FINES for littering and dog fouling offences have been increased by Caerphilly council in response to “public concern”.

Cabinet members met on Wednesday to discuss a health, social care and wellbeing scrutiny committee report which recommended an increase from £25 to £100, or £75 if paid within seven days of the issue. It currently stands at £75 and £50 respectively.

In 2013-14, public protection staff at the authority issued 239 fixed penalty notices for littering, attracting paid fines of £11,200.

Looking forward to 2015-16, assuming 239 fixed penalty notices were to be served and 218 paid at the proposed reduced rate of £75, income from fines would total £16,350.

As the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 is a new piece of legislation it is difficult to predict how many fixed penalty notices might be issued, but the number is expected to be relatively low, the report said.

It is therefore estimated that there will be an additional annual income of around £5,000 as a result of the measures, which was unanimously agreed by cabinet members.

The report said the move should act as a deterrent to irresponsible dog owners and to prevent littering as well as anti-social behaviour.

But Cllr David Poole, cabinet member with responsibility for public protection, said it was not about the money.

He said: “Dog control order and littering offences are very emotive issues for residents across Caerphilly county borough, and we welcome this increase in the level of fine for fixed penalty notices.

“I would also emphasise that this is certainly not intended as a cash generating exercise – we are simply reacting to public concern and taking action against the small minority who commit these offences, in order to reassure residents we are taking these matters seriously.”