WARDENS look set to clamp down on graffiti, fly-posting and skateboarding if Bournemouth council agrees to extend the powers it delegates to private enforcement firm 3GS.

The borough started using the company to issue fixed penalty notices of £80 to litterers and those who do not pick up after their dogs in October last year.

In an update presented at the Environment and Transport Overview and Scrutiny meeting last night, Thursday, members were asked to consider extending 3GS’s enforcement duties to include clamping down on a number of other anti-social behaviour issues.

As well as fly-posting and graffiti wardens will also be on the look out for vehicles for sale by the side of the road, those repairing vehicles on the road, painting or inscribing upon the surface of a tree, structure or works on the highway and those failing to comply with community protection notices and public space protection orders (PSPO).

Currently there are no public space protection orders in place in Bournemouth, but the council is in the process of trying to implement one in Bournemouth Square.

One example of how a PSPO could be used in the Square would be to ban the use of skateboards. It is something which has been discussed by the council for over a year now after a woman broke her arm after being knocked over by skaters in the Square in June last year.

At the time Cllr David Smith, cabinet member for planning and environment said that implementing a PSPO on the Square was one of the options being explored by the council to deal with skateboarders and to “ensure the Square remains safe”.

Speaking to the Echo this week Cllr Smith said the council was still in the process of trying to implement a PSPO in Bournemouth Square.

“I am currently discussing the idea with traders in the town centre to see how they would feel about having one in the Square,” added Cllr Smith.

“If a PSPO is put in place then 3GS would be responsible for enforcing it on behalf of the council and issuing fixed penalty notices to those who break the rules.”

Since being introduced in October last year the 3GS enforcement officers have issued 1,284 fixed penalty notices.

Of these 784 have been paid, 68 per cent are awaiting payment and the other 432 are awaiting prosecution - which means £62,720 of fines have been paid out of a potential £102,720.

A report prepared ahead of last night’s meeting said: “In May, a working group, including four councillors, was set up to review the pilot and as a result a number of improvement actions have been agreed.

“These include engaging with businesses using an agreed code of conduct, improving public awareness of enforcement activities using signage and media engagement, and reviewing 3GS’s operations.”

In the autumn the working group will fully review the 12 month pilot with 3GS and consider the impacts on littering across the town.

The outcome of the review will then be used as a recommendation to help shape the council’s future enforcement activities and whether the relationship with 3GS continues.