Council promises to crack down on fly-tipping

Reading Borough Council said fly-tipping was a key concern for residents

Tougher enforcement on fly-tipping and littering is due to begin in a Berkshire town this month as part of a push to crack down on the behaviour.

Reading Borough Council said it was seeking to boost penalties for fly-tipping and littering by using an external provider.

Assistant director of environmental and commercial services Chris Wheeler said fly-tipping was a key concern for residents, and the new strategy would result in "more actions against those found to be littering and fly-tipping".

The new enforcement arrangement began this month but is subject to an acquisition process.

If a full tendering process is required, the service would be implemented in the autumn, according to a report by Mr Wheeler.

The council said the new strategy would result in more enforcement action

The new arrangement comes at no extra charge through the council.

"It's intended to address the key concerns of residents around litter and fly-tipping and other related environmental crime," said Mr Wheeler.

"This type of approach is new to Reading, and we wanted to be transparent about the benefits of the approach, the risks and the planned controls to manage some of those risks.

"In taking this approach, it will result in increased activity and more actions against those found to be littering and fly-tipping."

Karen Rowland, lead councillor for environmental services said the arrangement was set on tackling the issue in a cost effective way.

She added the arrangement would allow the authority's recycling and environmental enforcement officers to focus on the government's planned Simpler Recycling reforms.

The plans were welcomed by councillors, including independent Sarah Hacker and Green's Sarah Magon.