Liverpool City Council’s plans to shame irresponsible dog owners are set to be scaled back amid concerns of being illegal.
Joe Anderson had announced the radical incentive of offering a year’s free council tax to residents whose information led to convictions for dog fouling.
But the details of the Mayor of Liverpool’s proposed scheme, announced earlier this year, are now expected to be modified due to legality issues.
Steve Munby, the council’s cabinet member for Highway and City Services, admitted that the offer of a council tax reduction would actually be improper.
He said: “There are two or things we are having to look at in terms of the legality of offering financial rewards.
“It is legitimate to give people rewards for providing information.
“The issue comes with offering rewards if that evidence leads to a conviction – that would actually be illegal.
“We realised we couldn’t do that and have been looking at other ways we can provide financial rewards for people who give information.
“That could still be in the form of council tax rebates, but there are some issues there as well as not everyone pays council tax.”
The u-turn on the scheme has been welcomed by local Liberal Democrats leader Richard Kemp, who condemned Mayor Anderson’s initial pledge in February.
“I was amazed that so many headlines had been generated by the Mayor of Liverpool about a policy that is incapable of implementation because it is illegal,” he told the Liverpool Echo.
“People living in areas beset with dog poo need action not headlines.
“I am very pleased that the cabinet member agreed to bring back a full report before any incentive schemes are introduced.
“That way we all know the costs, the practicality and the legality of any scheme and politicians take full responsibility for the proposals.”