Conservative councillors have put forward proposals they say would significantly strengthen the council’s response to dumping across the borough.
Fly-tipping remains a persistent issue in parts of Swindon, particularly in the town centre and residential alleyways, with councillors from all parties citing frustration from residents and concerns about environmental harm.
The Conservative motion calls for what it describes as a radical overhaul of the current approach to fly-tipping.
The party claims incidents have increased by 12% under the current Labour administration and says the council dealt with more than 3200 cases in 2025. It also claims no Fixed Penalty Notices were issued during an eighteen-month period between mid-2023 and early 2025.
Cllr Pegado said residents were increasingly frustrated by delays in removing dumped waste.
“Residents are tired of the ‘tape and wait’ approach. We are seeing fridges, mattresses and hazardous waste dumped in alleyways and left for far too long. It is not enough to simply mark rubbish and hope it goes away.”
The Conservative proposals include reducing the fly-tipping removal target from 72 hours to 48 hours.
They also want removal guarantees extended to council-owned and unadopted land.
The motion calls for additional enforcement cameras in known hotspots and environmental fines to be increased to the maximum legal level.
It also proposes discounted bulky waste collections for residents on Universal Credit or Pension Credit, along with an annual free skip for community groups.
Cllr Sumner said the measures were intended to balance deterrence with support for those most at risk of fly-tipping offences.
“Fly-tipping is a blight on our environment and a public health risk. If we want to stop it, we need meaningful deterrents alongside practical support.”
The Labour administration says the motion fails to recognise work already underway to rebuild enforcement capacity at Swindon Borough Council.
Labour says the fly-tipping enforcement team has grown from a single warranted officer to four, with an enforcement manager now in post.
It says a further four officers are expected to be recruited by the end of February.
The administration also claims the backlog of unresolved fly-tipping cases has fallen from around 400 to approximately 80, and that more than 50 investigations were carried out in a single week in December following the team’s expansion.
Labour says it is reviewing Fixed Penalty Notice levels, with fines currently set at £400.
It also says it is exploring new hardware and software to allow officers to issue penalties in the field rather than relying on manual processes.
Labour’s cabinet member for environment and transport said the focus had been on rebuilding enforcement capacity before introducing further changes.
“We have rebuilt an enforcement team that had been reduced to a single officer, significantly reduced the backlog of cases, and are reviewing fine levels and enforcement tools. That work is ongoing and residents should begin to see the benefits of a more visible and responsive service.”
Labour also says a cross-party working group on fly-tipping is underway, alongside plans to improve reporting systems and public engagement.
The Conservative motion will be debated at the next full council meeting, where councillors will decide whether to adopt the proposals or continue with the current approach.
Responsibility for day-to-day enforcement, investigations and clean-ups will remain with council officers, while any changes to fines, targets or funding would require further approval.
Fly-tipping is estimated to cost the council more than £200,000 a year in clearance and investigation, with councillors from both sides agreeing that long-term reductions will rely on enforcement, prevention and public cooperation.
