LGA calls for urgent sentencing review as Court fines for fly tipping undercut Council penalties

THE Local Government Association (LGA) is calling on the Government and the Sentencing Council to urgently review sentencing guidelines for fly tipping, after new figures show that offenders prosecuted through the Courts are often fined less than the penalties Councils can issue directly.

Analysis of the latest fly tipping data shows that the average Court fine for fly tipping is:- �539, which is:- �87 lower than the:- �626 average fixed penalty notice (FPN) Councils can issue for the same offence. The LGA says this sentencing gap undermines deterrence, weakens enforcement, and leaves Councils out of pocket after time consuming and costly prosecutions.

fly tipping costs Councils more than:- �19.3 million each year to clear up, with 1.26 million incidents recorded in England in 2024/25 alone. Councils are taking increasing enforcement action against offenders, but taking cases to Court often requires lengthy investigations, high evidential thresholds and significant staff time.

Despite this, sentencing outcomes frequently fail to reflect the seriousness of the offence or the public cost involved.

In York, 2 offenders were each fined:- �300 by magistrates for waste offences, despite Fixed Penalty Notices of:- �600 and:- �1,000 being issued. In Wiltshire, a fly tipper who failed to pay a:- �1,000 Fixed Penalty Notice was fined just:- �80 when the case was brought to Court. In Chelmsford, 2 offenders were each fined:- �300 after being prosecuted for fly tipping, lower than the:- �400 Fixed Penalty Notices they had received.

The LGA says sentencing guidelines are now out of step with the real impact of fly tipping on communities, the environment and public finances, and that tougher penalties are needed to deter repeat and organised offenders.

Cllr Arooj Shah, Chair of the LGA Neighbourhoods Committee, said:- "fly tipping is criminal activity that blights communities and costs taxpayers millions of pounds every year. Councils are working hard to investigate and prosecute offenders, but when Court fines are lower than fixed penalties, it undermines enforcement and fails to act as a deterrent. Sentencing guidelines must be reviewed so that the punishment fits the crime and reflects both the harm caused and the significant work undertaken by enforcement Officers."

The LGA says stronger sentencing would also support the Government's ambition to improve pride in place by protecting local environments and public spaces.

Hugh Baird College Wins National Award for Outstanding Student Support

HUGH Baird College has been named national winner of the RCU Award for Support for Students at the Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Awards 2025/26, 1 of the most prestigious honours in further education.

The Beacon Awards, presented at the House of Commons, recognise the very best practice and innovation across Colleges in the United Kingdom. Hugh Baird College's winning submission showcased its pioneering:- 'Education for All' initiative: a comprehensive, inclusive approach designed to ensure young people across the Liverpool City Region can access personalised, high-quality education, regardless of the barriers they face.

Based in 1 of the most socio economically challenged communities in the country, the College supports more than 4,000 disadvantaged learners, with 76% of students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds and nearly a third identified as having special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Since 2021, Hugh Baird College has redesigned its Foundation Learning and High Needs provision to meet local needs, creating tailored pathways for young people who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training), have high needs, or face social, emotional or mental health challenges.

Programmes including:- Turn Around, Engage, Learning for Life and the Transitions Hub have been developed in partnership with local authorities, the NHS, Career Connect and specialist agencies. Together, they provide restorative approaches, strengthened transition planning and highly personalised support, enabling learners to build confidence, re-engage with education and progress into employment, further study or independent living.

The impact has been significant. in 2026, students at Thornton College, Hugh Baird College's specialist high needs campus, achieved a 96% success rate, including:- 100% achievement in maths and English qualifications. Across the Education for All programmes, enrolments grew by 35%, reflecting growing demand for inclusive and specialist provision.

The award provides further independent recognition of the College's sector leading approach. Ofsted Inspectors, who graded the College Outstanding following a November 2024 inspection, noted that students with high needs:- "thrive and do exceptionally well through caring, diligent and exceptional planning," and that learners:- "rapidly develop their confidence, resilience and independence because of highly effective teaching, extensive support and participation in life enhancing experiences."

Rachael Hennigan OBE, Principal and Chief Executive at Hugh Baird College, said:- "Winning this award is an incredible honour and a true reflection of the dedication, compassion and innovation shown by our staff every single day. Our teams work tirelessly to ensure every learner feels valued and has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of the challenges they face. To have that work recognised is something we are all immensely proud of."

Sarah Collins, Director of Foundation Studies at Hugh Baird College, added:- "Every programme we've built is rooted in the needs of this community. We have young people who arrived disengaged who are now progressing into employment, further study and living more independently. That transformation is what this award is really about."

Hugh Baird College holds an Outstanding rating from Ofsted and is 1 of only 3 further education Colleges in the North West to do so. The College was also a finalist in a second Beacon Award category this year, the Edge Award for Excellence in Real World Learning, for its:- 'WorkReady with eduScrum' programme.

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LGA calls for urgent sentencing review as Court fines for fly tipping undercut Council penalties

Hugh Baird College Wins National Award for Outstanding Student Support