Peterborough councillors will consider a motion this week that seeks to create a dedicated council webpage to publicise the scale of fly-tipping across the city and to publish details of those convicted of the offence.
Proposed public hub to increase transparency
The motion, put forward by Independent councillor Mark Ormston, comes after figures showed Peterborough recorded the highest number of fly-tipping incidents per head in the East of England in 2023-24. Councillors will be asked to support the development of an online hub containing ward-by-ward information on reported incidents and the council’s response.
"We see commercial fly-tipping – household clearances, building works, garden waste – on a huge scale," Ormston said, adding that the crime was "selfish, dangerous and vile."
The proposed page would also include:
- data on reported incidents by ward;
- clearance rates and average removal times;
- details of ongoing investigations and guidance on incidents outside council responsibility;
- a "name-and-shame" section listing individuals and businesses convicted of fly-tipping.
Local frustration and enforcement aims
Ormston told councillors his own ward, which covers Eye, Thorney and Newborough, had been worst hit by commercial-scale dumping, including waste from household clearances and building works. He said the aim of the transparency measures is to provide residents with information and to deter would-be offenders.
Supporters of the motion argue that a centralised, accessible hub would allow residents to see where problems are concentrated and to hold both offenders and statutory bodies to account. The inclusion of convicted names and details of rogue waste disposal businesses is presented as a behavioural deterrent.
How the hub would work
Council papers describe the hub as a single point of information where residents could check whether an incident has been reported in their area, find out how quickly removal is likely to happen, and read guidance on what the council will and will not remove. The proposals emphasise transparency around investigations and convictions.
| Proposed feature | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Ward-by-ward incident data | Show local patterns and hotspots |
| Clearance rates & removal times | Set expectations for residents |
| Guidance on responsibility | Explain cases outside council remit |
| Name-and-shame section | Publish convictions to deter offenders |
At the meeting, councillors will weigh the benefits of increased openness against considerations such as legal process, data protection and the potential for reputational harm where convictions are appealed. The motion does not propose changes to existing enforcement powers or penalties; rather, it focuses on public information as a deterrent.
Residents affected by fly-tipping continue to call for swifter clearances and more robust enforcement. The council debate will indicate whether transparency measures will be pursued as part of the city’s response to a problem described by one councillor as "massive".
