Solihull flytipping row erupts as council investigates more cases but takes less action

A row has erupted over how Solihull Council deals with flytipping after councillors questioned why enforcement action has fallen despite the authority investigating thousands of incidents.

The issue was raised at a meeting of the council's Stronger Communities and Neighbourhood Services Scrutiny Board on 16 September.

Figures presented to councillors showed that the authority had cleared 1,344 reported flytips so far this year, compared with 2,913 during 2025.

But the number of enforcement actions has also fallen.

There were three prosecutions and seven fixed penalty notices issued during the 2024/25 financial year. In the financial year which ended in March 2026, there were no prosecutions and five fixed penalty notices.

Councillor Samantha Gethen, leader of the Reform UK group on the council, said: “We are investigating more but punishing less.”

She said residents wanted to see people held responsible when waste was illegally dumped.

“If someone dumps waste on our streets the outcome can’t be a letter and no further action,” she said.

Council officer Alison McGrory said prosecution remained the council's intention where there was enough evidence.

“We prosecute wherever we can,” she said, adding that successfully prosecuting and publicising cases was the best deterrent.

The council said it was also looking at new offences and new fines as part of its approach to enforcement.

Councillors also questioned what is included in the council's flytipping figures.

Councillor Keith Green pointed out that side waste — household rubbish or recycling left loose outside bins — was being recorded within the flytipping figures.

He argued that his interpretation of flytipping was larger illegal dumping incidents.

The council said it would provide more detailed figures in future, separating larger flytip incidents from side waste.

There were also 23 Environmental Protection Act notices issued during 2025/26 alongside the five fixed penalty notices.

Councillor Richard Holt questioned why that wider enforcement activity had not been reflected in the figures being discussed.

Officer Louise Baggott said the council had become “a bit smarter” in how it dealt with different cases and was expanding the tools available to tackle flytipping.

The meeting also heard concerns about the impact of fortnightly waste collections and the possibility of an increase in side waste while residents adjust to the changes.

Council officers said there could be a lag when new waste arrangements were introduced and agreed to consider how the council could be more flexible during the transition.

The council is now expected to provide a clearer breakdown of flytipping figures in future reports, giving councillors a better picture of how many cases involve larger illegal dumping incidents and how many relate to side waste.