Defra told us that “Local authorities have the responsibility to deal with fly-tipping” while Defra’s role is to support authorities and provide tools for carrying out this work. However, Defra’s statutory guidance presents a less straightforward picture of local authority responsibilities. Local authorities have a duty to keep specified land clear of refuse, and can be taken to court to ensure they clean up such refuse within a reasonable time.98 Investigation and enforcement are steps that ...

Defra told us that “Local authorities have the responsibility to deal with fly-tipping” while Defra’s role is to support authorities and provide tools for carrying out this work. However, Defra’s statutory guidance presents a less straightforward picture of local authority responsibilities. Local authorities have a duty to keep specified land clear of refuse, and can be taken to court to ensure they clean up such refuse within a reasonable time.98 Investigation and enforcement are steps that local authorities can choose to take; they are not themselves duties on the authority.99 Local authorities have many different priorities to balance, and Type: conclusion | Number: 27 | Response status: not_addressed Government response: 5. PAC conclusion: Defra is not doing enough to support local authorities to tackle fly-tipping. 5. PAC recommendation: Defra should work with local authorities to set a clear national framework for tackling fly-tipping, setting overall expectations and promoting