No return for Kingdom style firm

Conwy county council will not be bringing back outside enforcement officers to replace controversial company Kingdom.
The local authority ditched the firm after complaints from residents and councillors about how the company operated.
Many were left furious by what they saw as intimidating behaviour as staff from the company collected fines for littering, dog fouling and walking dogs in restricted areas.
The company pulled out of the county last summer (2018) after a barrage of criticism over the tactics it deployed.
Some residents were angered by what they said were rude and intimidating staff and some councillors felt they were concentrating on hitting easy targets to make money.
Now a task and finish group of councillors given the job of looking into what to replace the service with has completed its work.
The group has recommended that the council works with Keep Wales Tidy to educate and encourage better behaviour as a way of cutting down on littering and dog fouling.
Their decision follows a Welsh Government announcement of funding for three years for Keep Wales Tidy.
This funding will be used to set up a virtual centre of excellence to tackle the most persistent local environment quality issues.
It will do this by through “the promotion of positive behaviour change”.
Members of the council’s economy and place committee will consider the option when they meet next Wednesday at Bodlondeb.
A report to the committee said: “Bearing in mind that Keep Wales Tidy have been given a considerable budget to implement these strategies and that the results and benefits will not be felt for some time, and particularly bearing in mind the current financial situation, members felt the best and most prudent option giving greatest impact rather than local enforcement action alone, would be to support Keep Wales Tidy with this work, and to engage with them where possible for the benefit of Conwy and a wider Wales.
“It was further felt that the council would continue to focus on street and open spaces cleaning as well as continuing to undertake enforcement where suitable evidence becomes available, should this be warranted.”

By Shane Brennan – Local Democracy Reporter