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Published: 17 May 2007

Latest rubbish rule could cost you £110

Town Hall to clean up on bin offenders

RESIDENTS who put their bins out at the wrong time could join fly-tippers and graffiti vandals in facing a criminal record and an on-the-spot fine under plans expected to be passed by councillors tonight (Thursday).
New powers to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) – fines of up to £300 which are also used by the police to punish low-level violence and disorder – will be granted to the council’s Street Environment Services and Street Warden teams as part of a robust new strategy to be agreed by environment chiefs.
Under the strategy – which will be evaluated partly on the “number of FPNs issued and the subsequent payment rate” – householders or traders who store their rubbish incorrectly or leave it out at the wrong time will receive a warning letter, and if they ignore it, a £110 fine.
Although the Town Hall insisted that offenders will be given a chance to mend their ways before a fine is imposed, some residents were concerned that they could fall foul of over-zealous officials and flawed collection services.
Camden Town resident Jazzie B, frontman of soul-funk pioneers Soul II Soul, told the New Journal: “The other side of this argument is that if they collected the rubbish on the right day they wouldn’t have to fine anyone.
“There’s sometimes garbage sitting out there for two weeks, and the collections are so inconsistent: only the other day I had to clear the pavement where there was rubbish in the way of a disabled lady. They tell us you can’t do this and you can’t do that but then they don’t do their part.”
Councillor Mike Greene, who as environment chief, will chair tonight’s meeting of the Executive sub-committee, said the strategy’s focus was a cleaner and safer borough and that residents would not be fined unless they ignored warnings and persistently flouted rules.
He said: “The emphasis of the whole enforcement strategy is on education, requests, and enforcement only if necessary.”
Other offences earning finess of up to £300 include abandoning vehicles, handing out flyers, nuisance parking, litter, and a raft of dog-related offences.

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