The council could extend the contract for its litter police by three years next week.

Swale councillors are being asked to approve a three-year enforcement contract at a cabinet meeting next Wednesday which will allow workers from Kingdom to hand out fines if people drop litter or don't pick up their dog poo.

The contractors have been providing the service since 2016 and has issued more than 7,500 fixed penalty notices and helped prosecute 460 people across Sittingbourne, Sheerness and Faversham, who failed to pay their fine.

If approved LA Support Ltd, which was set up by Kingdom, will be given the three year deal with an option to extend it for another two.

A council document revealed around 90% of litter offences in the borough were smoking related.

It added how based on the estimation of two officers each handing out 1000 penalty notices a year the cost of the contract will be around £103,000 yearly.

This will be subsidised by the estimated £195,000 the council will receive if at least 65% of fines are paid.

'People who drop litter and do not clean up after their dog create an unpleasant environment for everyone.'

One of Swale council's cabinet member for environment, Cllr Julian Saunders, said: “Local residents want to live and work in clean neighbourhoods, and consistently ask us to take action against the small number of thoughtless people who drop litter and don’t pick up after their dogs.

“This enforcement service is fully self-financing, meaning law-abiding residents won’t have to pay the costs for the service.

“In addition, any extra income we receive that exceeds the cost of paying for the service is used for environmental grants and other improvements around the borough.

“Last year we installed cameras at fly-tipping hotspots to catch people in the act who are ruining our countryside.

“People who drop litter and do not clean up after their dog create an unpleasant environment for everyone.

"If approved, LA Support Ltd can continue to help us keep our streets clean by challenging anyone who does this with a £150 FPN for littering and £100 FPN for dog fouling on the spot.”

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