Highland Council takes zero tolerance stance on littering
17th May 2013
A zero tolerance approach to littering in the Highlands has received cross party support from members of The Highland Council’s Transport, Environmental and Community (TEC) Services Committee.
A number of measures to adopt zero tolerance including extending the powers of Community Wardens to issue fines were overwhelmingly approved by members including:
· zero tolerance on littering will be carried out with a degree of discretion;
· additional staff will be authorised to enforce the law relating to litter and fly-tipping;
· Waste Management and Environmental Health staff carry out joint enforcement days;
· the preparation and publication of a calendar of enforcement days on the Council’s website www.highland.gov.uk; and
· the Council encourages and supports local communities to organise events aimed at keeping their communities free of litter and improving the overall environment.
Councillor Graham Phillips, Chairman of the TEC Services Committee said: “We must recognise the excellent works that our TEC Services do in trying to keep our communities clean and tidy, many staff are out very early each morning clearing up before we leave our homes. We all need to take a zero tolerance approach to littering across all ages and refuse to accept it. We need to get clean-up opportunities embedded into our communities so that we all play a part. A change of mind-set is needed by everyone to adopt a zero tolerance approach.”
Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Drew Hendry added: “As a Council we have to tackle littering head on and treat it as anti-social behaviour. Littering is wrong, it should not be tolerated and it should not happen. Littering also has an impact on our tourism economy – one of the key industries in the Highlands. We market our natural environment as a key attraction for visitors and littering has a direct impression on visitors that can affect the potential for repeat visits through word of mouth recommendations.”
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Members have considered an update on the Council's medium term financial plan and the impact of the UK and Scottish Governments’ budgets on the coming year’s funding settlement. The position is currently looking more positive than initially planned for, however more detail needs to be worked through.
In November, The Highland Council launched a public statutory consultation to seek views on the proposed introduction of a Visitor Levy scheme across the Highlands. The Council has announced an extension to this consultation period, which will now give businesses, visitors and communities until 31 March 2025, an additional seven weeks, to take part and have their say.
In the light of the financial forecast for 2025-26, Highland Council is inviting you to tell us more in the budget preparation for the coming financial year. The budget engagement builds on extensive budget participation which took place in the winter of 2023-24.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Every year Highland Council invites all tenants to have their say on the rent levels for the following year. The Council encourages everyone that lives in a council house to take this chance to have their say.
Communities and Place Committee met yesterday (Wednesday 27 November 2024) and Members agreed the Highland Local Child Poverty Action Report which includes actions for delivery in 2024/25. Reducing child poverty is a priority for the Council and its partners.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Members of the Highland Council's Community and Place Committee have given their support to an action plan focusing on the operating of public conveniences over the next 10 years. Whilst not a statutory function, the Council is the main provider of public conveniences located throughout Highland, operating 74 sites.
A report published on 27 November 2024 by LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) looks at the state of funding for councils by the Scottish Government. Confidence in the sustainability of council finances is critically low.
At today's (Wednesday 27 November 2024) Communities & Place Committee, Members agreed the most appropriate long-term strategic direction for residual waste management is to continue to utilise a merchant provider solution. Communities & Place Committee Chair, Cllr Graham MacKenzie said: "After careful consideration and analysis it has been agreed that a merchant provider solution is considered the most appropriate long term solution to our statutory waste management obligations, and that an energy-from- waste facility within the Highlands is not considered to be a suitable course of action.
