Council challenges DEFRA figures quoted by Conservatives
Local Conservatives have attacked Hounslow Council for "failing to get a grip with flytipping" after figures show there were nearly 4,000 incidents in the borough.
The Council has disputed the figures and said they were investigating. A council spokesperson said: "While there is a problem with flytipping in Hounslow, as there is in many other outer London boroughs, there are clearly inaccuracies and other issues with the figures reported to DEFRA for 2012.
For example black bins might have been recorded as flytipping when they were put out for refuse collection on the wrong day, or incidents may have been reported twice or more, he said.
Councillor Liz Mammatt , deputy leader of Hounslow Conservatives group said, “Labour’s pledge to fight for a clean and green Borough has fallen short as confirmed by the figures this week from DEFRA. Hounslow deserves better!”
The figures published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) were "shocking" according to deputy leader cllr Liz Mammatt.
Between 2012 and 2013 there were a total number of 13,934 flytipping incidents with 1,030 investigation actions taken.
Councillor Mammatt said, “TOctober 25, 2013Labour run Hounslow Council is failing to get a grip on flytipping. It is a scourge on our streets and the Council needs to be more pro-active in prosecuting and making public examples of this unacceptable behaviour.”
Figures from DEFRA – “ENV24 Flytipping Incidents and Actions taken in England”, reveal that estimated investigated action costs for Hounslow reached almost £34,000 for this period with the number of “Single Black Bag” incidents tallying at a figure of 21,579 costing £151,053.00.
Total estimated costs to the Council for clearance of single black bag incidents reached £549,490.00.
A council spokesperson said: "While there is a problem with flytipping in Hounslow, as there is in many other outer London boroughs, there are clearly inaccuracies and other issues with the figures reported to DEFRA for 2012. "When we compare the 1,300 incidents of dumped asbestos for 2012 to 15 so far this year, there was clearly a problem with the way the figures were reported.
"We are in the process of investigating this. It is possible that incidents may have been reported several times over or that other data may have been erroneously incorporated in this particular return.
"The high number of black bag incidents is down to them being reported as flytipping, rather than domestic waste put out for collection on the wrong day.
"In terms of enforcement, we can confirm that although it was not reported to DEFRA, 18 fines were issued for litter offences.Hounslow Highways has assured us they have a firm grip on reporting so there should be a truer picture of flytipping and other envirocrime in Hounslow for 2013."
Cllr Colin Ellar, deputy leader and cabinet member for environment, said: "Like many other outer London boroughs, Hounslow suffers from flytipping because we have more open spaces than inner London boroughs.
"That said, we will not relent in our pursuit of flytippers and if they are caught, we will fine them."
The Council's figures comparing this year's to those of 2012 are:
Asbestos (1,334 incidents, compared with next highest of 98)
April 2012- Mar 2013 = 1,334 (avg per month = 111) Jan 2013 - Jul 2013 = 15 (avg per month= 2)
Single black bag incidents 21,579
April 2012- Mar 2013 = 21,759 (avg per month = 1,798) Jan 2013 - Jul 2013 = 6,276 (avg per month= 897)
Single item incidents 10,406
April 2012- Mar 2013 = 10,406 (avg per month = 867) Jan 2013 - Jul 2013 = 2,133 (avg per month= 305)
Agricultural incidents 710
April 2012- Mar 2013 = 710 (avg per month = 59) Jan 2013 - Jul 2013 = 1 (avg per month= 0.14)
October 25, 2013