The Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner Candidate for Thames Valley has pledged to "crack down" on fly-tipping, and backs calls for mobile CCTV units for "every ward" in the city.
Local Conservative Councillors and Thames Valley’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, have pledged to "start a war on fly-tipping" in Milton Keynes if they successfully take control of the Council in May's election.
They also plan to scrap the Labour-run Council's current booking system for rubbish tips across Milton Keynes, claiming that this system does "not help" the local fly-tipping problem.
But Cllr Emily Darlington (Lab, Bletchley East), who is the council’s cabinet member for public realm and housing services, says that the system has been "quite successful" with booking a slot being "easier than ever".
However, there has been a real increase in fly-tipping reports across Milton Keynes since the start of the pandemic, in line with national trends.
Data has shown a rise of 16% in fly-tipping reports over the past 9 months. Around 4,304 incidents of fly-tipping were logged last year between the months of April and December, averaging 500 incidents every month.
Milton Keynes Council said in their report that the majority of incidents reported as fly-tips in the latest data are the result of "household waste not being presented properly". This includes black bins being put out on a wrong day.
But despite this, the Conservative Group wants the tip booking system gone.
The Group has also proposed a £200,000 amendment to MK Council’s 2021/22 budget which would provide an additional 19 mobile-CCTV cameras, one for each council ward designed to target fly-tipping hotspots and support enforcement against fly-tippers.
The Labour-led Council has committed £200,000, which Cllr Darlington says will go towards "mobile CCTV and action against flytipping and graffiti".
Although both political parties have their differences, they recognise the impact that fly-tipping is having on the city and take a zero-tolerance approach.
The Conservative Group's Leader, Cllr Alex Walker, said: “Residents are sick and tired of MK being turned into a rubbish dump."
He claims that Labour's approach has "failed". Cllr Walker continued: “We are committed to investing in a war against fly-tipping in MK, starting with the removal of the booking system at our tips when it is safe to do so, but also by investing in surveillance and enforcement measures to tackle the scourge of fly-tipping once and for all.”
This has been backed by Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner Candidate, Matthew Barber, who added: “Fly-tipping can often be a result of organised waste crime. I am committed to working with the police, MK Council and the environment agency to tackle this as part of a wider strategy to reduce organised crime.
“I welcome the bold approach by the Conservatives in Milton Keynes which will see a tougher approach to dealing with the problem of fly-tipping which sees criminals profit and communities suffer.”
Cllr Emily Darlington (Lab, Bletchley East) has actively campaigned to stop fly-tipping in Milton Keynes, and "looks forward" to Thames Valley Police supporting the Council's efforts.
She commented: “There is no excuse for flytipping. The majority of residents in MK are responsible but our parks and communities are being spoilt by the few who choose to dump their waste.
“Following Labour’s investment last year in mobile CCTV and enforcement, Milton Keynes Council is prosecuting more fly-tippers than ever before. Next year, the Labour-led Council is committing £200k to mobile CCTV and action against flytipping and graffiti. If you dump, we will prosecute. I look forward to TVP supporting our efforts.”
“Over 145,000 booked trips to the tip since the booking system was introduced. There are slots available at the tips everyday and booking is easier than ever. If you book someone else to take away your rubbish, please make sure they are licenced or you will be liable if they dump it.”
