Council agrees new on-the-spot fines to tackle neighbourhood nuisances

Sevenoaks District Council has agreed to adopt new powers to hand out on-the-spot fines to those caught littering, fly posting, carrying out graffiti, failing to keep their dogs under control and making a neighbourhood noise nuisance.

The new fines can be issued by both the Council and by the District's ten existing Police Community Support Officers, which is expected to further increase over the coming years.

 Sevenoaks District Council is already in discussions with West Kent Police about the new arrangement that could begin in the next few weeks.

Cllr Felicity Broomby, the Council's Cabinet member with responsibility for the environment, says: "The overwhelming majority of our residents take pride in living in a clean neighbourhood and they will welcome these new powers. We hope that these penalties will change the behaviour of those people who are prepared to litter, make excessive noise and whose behaviour has a negative impact on their community."

West Kent Police Inspector Adrian Allen, adds: "We are pleased to be working together with the Council to implement the new on-the-spot fines which are a positive way of dealing with the type of low level anti-social behaviour that can disproportionately impact on peoples’ quality of life."

These on the spot fines, called fixed penalty notices, allow offenders to pay the fine without going to court. However, failure to pay the fine will most likely result in court action.

Whilst the Council hope that the issue of fixed penalty notices in large numbers will not be necessary, it will not hesitate to use these powers for blatant or persistent offenders.

The fixed penalty notices cover:

Littering - £80 (reduced to £50 for early payment)

Street litter control notices and litter clearing notices (concerning litter from commercial premises) - £100 (reduced to £75 for early payment)

Unauthorised distribution of literature - £80 (reduced to £50 for early payment)

Graffiti and fly posting - £80 (reduced to £50 for early payment)

Offences in relation to waste receptacles (concerning householders who put refuse and recycling out for collection using incorrect sacks or bins) - £100 (reduced to £75 for early payment)

Offences under dog control orders - £80 (reduced to £50 for early payment)

Failure to nominate a key holder for a home security alarm system - £80 (reduced to £50 for early payment)

Noise from dwellings - £100 (reduced to £50 for early payment)

Sevenoaks District Council's Cabinet agreed to adopt the new powers contained in the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005 at its meeting on Thursday 3 August.

Ends

Press release issued: August 7 2006