A Tory proposal to reduce dog fouling and littering was rejected by a Labour majority at North Tyneside Council amid claims it would cost almost £160,000.
Olly Scargill, a Tory councillor for Collingwood, said dog mess is at an unacceptable level and "brought the area to an all-time low." He added: "Not only does it ruin how the area looks, but it also poses huge health and hygiene risks.
"In New York, teachers and parents are having to clear up litter and dog mess outside New York Primary Schools. Obviously, this isn't right."
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The motion proposed; 100 new dog waste bins, more council staff trained to issue fines, and a cross-party group to identify problem areas. However, 46 Labour councillors voted to reject the motion with one abstention.
Riverside Labour councillor Wendy Lott said: "Most dog fouling occurs at night, does that mean he wants the night shift to go out and stalk people with their dogs? It is almost impossible to catch dogs in that act and to be there at the right time you're talking about having hundreds of staff stalking people with their dogs, waiting for them to do their business."
Councillor Sandra Graham, the cabinet member for the environment, defended the council's record on litter and dog fouling and said: "Dog mess is an emotive issue and one of the most unacceptable types. Research shows that dog fouling is the issue the public is most concerned about.
"Nine out of ten dog owners do clean up after their dog and the majority of dog owners are responsible. Anyone who fails to clean up after their dog can be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £1000 and littering can be issued with a notice of £80.
"Reports received by the contact centre relating to dog issues, fly-tipping, and street cleansing have reduced in 2022 compared to 2021. Dog issue reports have decreased by 21%.
"We take a multi-pronged approach towards tackling litter, including street cleaning, litter and dog bin provision, education, and enforcement. Any significant increase in litter bin provision would require additional staff resources for emptying and maintenance."
Coun Graham also stated since 2019, the council had issued 421 fixed penalty notices for dog fouling, littering, and fly-tipping.
Coun Graham estimated the Conservative proposals would cost the council an additional £159,492
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