Stoke-on-Trent City Council is planning to hire more staff to help clean up the city after receiving a record number of complaints about fly tipping.

The latest figures reveal complaints reached their highest ever monthly amount in May this year, with 694 incidents recorded.

The authority recorded a total of 2,932 fly tipping complaints between January and May this year – which compares with 2,562 by the same time last year and 2,779 by that point in 2021.

Council bosses are expected to sign-off a budget increase of more than half a million pounds over the next two years to try to fix the problem.

A report due to be discussed on Tuesday states: "The current cleanliness of the city has declined and demand has increased from the residents, businesses and visitors to address waste issues through cleansing and enforcement activities.

"Negative press publicity has given poor community confidence in the city council."

It added: "Fly tipping offences have increased within the city, and in May 2023 we received the most reports ever experienced.

"This has led to a reduction in service delivery and can mean a delay in dealing with reported incidents for up to 30 days, something that is not acceptable."

Council bosses are expected to sign-off a budget of more than £500,000 to fix the problem (LDRS).

The council says it will spend over £350,000 on hiring extra staff and more than £150,000 on new vehicles and equipment.

It means the council can increase its street-cleansing operations as part of a fresh crackdown on sorting out land and alleyways which it has responsibility for.

Officers have pledged a zero tolerance approach to waste offences and say they will increase the number of on-the-spot fines they issue as well as pursuing more prosecutions.

There will also be more CCTV monitoring – with an extra five mobile CCTV cameras being brought in to gather evidence.

The council says its new hires will be known as the Grimebuster Team, and will include three new enforcement officers as well as four new reactive cleansing officers.

Their work will be promoted through social media and on the council website – which will include naming and shaming of individuals caught fly tipping.

As well as clearing up after fly tippers, they will sweep pavements and alley ways more often – with a new sweeper vehicle to tackle the worst-affected areas.

The new 'Grimebuster Team' will be naming and shaming those caught fly-tipping (LDRS).

Cllr Amjid Wazir is the new deputy leader of the council, and is responsible for overseeing enforcement.

He said: "We want to clear up our city. At the moment it's really filthy, and we need to do something about it.

He said the new administration intends to come down hard on those who blight the city with discarded rubbish and furniture in alleyways.

Cllr Wazir said: "We will not tolerate any fly tipping by anybody. We will find them and fine them.

"Just last month we fined 207 people with fixed penalty notices. We will carry on doing that, but we encourage our residents to dispose of their rubbish responsibly."

However, he believes locals also have a responsibility for keeping the area tidy.

He said: "It's up to local residents to keep the alleys clean as well. They need to take pride in their area, and take care of their area.

"If they see somebody fly tipping they should report that as well."

READ MORE: Council's finances 'in dire straits' as social care costs rise 

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