At a public scrutiny meeting on July 2, Walsall Council’s enforcement portfolio holder, Councillor Ian Benton, addressed Reform’s commitment to creating safe neighbourhoods through robust rule enforcement. However, when questioned about whether enforcement against fly-tipping would increase compared to the previous Conservative administration, Councillor Benton was unable to provide a definitive answer.
Councillor Aftab Nawaz, leader of Walsall Community Independents, asked what changes residents should expect under the new Reform-led council. Benton responded that Reform had only recently taken office and suggested officers were better suited to address the question.
Before the May elections, Reform had pledged stronger enforcement measures, promising residents more decisive action. Nevertheless, Councillor Peter Burton, also from Reform, voiced concerns about the historically low number of enforcement actions under previous leadership and sought reassurance that this would improve. Once again, Benton deferred to officers, citing the brief time in office.
READ MORE: Olton Children’s Home Planning Application Refused Over Unlawful Use
READ MORE: Drone Surveillance Tackles Yobs and Car Cruisers at Merry Hill Centre
Looking back, in July 2025, then-Conservative leader Mike Bird vowed to “put the force back into enforcement.” Yet, in the six months following this promise, fly-tipping fines remained in single digits and even dropped compared to the prior period. The council explained that enforcement effectiveness could not be judged solely on the number of fines issued.
In September 2025, the Conservative administration approved a £4.7 million investment aimed at strengthening enforcement efforts. This package included measures such as a fly-tipping crackdown, expanded fixed penalties, bulky waste enforcement, the creation of a unified enforcement board, and increased CCTV coverage.
During the July meeting, Councillor Adrian Andrew, leader of the Conservative opposition, asked whether this £4.7 million funding would be maintained under Reform. In contrast to previous questions, Councillor Benton confirmed that the funding remains secure.
While Reform’s enforcement chief spoke confidently about funding, uncertainty remains about whether residents will see an actual increase in fly-tipping enforcement activity in the near future.