Title

ENVIRONMENT

Triple on-the-spot littering fines, think-tank urges

A think-tank has called for a ‘revitalised’ litter strategy, including tripling the level of fines and ranking councils on enforcement of anti-littering laws.

A think-tank has called for a ‘revitalised' litter strategy, including tripling the level of fines and ranking councils on enforcement of anti-littering laws.

Policy Exchange's new report said a ‘significantly more aggressive approach' was needed to tackling littering and fly-tipping, which together cost the UK £1bn.

The think-tank argued that on-the-spot fines should be increased from £65 to £195 and maximum fines from £150 to £450.

Policy Exchange also proposed the creation of a Government league table, aimed at ranking councils on how actively they use their powers to tackle litter.

It argued a league table would incentivise councils to develop litter strategies, enable residents to hold councils to account, and instil a competitive spirit across regions and between metro-mayors.

In the foreword to the report, former local government secretary Lord Pickles said: ‘This paper makes a timely contribution to this important issue, where too many local authorities are not enforcing the law.

‘Addressing litter and the physical environment gives the clearest signal that a local authority respects its residents.

'Significant intervention on this issue is long overdue.'

ENVIRONMENT

Are boroughs doing enough to fix London's housing crisis?

By Paul Marinko | 15 October 2025

Most London boroughs continue to provide council housing on lifetime tenancies, despite having the ability to offer fixed term agreements. With critics argui...

ENVIRONMENT

Delivery of housing can be turbo-charged

By Cllr John Merry | 09 October 2025

Cities and central government must work together to tackle the viability barriers to housing delivery, says Cllr John Merry.

ENVIRONMENT

Pursuing AI without a large language model

By Paul Marinko | 09 October 2025

Councils remain eager to grasp the opportunities offered by AI, but a recognised lack of knowledge remains a worry and the sector also remains in need of cap...

ENVIRONMENT

Reorganisation, Reform and devolution

By Ann McGauran | 02 October 2025

Change is rippling through local government, from structural reform and new combined authorities, to health integration and the push for financial sustainabi...

Popular articles by William Eichler