Council cancels XFOR contract
by Graham Tutthill gtutthill@thekmgroup.co.uk
Just three days before a private
company’s enforcement officers were due to tackle litter and dog
fouling in Dover, Deal and Sandwich, the district council has
scrapped the scheme.
The decision came within hours of
Shepway Contract cancelling its contract with the same company,
XFOR Local Authority Support.
Dover council has not given any
reason for its decision, but Shepway said they terminated their
contract after investigating the company’s current status,
following reports that it was in administration.
It has now been revealed that
administrators have sold Aqua Las, formerly XFor Local Authority
Support. The company, which had an annual turnover of £500,000,
owed Revenue and Customs £160,000.
In a statement issued today, Dover
District Council said it was not prepared to enter into a contract
with XFor Local Authority Support Limited, Aqua Las Limited or any
other company within the XFor Group.
"We would stress that there has
been no financial outlay from Dover District Council as no payments
have been made to XFor.
"The launch of the new campaign to
tackle the problem of litter and dog fouling will continue as
planned on February 1, using both the council’s own resources and
those of partner organisations and we will now be looking at other
ways of strengthening this team."
Cllr Nicholas Kenton, the council’s
cabinet member for environment, said: "Whilst it is disappointing
that we have not been able to conclude an agreement with XFor, the
Council remains committed to taking a tough line with those who
choose to drop litter or allow their dog to foul our streets."
XFOR enforcement officers were due
to start work this Friday issuing fixed penalty notices to those
who drop litter or fail to clear up after their dogs. The fines
would have been £50 and £75, with XFOR keeping £45 for each ticket
issued.
XFOR had said their officers would
be taking a zero tolerance approach to their work, but Cllr Kenton
had said fines would not be imposed on people who dropped litter
accidentally.
The Mercury has asked XFOR for a comment, but has not received
anything yet.
Full story in this week's Dover Mecury and East Kent
Mercury.
29/01/13
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