WARWICK District Council is teaming-up to tackle fly-tipping.
Council chiefs have agreed to work with Rugby Borough Council’s enforcement team to start investigating and prosecuting fly-tippers.
The suggested plan would see Warwick collect evidence and pass it on to colleagues in Rugby to investigate and produce prosecution case files – at a cost of £75 per hour. This was deemed a better option than having an in-house investigation team.
The move follows criticism that the council was allowing fly-tippers to get away with dumping rubbish illegally.
Warwick district has the highest level of fly-tipping incidents in the county, with more than 1,000 incidents reported per year, compared to less than 300 in Stratford.
But concern was voiced earlier this year that despite the council having potential evidence – including names and CCTV images – about suspected fly-tippers, it had not taken any action to prosecute.
The cost for clearing up illegally dumped waste has historically proved cheaper than trying to prosecute individuals.
Labour councillors think the new partnership would have a limited impact.
Coun Kristie Naimo told The Observer: “The Labour group scrutinised this paper and have concerns that it may underfunded, have limited coverage, and may not be as effective as an in-house service.”
