Calderdale needs to get tougher on fly-tippers, with one year’s figures showing the council issued no fixed penalty notices to them.

Coun Steven Leigh (Con, Ryburn) raised the issue at the full meeting of Calderdale Council – it was a constant issue, happening everywhere in the borough and was a problem, he said.

Statistics from the 20 comparable northern boroughs showed that in 2016-17 Calderdale had issued no fixed penalty notices to fly-tippers, compared the average of 42 among the others that year.

“Why does the council issue so many cautions – 14 in Calderdale as opposed to an average of three for all the rest – but no fixed term penalties? I understand difficulties in catching them or making a case, but given the relative performance the question, is this the extent of your ambition to become the best borough in the north?” said Coun Leigh.

Leader of the council Coun Tim Swift (Lab, Town) hit back and said Coun Leigh was talking about fly-tipping as if it was the council’s fault – “It is a criminal offence,” he said.

The council had agreed to take a tougher line and put measures in place which included more community wardens with more powers to deal with fly-tippers, mobile CCTV vehicles to film evidence and the council had begun a review of its enforcement practices.

“Just because it is not fixed penalty notices does not mean they weren’t being pursued. We want to stop fly-tipping,” said Coun Swift.