At a community meeting at Stepping Lane last week, Mackworth and New Zealand ward residents were told by a council officer that issuing fines had not been straightforward.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the meeting heard a "resource problem" had affected the amount of fines being issued, with the council only having six PPOs to cover the whole city.

A council officer confirmed that some fines had been issued but did not specify how many.

"We understand your frustration," the officer said.

"It has been more complex than it appears at first sight. It is something we are working hard to do."

Residents were also informed the pilot scheme was due to finish at the end of August.