The city council are pushing a zero-tolerance attitude on fly-tipping, hoping to bring litter enforcement in Brighton and Hove ‘in-house’ in 2019. Brighton and Hove City Council are in talks to end its litter enforcement contract with controversial company 3GS and bring the service ‘in-house’.
The contract is set to end in February 2019 after both the council and the company agreed not to further their partnership.
3GS, a specialist provider of environmental enforcement, came under fire earlier this year for reportedly giving out “heavy-handed” fines, causing the Red Snapper Group (RSG) to take over in April.
Councillor Gill Mitchel, Chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, said: “This will be a new start for the council, its residents, business and tourists so far as environmental enforcement is concerned.”
The council want to ensure they have more control of the enforcement of litter, including dog fouling, cigarette butts, chewing gum, and the growing fly-tipping problem around the city.
Councillor Mitchell praised RSG for doing an incredible job of making 3GS a much more professional operation, but she emphasised renewing the contract isn’t something the council or RSG want to do.
The current fine for littering is £75, but the council are proposing a reduction to £55 if the fine is paid within ten days, £45 under the government’s suggested figure.
Fines for fly-tipping and illegal disposal of commercial waste will remain at £300 as the council continues their zero-tolerance attitude to environmental crimes.
The current contract states money made from the fines is split between RSG and the council, with the local authority using the income to tackle the city’s litter problem in other ways, including providing additional litter and dog bins and environmental education for local schools.
Managing Director of RSG, Martin Jerrold, said: “We believe it is not possible to supply a compassionate and proportionate enforcement service and provide an income to the customer.”
RSG, who run their business by keeping all the money collected on fines, claim 3GS loses money on the Brighton contract.
Councillors on the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee will meet next Thursday (27 November) to decide whether to bring the service in-house.
If the committee agrees on this, a wide-ranging programme of public education, consultation and communication will take place.
The contract with 3GS commenced on 1 February 2016, a partnership that was set to last three years.
