Government should do more to help councils tackle fly-tipping says Anna Dixon

Anna Dixon MP suggested that councils left cash-strapped by the last government should receive more support to tackle fly tipping.

At a Westminster Hall debate on the topic, Dixon highlighted the disastrous impact of Tory budget cuts on local government.

She referenced two tips in Shipley constituency that had closed in recent years due to funding drops, contributing to fly-tipping issues.

Speaking to Mary Creagh, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ms Dixon said:

“In my constituency of Shipley, which falls within the Bradford district, swingeing cuts to local government budgets under the previous Government have forced the council to make impossible choices, including the closure of two tips, at Sugden End and Ilkley in the shadow Minister’s constituency, used extensively by my constituents.

“Of course, residents fear that there will be an increase in fly-tipping, which is already a problem. Does the Minister agree that cash-strapped councils cannot be expected to solve this problem alone?

“Let us stop blaming them and look at what support can be given from the national Government.”

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary replied:

“I thank my hon. Friend for her contribution and agree that if we are to create a zero-waste economy, which is the stated aim of this Labour Government, we have to start by ensuring that we increase collection and follow the environmental principles that ensure that the polluter pays. It comes back to some of the points about full-cost recovery and the fact that it is not in the interests of councils to enforce prosecution.

“The shadow Minister raised the issue of Bradford council, but I can tell him that I intend to write to all 13 councils that reported zero enforcement actions in the past reporting year.

“They are Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council, which is Lib Dem and Tory-run; Colchester, which is Tory-run; East Devon, which has no overall control; Exeter, which is Labour; Fylde, which is Tory; Isles of Scilly, which is independent; Lewes, which is Lib Dem and Tory; Sedgemoor, which is not clear; Somerset West and Taunton, which, again, was Conservative; South Hams, which is Lib Dem; South Somerset, which no longer exists—there are a few that have merged; Uttlesford; and West Devon. All those reported zero enforcement actions in the past year.

“That is not good enough.”