New powers sought to stop business butting out of keeping capital's streets clean

London's boroughs are seeking new powers to save council tax payers from having to pick up the bill for cleaning up the cigarette butts discarded by staff smoking outside of their offices.

Since the introduction of the smoking ban in July, anyone wanting a cigarette has to go outside. This has led to a rise in cigarette ends and other smoking-related litter being thrown on to the country's streets.

Keep Britain Tidy - the environmental charity - estimates that there has been a 43 per cent increase in the number of cigarette butts dumped on England's streets since the smoking ban came into force. Smoking-related litter now makes up 40 per cent of the rubbish found on the country's streets and costs £200 million a year to clean up, according to Keep Britain Tidy.

This means that councils need to carry out more street cleaning to keep the capital's 18,640 miles of footpaths clear, at an additional cost to the council tax payer. 

Now London Councils, on behalf of all of the capital's boroughs, is to seek changes to the law so that councils can get owners of buildings such as offices, train stations and hospitals to clear the litter around their premises.

Currently, councils can only issue a litter control notice to shops, clubs, bars, restaurants, takeaways, banks and building societies. Failing to comply with the notice can lead to a £2,500 fine.

Through the 10th London Local Authorities Bill, which will be deposited in Parliament in November, London Councils aims to extend the range of buildings that can be subject to litter control notices issued by local councils.

Chairman of London Councils, Councillor Merrick Cockell, said:

"Unsightly piles of cigarette ends outside London's offices and other buildings do nothing for the image of a company, the local area or the capital as a whole.

We all have a responsibility to keep London a clean and pleasant place to live, work and visit, but the cost of this should not fall on the council taxpayer. Smokers and employers need to acknowledge their duty in keeping the environment around them clean."

Notes to editors

The move to extend the types of premises that boroughs can serve litter control notices on is among a raft of measures that will be contained in the 10th London Local Authorities Bill.  The private bill, which is designed to give boroughs additional powers to tackle antisocial behaviour, will be deposited in Parliament on 27 November.

Boroughs can currently issue litter control notices to owners of certain types of premises such as shops, clubs, bars, restaurants, takeaways, banks and building societies under the Street Litter Control Notices Order 1991.

London Councils is committed to fighting for more resources for London and getting the best possible deal for London's 33 councils. We develop policy, lobby government and others, and run a range of services designed to make life better for Londoners.

For more information please contact Stewart Henderson in the London Councils press office on 020 7934 9620 or at stewart.henderson@londoncouncils.gov.uk