Written question asked by Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Conservative) on Tuesday, 5 April 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 April 2005. It was answered by Alun Michael (Labour) on Thursday, 7 April 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps an individual can take to encourage local authorities to fulfil their responsibilities in relation to litter and detritus.

Answer: Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps an individual can take to encourage local authorities to fulfil their responsibilities in relation to litter and detritus. [224976] Alun Michael: Under section 91 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, an individual can complain to a magistrates court if aggrieved by the defacement, by litter or refuse, of land that a local authority has a duty to keep clear under section 89 of that Act. If the magistrates are satisfied that the land in question is defaced, they can issue a litter abatement order requiring the local authority to clear the land of litter and refuse within a time specified in the order. It is an offence to fail to comply with a litter abatement order. An individual can also complain to a local authority using its standard complaint procedures. Many local authorities have set up call centres or hotlines to which their residents can report local environmental quality issues. If the local authority does not have a complaints procedure, or the individual is not satisfied with the action the council takes, he or she can complain to the Local Government Ombudsman who investigates maladministration by local authorities.

Secondary information