Council approves street warden plan (From Daily Echo)

Raft of measures to tackle £9.6m cash crisis

11:57am Tuesday 30th June 2009 in News By Clare Kennedy, Health Reporter

COUNCIL bosses have approved plans for a new army of wardens – dubbed Stormtroopers – to patrol Southampton’s streets.

It is one of a raft of measures in a £1.5m savings plan, including 31 job cuts, to help fill a predicted £9.6m budget shortfall next year.

The new 55-strong hit squad will be given powers to fine litter louts and dog foulers and to seize booze from underage drinkers.

The so-called “multi-purpose civil enforcement officers” will also be able to hand out parking tickets and deal with environmental crime and low level anti-social behaviour.

Traffic wardens, waste enforcement and building control officers will all be given extra powers to create the new single uniformed City Patrol service, described as “Stormtroopers” by opposition Lib Dem Councillor John Slade.

However, under the proposals nine of the existing 14 patrol officers – who were last month given new uniforms and stab vests – will be made redundant.

The new city patrol force could be introduced by the end of this year but one traffic warden, who wished to remain anonymous, has criticised the plans.

He said: “We as a service will impose fines on vehicles contravening traffic regulations. We do not want to get into face-to-face confrontations with people.

“We did not envisage getting into stab vests and issuing fines for dog fouling. Personally I think it will make the job more stressful and dangerous.”

Unveiling the ruling Conservatives’ mini budget, finance boss councillor Jeremy Moulton, said the city council was in “a dire financial position” caused by the recession and a lack of central Government funding.

He said: “This report is a first step to deliver our savings to meet the funding gap. We do face some tough decisions but we are focused on protecting vulnerable residents and vital services.”

Other cutbacks in the £1.5m a year savings plan include a proposal to introduce a new computerised system on dustcarts to help build a profile of the city’s rubbish habits. The new system will even show which households do not leave out their bins. The system is predicted to save £30,000 next year by making refuse collection more efficient.

Under the other savings plans two park rangers and a tree officer will be fired, developers will be charged for help with planning applications, play area inspections will be cut back, and courts summons for council tax non-payment will go up by £10 to £70.