A PILOT scheme tackling littering and dog fouling across Hyndburn has been extended.

Hyndburn Council cabinet members approved proposals to extend the pilot where people found littering or failing to pick up after their dog are handed a £75 until the end of March so council bosses can go out to tender on a full scheme once the pilot ends.

But concerns were raised over the long-term viability of the business model.

Leader of the Conservative group, Cllr Tony Dobson, said: “When it comes to the money, we have made £3,000 which suggests the total fines were £30,000.

“Is it sustainable for the company to continue with four enforcement officers?”

Cabinet member for environment, Cllr Paul Cox, said: “If Kingdom feel they can support four officers with the income they are taking from the scheme, that’s up to them.

"Some of the fines are still in the process of going through the courts and some have been written off.

"We do still have a small minority of people who litter."

Leader of the council, Cllr Miles Parkinson, said: "We don't want people to be fined but we are realistic and we will always have some littering.

"We want it to be lower and if that happens, you have to question how Kingdom sustain this business model."

Earlier this month, the council’s overview and scrutiny committee met to discuss the performance of Kingdom enforcement officers, who have been working across the borough as part of a trial where anyone found dropping litter is handed a £75 fine.

At its July 2018 meeting, cabinet approved the appointment of litter and dog fouling enforcement contractor Kingdom on a 12-month pilot, with a request that operations would be up and running in time for the opening of the new Accrington town centre square in November.

Since then, enforcement officers have handed out 2,138 fixed penalty notices (FPNs), with the vast majority in Accrington.

Executive director for environment, Steve Riley, said: "The 12 month pilot agreement expired on November 4.

"However, Kingdom are in agreement to continue with the current pilot agreement/arrangements until March 2020.

"Extending the pilot agreement will allow sufficient time for a tender exercise to be undertaken for the provision of litter and dog fouling enforcement services and would also include the option for enforcement action against litter being thrown from vehicles following new legislation that allows enforcement action to be taken against the vehicle’s registered keeper."