A REPORT on the success – or otherwise – of engaging a private firm to tackle the scourge of dog fouling across the region will be presented to councillors “in the near future”.

The one-year pilot project, which began in May last year, saw Scottish Borders Council commission GLS to issue £80 fines for dog fouling and littering – and to keep the proceeds.

The initiative was aimed at plugging an enforcement gap which emerged after the council’s cash saving decision, in 2013, to withdraw its nine-strong community warden service.

The pilot, designed to promote responsible dog ownership and involving two enforcement officers from the company, got off to a slow start with just one dog fouling fixed penalty ticket issued in the first three months, along with 32 similar fines for unspecified cases of littering.

The issue of dog owners failing to clean up after their pets – the number one source of complaint from members of the public to elected members – was raised at the last full council meeting by opposition councillor Kris Chapman (Lib Dem).

He asked: “How much tax payers’ money is being used to clean up after dog fouling? What action is being taken by this council to identify and prosecute the small number of irresponsible dog owners who regularly ignore the rules? 

“In addition, what action is being taken by the council to better promote responsible dog ownership.”

He was told by Councillor Sandy Aitchison (Ind), executive member for neighbourhoods and localities, that the council’s street cleansing budget was currently £1.4m a year: “Contained within this budget are the costs incurred for the cleaning of dog fouling. The ledger does not separately record the costs associated with this activity.”

On the recently completed pilot project, Cllr Aitchsion said: “A report on the pilot, including recommendations for next steps will be brought to council in the near future.

“Elected members will understand that a balanced approach to the scourge of dog fouling is required, whereby individuals take personal responsibility for their actions, while enabling responsible dog owners, who are the vast majority, to support the council in its efforts.

“This approach, when harnessed with increased public awareness and improved access to facilities, are likely to be the building blocks of our approach to dog fouling and responsible dog ownership in future.”

Cllr Chapman asked what role the council would take in extending best practice in other Borders towns.

Specifically, he cited the success of Newtown and Eildon Community Council in organising a scheme which saw all dog owners in the area “sign a pledge” against dog fouling.

Cllr Aitchison replied: “Consideration always needs to be given to how best we spend our budget and I am happy to meet any community which wants to get involved.”