MORE than £1million a year is spent by Barnsley Council cleaning up litter and dog fouling.
A new 'zero tolerance' pilot scheme is being launched in Barnsley town centre which will see the council partner with a private company.
Coun Roy Miller said four enforcement officers who will work for the firm will go in to the town centre, attached to the Central Safer Neighbourhood Team. They will carry cameras while on duty, so all enforcement activity can be monitored.
Coun Miller said: "Cleaning up after the careless minority who casually throw their litter or simply walk away from the mess their dog has left costs the council over £1million a year."
The 12-month scheme will be provided at no cost to the council, with the firm being paid £40 for every fine issued correctly.They need to issue 1,350 tickets and receive full payment of 730 of them.
Council papers show by April pressures on the council's budget will have resulted in a 40 per cent reduction in front line staff and resources to address lower level enforcement issues such as dog fouling and littering.
But Coun Miller said the new partnership will free up six town centre enforcement officers who can be deployed elsewhere in the borough.
Arrangements for tackling litter across the borough are also being considered at area council level.
** The full story appears in the Barnsley Chronicle newspaper, dated March 7. **
