Bridgend Council’s Cabinet is set to approve a new enforcement policy for environmental offences (pdf).
The headline change is an increase in on-the-spot fines for fly-tipping to match those of neighbouring local authorities. The fine is set to increase to £400 (from £200) with £200 now being the discounted fine for early payment.
For more serious fly-tipping cases, BCBC still has the option of taking offenders to court where the fine could be significantly higher.
BCBC are also including on-the-spot fines for a failure by businesses to deal with commercial waste, particularly in town centres (presumably aimed at takeaways). The fine would be £300 (£180 for early payment).
Extra fines are also being included relating to nuisance vehicles:
- Abandoning a vehicle – £200 (£120 early payment).
- Leaving two or more vehicles for sale on the road – £100 (£75 early payment).
- Repair of vehicles on a road – £100 (£75 early payment). This one doesn’t include roadside breakdowns and is aimed at those carrying out routine repair work away from a garage/commercial premises.
The updated policy in full – subject to approval – is available here (pdf). The bigger question, of course, is whether the council has the resources to enforce them in the first place?
