Conservatives in South Gloucestershire are set to agree a new tougher approach to tackling fly-tipping, littering and other forms of environmental anti-social behaviour in local communities.

As part of proposals published on Friday, the new Environmental Enforcement Policy would take a multi-pronged approach towards investigation and enforcement, also focusing on prevention and education to raise awareness and promote good practice.

Through this work, the Council has already established a new environmental enforcement team, which will co-ordinate and carry out more effective and consistent enforcement, while also supporting other Council teams in successfully issuing fixed penalty notices (FPNs).

The Environmental Enforcement Policy will bring together several strands of work to ensure a consistent response to taking action against those who flout the law or act irresponsibly.

Since winning a first-ever majority on South Gloucestershire Council in 2015, Conservatives have made tackling Climate Change and improving streets and local communities two key priorities, taking a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping and littering.

This has resulted in anyone who fly-tips within the district being up to five times more likely to be prosecuted than anywhere else in the country, with the council boasting a 100 per cent record of securing successful prosecutions. Funding was last year extended to take a similar approach to littering, cracking down on less-considerate people who don’t respect local streets or public open spaces.

Councillor Rachael Hunt, Cabinet Member for Communities and Local Place, said: “South Gloucestershire is a great place to live, work and visit, and we as Conservatives want to make sure that it stays that way, giving people a continued reason to be proud of where they call home.

“Through this policy, the Administration is bringing together several linked areas of the work the Council does and pointing them in the same direction, giving a holistic view towards enforcement and making sure we are clearer, fairer and tougher on our approach.”