September 19, 2018 2.08 pm This story is over 66 months old

Dog fouling fines to increase under council agreement

It means you’ll pay more for failing to pick up after yourself and your dog

Photo: Brother Magneto

Senior councillors in North East Lincolnshire are expected to agree to outsource dog fouling and littering enforcement to Doncaster council in a move which would see fines increased to £100.

The move comes after the council’s executive approved plans to commission a third party provider for the service back in February.

Members of the authority’s cabinet have been recommended to approve the new agreement at a meeting next week.

This means that enforcement would be carried out by Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council on a two-year trial.

Members of the council’s cabinet will discuss the matter at Grimsby Town Hall next week. Photo: David Wright

A report to councillors in February showed that the number of penalty charge notices in the authority area had dropped from 27 in 2012-13 to just two in 2017-18.

It is an offence under law to not clean up dog mess in a public place and the current fine imposed by North East Lincolnshire Council is £50.

But the new agreement would see fines increased to £100.

The authority said the increase has to be made in order for the agreement to go ahead and that the partnership would help to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council offices. Picture: Doncaster council.

It added that it would burden no costs as a result of the partnership and would receive £17 for every fine made.

Meanwhile, Doncaster council would foot the bill for legal and staffing costs, as well as processing the fixed penalty notices.

A spokesperson for North East Lincolnshire Council said: “We agreed earlier this year to find a third party to enforce against people who drop litter and do not clean up after their dogs in order to free our community protection and compliance team to focus on more serious problems such as fly-tipping, statutory nuisances and rogue traders.

“We are close to signing this contract and look forward to working with the new provider.”

Councillors will decide on the plans at a meeting on September 26.

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