Hull Council asks public whether they want a private firm to hand out £75 litter fines

Hull Council decided it was better to seek public opinion on what is a controversial issue.

Last year they handed out just 125 fixed penalty notices for littering, but say other local authorities are issuing up to 5,000 a year.

The move could bring in hundreds of thousands of pounds of income - enough to pay a private firm to hire enforcement officers.

Hull Council has seen its streetscene department contract to around a third of its size as a result of Governmnet imposed austerity measures.

In recent years firms have started approaching cash-strapped councils and offering self-financing services.

Assistant City Manager Doug Sharp said the behavioural change needed was akin to people accepting the need to put on seatbelts.

He said: “We know it splits public opinion and thought we should put it to the vote and see what happens.

“Seat belts is a good example. Broadly speaking it has been cracked.

“If we have that kind of impact in terms of littering people will notice the difference.”

If supported by enough people, a team of enforcement officers could be out on the streets of Hull by next April.

Coun Alan Clark said: “Tackling environmental crime is a top priority for us, and we are fed up with the selfish minority who spoil the city for everyone.

“We take a zero-tolerance approach to littering and by strengthening our enforcement work, we’ll be able to crackdown even more on these environmental crimes.”

People can vote now on www.hull.gov.uk/litter.

The closing date is Thursday August 31.