A LEADING councillor has vehemently defended controversial fly-tipping and littering enforcement service as tempers flared during a scrutiny meeting.

Councillors and members of the public expressed worries on how District Enforcement – which specialises in environmental enforcement – conducts its business in the Royal Borough following backlash by residents.

The Observer reported during its one month operation, District Enforcement officers – who have been operating since October 5 – handed out nearly 650 fines and 476 of those were to people littering their cigarette butts.

John Webb, a Windsor resident and public speaker at the communities overview and scrutiny meeting, said the service is “focusing almost entirely” on people dropping cigarettes where officers would ‘pounce’ on smokers rather than patrol the borough looking out for fly-tippers.

Mr Webb called for people caught dog-fouling or littering to be issued a first-time warning notice and be educated rather than be slapped with a fine straightaway.

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The lead member for public safety and parking, councillor David Cannon (Conservative: Datchet, Horton, and Wraysbury), admitted he is ‘concerned’ about the number of smokers being fined and would like to see more of a focus on fly-tipping – but added it’s ‘not acceptable’ for anybody to litter.

He said: “The problem we have is a group of people who are wilfully littering in our streets. If they litter in front of an officer from District Enforcement, they will be fined.

“If it is smokers that are doing it, that is not the target audience for this matter. They are making themselves the target audience.”

He added: “If the culture we have not only in Windsor – but Maidenhead, Ascot, and the rural areas – is of people littering, the littering that is witnessed is cigarette butts, then his cigarette butts that will be fined.

“It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

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Cllr Cannon clashed with councillors after they raised complaints and concerns from residents in their wards that the officers were ‘hidden from view’ and jump out to slap litterers with a fine – with some saying some residents can’t afford to pay the £100 charge or the reduced £75 if paid within 14 days.

Councillor Helen Price (The Borough First: Clewer & Dedworth East), like other members, said from engagement she had from direct contact from residents and social media that District Enforcement has a ‘one-strike and you’re out approach’ where she was concerned about the ‘reputation damage’ this may cause.

Cllr Cannon interrupted, saying members quoting social media were often people who were fined where evidence he has ‘no resemblance of the truth’.

He said: “Enforcement is totally irrespective of anything else apart from people who commit an offence.

“If you can’t afford to pay a fine then don’t drop litter… and if it was issued incorrectly or if it was inappropriate then report the matter and it will be dealt with.”

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He added: “If you accept that people are allowed to litter, and you are happy with them littering our borough that’s fine. If people know that if they drop litter, they are going to be fined. It is a massive incentive for them not to drop litter.”

Some members felt that Cllr Cannon’s behaviour and remarks were “combative and confrontational” when answering questions.

Question were also raised on why this can’t be an in-house service rather have a third-party operator that takes all the revenue from the fines.

Cllr Cannon said the council does not have the resources to enforce fines onto rule-breakers and it would cost a lot of money for RBWM to put a formal enforcement team in place.

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As this is a 12-month pilot scheme, Cllr Cannon said he will be working with District Enforcement for them to focus on fly-tipping more rather than littering where he ‘hopes’ the statistics will change overtime.

The council’s parking manager, Neil Walter, said he will make sure District Enforcement’s dealings are “even and fair” and will look into an education programme  – but added their priorities of tackling litter, dog-fouling, and fly-tipping remains the same.

The meeting took place on November 10 (Tuesday).