Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cowper on May 9, 2025 at 10:57

We should push the council to find out how much was collected. Freedom of info act maybe. Unfortunately I have no time to do this. James 

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Permalink Reply by Barney Winnett on May 9, 2025 at 11:04

The amount of fly-tipped furniture dumped near us, which I've reported to Veolia for a collection, would help refurbished the Council's Civic Centre at far less cost. Upcycle Haringey!! 

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on May 9, 2025 at 16:57

UPcycle indeed!

Please take me; or, Free to a good home ~

The council does not get upcycling.

Many residents leave unwanted items out on a low wall for collection on a first come first served basis. This is beneficial in several ways: reducing wasteful landfill and reducing unnecessary consumption; decluttering and saving money.

However, woe betide anyone in Haringey Borough that seeks to upcycle furniture on the pavement.

One case I know of involved a generous young mother who left some shelving out with a notice, saying please take me or similar. She was slapped with a £400 fine, the same as would be levied on a fly tipper. The council operative displayed net-zero discretion, no reason or common sense. Naturally the council backed their employee's conduct.

They don't care. It's this kind of corporate thuggery—in the council currently led by New Labour's Peray Ahmet—that leads to a feeling of mistrust and of Us-versus-them.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on May 10, 2025 at 12:00

It’s difficult Clive.  On my street we often have things left out by neighbours for a few days and if no one takes them they disposed of them.  We also have landlords who clear out flats and leave furniture on the pavement until one of us reports it as fly tipping and it’s removed.  A Veolia employee is not always in a position to differentiate between the two.

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Permalink Reply by JJ B on Sunday

Well….

If it is placed on the pavement street then it is blocking the passage and could be considered fly tipping.

Residents need to make themselves aware of the rules. She should have placed it in a visible place INSIDE her property.

For having coordinated a residents’ group for a few years one has to say that the council employees have a hard job to do….

You live and you learn.

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Permalink Reply by Cowper on Tuesday

Hi there;  I talked to one of our ward councillors about this.  She said someone should do a Freedom of Information search via whatdotheyknow.com.  This way it's out in the public domain.  If you do it through the council, it's only sent to the person who does it.  Good advice.  I just don't have the time to do it.  Anyone?  It would be interesting to find out.  I think the amount collected would be far less the the amount they issued.  

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter yesterday

 I think the amount collected would be far less the the amount they issued.  

This has to be the suspicion!

My guess is that the average cost of successfully chasing an unpaid fine would be orders of magnitude greater than the cost of merely issuing a fine.

Someone could do an FoI via WDTK dot com.

(As I have recently been involved in an Information Rights Tribunal case with Haringey Council and certain aspects are now with the Upper Tier Tribunal, it may be neater for another citizen to lodge an FoI.)

A request would need to be worded carefully. For example, after what period should a fine issued be recorded as unpaid and/or uncollectable?

Officers issued 2,554 fines from last April to March this year,

Maybe, using the last financial year (2024/25) as the yardstick.

Any boasting about fines issued needs to be put into perspective by setting alongside fines actually collected.

Unfortunately the council is more interested in their corporate public relations, rather than in presenting a full accurate picture to residents who pay for work performed in their interests.

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