Fly-tipping fines remain in single figures months after Black Country council leader promises to put ‘force back into enforcement’
Fewer fines have been issued for fly-tipping and littering since Walsall council promised to ramp up enforcement.
In July 2025, Councillor Mike Bird said he would ‘put the force back into enforcement’ after being appointed leader of the Conservative group.
But data shows that since the bold promise, fewer fines have been issued for fly-tipping and littering.
In the first half of 2025, six fly-tipping fines were issued by Walsall Council. But between July 2025 and January 2026, just four were issued.
As for litter fines, the monthly average until June 2025 stood at 87. Between July 2026 and January 2026, the monthly average was 77.
Walsall Council said progress cannot be reviewed ‘solely on the issuing of fixed penalty notices’.
Leader of the labour group, Councillor Matt Ward, said residents are ‘tired of empty words’.
He said: “The shockingly low number of fixed penalty notices is as disgraceful as the fly-tipping blighting our communities.
“Residents are tired of empty words and they want action. Labour has a track record of taking offenders to court.
“Any council I lead would take a zero-tolerance approach. We would prosecute fly-tippers, seek full costs, use the Proceeds of Crime Act against commercial operators, and name & shame those convicted.
“Our communities deserve clean streets and only a Labour council will deliver the enforcement to make that happen.”
Portfolio holder for enforcement and safe communities at the authority, Councillor Adam Hicken, said: “Last time Labour were controlling the council they were chasing hundreds of caravans around the borough with no serious plan to get rid of them, and nothing else was ever a priority.
“It has taken years to restore our services after they cut it to the bone, and everything that we do currently is far greater than they ever achieved whilst they were the controlling party.
“I won’t take lectures from a party which de-prioritised almost all enforcement activity across the borough.”
A spokesperson for Walsall Council said: “Tackling the scourge of fly-tipping and littering in Walsall is a priority for the council and a key part of our wider plans to strengthen enforcement across the borough.
“Progress in this matter cannot be reviewed solely on the issuing of Fixed Penalty Notices.
“As part of our commitment to ‘put the force back into enforcement’, the council is recruiting additional enforcement officers, expanding CCTV coverage with 21 new cameras, and strengthening coordinated action through a cross-functional Enforcement Board.
“These measures are already being rolled out and seeing results. Three vehicles connected to fly-tipping offences have already been seized this year, one of which relates to six different fly-tipping cases in Walsall.
“Fly-tipping remains a complex issue. Around half of those investigated for waste offences in 2025 were from outside the borough, and identifying offenders can be particularly challenging where waste is carried on foot or where vehicles are cloned or unregistered.
“Our focus is on taking robust action against those responsible and ensuring Walsall’s streets remain clean, safe and welcoming for residents, businesses and visitors.”
