A COMMUNITY leader has hit back after council colleagues failed to back his call to ditch an enforcement firm accused of “heavy handed” tactics.

Denbighshire county councillors discussed a motion put forward by Prestatyn North councillor Paul Penlington to end their arrangement with Kingdom Security, which issues fixed penalties for offences such as dog fouling and littering.

The firm’s contract comes to an end in November. The motion called on the cabinet to instruct Denbighshire officers to bring a paper to the September meeting of the council outlining options for delivering a similar service, through the local authority’s own staffing and resources.

“This would focus more on public support and education, rather than on sanctions.

Members voted on an amended motion at last week's meeting, for scrutiny to provide a report to cabinet, before a final decision is made in November.

Cllr Penlington voiced his disappointment on the outcome, saying that he felt some of his peers, who spoke against the motion, were “offensive and disrespectful to the public”.

He added: “I am extremely surprised elected representative of the public did not take the opportunity to address residents very clear wishes and end this partnership with Kingdom and instead, chose to kick the topic ‘into the long grass’.

“I am disappointed my motion requesting Denbighshire end Kingdom’s contract was unsuccessful.

“Several other councillors supported this and some spoke very strongly in favour of it.

“Public opinion couldn’t have been clearer on the issue.

“I found that some members spoke against it, quite offensive and disrespectful to the public, especially as some seemed to find it amusing.

“ Taking this to scrutiny will only result in lengthy discussions that will result in no real action.”

A total of seven councillors voted against the amendment – 38 were in favour, there was one abstention and three were against.

Kingdom will come to 'scrutiny' on June 7 to discuss performance.

In 30 months up to March 2018, the firm had issued 13,149 fines. More than 10,000 of those fines were for cigarette litter, primarily in Rhyl and Prestatyn.

Only 233 were issued for dog fouling in the last two years.

The firm has taken just short of £1 million in fines.

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts asked for the amendment to the motion during the meeting.

He said: “As a cabinet member, I can’t sign up to something without evidence.”

Cllr Paul Penlington added: “The figures I quoted were from council officers that are readily available to all councillors, who should know these facts.

“Kingdom security have free use of the council’s office space and vehicles and after their staffing costs have been taken into account, they are still making hundreds of thousands of pounds clear profit every year.

“That fact alone is surely justification for ending the partnership and bringing the service back in-house.”