A plan has been drawn up to tackle fly-tipping in Barnet after a surge in incidents was recorded last year.

Barnet Council has established a working group to bring together the different organisations involved in cracking down on illegal dumping and set out a range of measures to make responding to incidents more efficient.

It comes after a 23.5 per cent jump in fly-tipping service requests received by the council between the beginning of April and the end of September compared to the same period the previous year.

The action plan, which was approved at a meeting of the environment committee on Monday, includes using a single app to allow residents, businesses and visitors to report fly-tipping incidents. It also involves a communications campaign to raise awareness of fly-tipping and waste disposal.

Street scene director Craig Miller told the meeting: “The objective of the working group is to investigate opportunities to enhance the effort to tackle fly tipping, with a greater emphasis on collaboration and consistency of approach, to improve the response to, and management of, fly-tipping.”

Labour environment spokesman Cllr Alan Schneiderman (Woodhouse) welcomed the report, which came in response to a member’s item he brought to a meeting of the environment committee in September.

“I hope the actions that are set out there do lead to a drop in the amount of fly-tipping, which is an increasing problem,” Cllr Schneiderman said.

Other measures outlined in the report include patrols of fly-tipping hotspots and the use of CCTV to deter and penalise those caught dumping waste illegally.

Cllr Elliot Simberg (Conservative, Hale) asked if bringing back the use of skips throughout the borough would be considered, as that had previously reduced fly-tipping.

Mr Miller said the use of skips was one mechanism that could be trialled by the council as part of the fly-tipping action plan, adding that it was currently under consideration.

Cllr Schneiderman said: “Skips was a very successful Labour policy, and it is very pleasing to hear it is being looked at for reintroduction.”

The fly-tipping report and action plan were unanimously approved by members of the committee.