Walsall Council to get £650k to tackle fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour

The money is being made available as part of an £18 million handout from the second phase of the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Controlling Migration Fund.

The authority will receive £665,551 which will be put towards improving Walsall’s environment and education as well as schemes to help reduce fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour, according to reports.

Communities Minister Lord Bourne said: "In some places population change in a short space of time has put pressure on local services and we’re clear there are things we can do to address these problems.

"This new funding will help councils rise to the challenge of reducing the impact of migration on local communities in a variety of ways – whether that’s tackling the small minority of landlords who damage neighbourhoods with overcrowded properties, providing English language classes to ensure effective integration."

According to a document detailing how money given to authorities will be spent, Walsall will benefit from 'a multi-themed proposal to support better community integration in Walsall; improve the living environment; improve educational attainment; safeguard some of the most vulnerable; reduce fly tipping; reduce anti-social behaviour and improve the private landlord housing provision delivered through a strong community sector and public sector'.

More than 2,000 incidents of fly-tipping have cost Walsall Council over £220,000 in just six months, according to recent figures.

For the financial year 2016/17, 5,009 incidents were recorded, costing the authority £426,098 and since the new financial year has started up until the end of September there has been 2,364 incidents at a cost of £221,787.

Last month, a scheme to clamp down on anti-social behaviour in Walsall was brought into play.

After a period of extensive public consultation and evidence gathered from local Police, the council has made a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to tackle anti social behaviour in the town centre.

Any breach of the Public Spaces Protection Order is a criminal offence for which an individual can be summonsed to attend court and fined.

Alternatively fixed penalty notices of £100 may be issued by the Council.

The authority has also made efforts to improve circumstances for tenants of private landlords by making plans to introduce a selective licensing scheme, which helps to ensure landlords stick to their responsibility.