Issue details

To provide an update on the Council’s ‘Let’s Take the Oops out of Poops’ dog fouling campaign, and to propose that a similar campaign focusing on litter be launched.

At the meeting of the Council in February 2015, the Executive Leader of the Council raised dog fouling and littering as two of the issues in need of attention.

In November 2015, the Executive approved that a consultation exercise be run on a draft Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).  If approved, the PSPO would allow the Council’s Enforcement Officers to issue Fixed Penalty Notices to those failing to clear up after their dog has fouled.  The Executive also approved a budget for a dog fouling awareness campaign.

The Council consulted with residents on the proposed PSPO and the majority expressed their support.  A number of dog fouling hot spots were also identified by respondents. 

At a meeting of the Executive in March 2016, the Executive authorised the making of the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (Dog Fouling 2016).  The order came into force on 1 April 2016 and will remain in place for a period of three years.

The ‘Let’s Take the Oops out of Poops’ dog fouling campaign was launched in spring 2016.  As well as Borough wide advertising taking place, residents also had the opportunity to collect a supply of dog bags free of charge from the Council offices and three dog bag dispensers were trialled in hot spot areas in Portchester.  The campaign raised awareness and resulted in an increase in the volume of dog fouling reports being received.  It is proposed that the Council purchase additional dog bag dispensers as well as further supplies of dog bags to enable the campaign to continue.

Since the launch of the campaign in April 2016 a total of 34 cases for the dispensers have been ordered.  Each case has 800 bags so this equates to 27,200 bags in total.   As these have not been found littering the Borough, indications are that these are being used properly to collect dog mess.

It is further proposed that a litter campaign now be developed and launched to promote awareness and reduce the amount of litter in the Borough.  As well as advertising, the campaign will include giveaways such as branded cigarette end pouches which can be given out at reception.  It is also proposed to purchase badges to give out to children, to encourage them to dispose of their litter appropriately.