My questions are as follows: 1. How many complaints to your council have you received for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 regarding dog waste on public land (Please provide a breakdown of figures for each year)?2. How many prosecutions has the council issued to members of the public whose dogs have been caught fowling on public land between 2019, 2020 and 2021 (Please provide a breakdown of figures for each year)?
3. Do you provide free dog poo bags to council tax payers (and if you previously did, when did you stop providing them free of charge)?
4. How many council employees are authorised to issue fixed penalty notices with regard to The Dog fouling act?
5. How many fixed penalty notices (or equivalent) has the council issued to members of the public whose dogs have been caught fouling on public land between 2019, 2020 and 2021 (please provide a breakdown of figures for each year)?
6. How many council employees are authorised to issue fixed penalty notices (or the equivalent) to members of the public whose dogs have been caught fouling on public land?
I am able to receive the attached documents by email if that makes it easier – preferably in a word format.
Response
1.
2019 – 54 complaints were received regarding dog waste on public land
2020 – 25 complaints were received regarding dog waste on public land
2021 – 18 complaints were received regarding dog waste on public land
2.
2019 – zero reports were submitted to the Procurator Fiscal
2020 – zero reports were submitted to the Procurator Fiscal
2021 – zero reports were submitted to the Procurator Fiscal
3. We did provide free dog poo bags to members of the public as the Council received them free of charge from Dogs Trust as part of our partnership working. Unfortunately due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the loss of income in charitable donations to Dogs Trust they were unable to continue providing free dog poo bags to the Council. The Council stopped supplying free dog poo bags in 2021 but are currently looking for another supplier.
4. One council employee is authorised to issue fixed penalty notices. This is because the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 requires at least one person in each authority to be authorised. All fixed penalty notices are issued by Police Scotland.
5.
2019 – 3 fixed penalty notices were issued
2020 – 1 fixed penalty notice was issued
2021 – 9 fixed penalty notices were issued
6. One council employee is authorised to issue fixed penalty notices. This is because the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 requires at least one person in each authority to be authorised. All fixed penalty notices are issued by Police Scotland.
