Wardens in Wolverhampton are set to be handed powers to fine people they see littering or failing to clean up after their dogs.

The powers would see wardens given the right to issue spot fines worth up to £75. The move would boost Wolverhampton City Council’s coffers by £165,000 a year if it works in a similar way to Sandwell Council.

The move is one of a list of 42 policy requests revealed today by the Liberal Democrats in return for agreeing to support the minority Tory administration of the council in a full coalition.

But the Tories today said they already supported the idea and had been looking into it. Currently the council fines people for littering or leaving dog mess based on evidence provided by the 30 community wardens.

But the new scheme would see them trained to hand out fines. Sandwell Council’s wardens issued 2,207 fixed penalty notices in 2009 compared to Wolverhampton, which issued 156.

Wolverhampton’s environmental services boss Councillor Barry Findlay said today: “When we speak to residents about the issues that concern them, litter and dog fouling are very high priorities.”