Tories slam “impractical” Clean Neighbourhoods Bill

The Bill, one of the few Bills to have been passed before today's dissolution of Parliament, enacted a range of measures to help local authorities and the Environment Agency tackle environmental crimes including fly-tipping, litter and abandoned vehicles (see letsrecycle.com story).

” It is clear that receipts from fixed penalties will contribute only a fraction of the total costs involved. This will mean increasing Council Tax bills.“
– Anne McIntosh MP
The Conservative Party said the Bill had not been sufficiently amended during its path through the House of Commons and standing committee hearings to make it affordable for councils. And, the Tories said many of the Bill's measures “already exist for local councils”.

Shadow environment minister Anne McIntosh said: “The figures collated by the Government and its own advisors demonstrate that Local Authorities will not be able to afford the costs of the provisions introduced in the Clean Neighbourhoods Bill. It is clear that receipts from fixed penalties will contribute only a fraction of the total costs involved. This will mean increasing Council Tax bills.”

She added: “The government have failed to amend the bill in the few committee sessions available to accommodate any of the real concerns and representations raised with me.”

Vehicles
On abandoned vehicles, the Tories said councils face costs of 34 million from the Bill's requirements, “but the maximum they are expected to receive in income from the issue of fixed penalty notices is just over 1.68 million”.

Ms McIntosh said: “The Clean Neighbourhoods Bill is unnecessarily burdensome and cumbersome legislation. Many of the powers that are granted through the Bill already exist for local councils – for example the power to fine for littering, including chewing gum, and the power to impose gating orders.”

“Instead of introducing new, headline-grabbing, Primary Legislation, Local Authorities should be helped to use existing laws to clamp down on litter and graffiti. If fly-tipping were made an arrestable offence, as the Conservatives have proposed, much of this Bill would be unnecessary,” she added.