MORE than 200 council officers could be given the power to impose fines under a plan to be tested by Swindon Council.

Councillors have called for a feasibility study into giving frontline council staff the power to hand out fines for everything from parking infringements to fly-tipping.

At the moment, only designated officers can dish out fines for specific offences parking inspectors for parking, planning inspectors for billboards and waste inspectors for flytipping.

Under the plan proposed to council, a "generic enforcement team" would be given powers to fine for a swathe of offences.

Among them are littering, flytipping, dog fouling, graffiti and nuisance vehicles and highway offences.

"The idea behind the task group's thinking is that at present if a parking attendant was out on duty and saw someone dropping litter then he would currently have no power to do anything about it," the council report says.

"If that parking attendant had additional enforcement powers then he would be able to take action and issue a fixed penalty notice."

The changes are not expected to cost the council any money.

Architect of the scheme, independent councillor Andy Harrison (Penhill), pictured below, said that it was only sensible for officers to be able to enforce better behaviour across different areas.

"We are looking at giving officers power where they can use them," Coun Harrison said.

"We do have a lot of people out on the streets seeing things, but at the moment they have to go back to the office, get a camera and then report it to an enforcement officer before something is done about it."

Coun Harrison said that the changes could mean more than 200 council officers would have the power to issue on-the-spot fines of about £60.

"It's not to detract from their routine jobs," Coun Harrison said.

"They would not be considered enforcement officers they would have enforcement powers.

"It's more cost effective then trying to employ more officers in those dedicated roles."

Cabinet member for local environment and transport Jemima Milton (Cons, Wroughton and Chiseldon) said it was a brilliant idea.

Coun Milton said that the council would also approach the police to ask if their community support officers would join the scheme.

"It seems sensible that if a parking inspector goes past somebody dropping litter they issue a ticket for it," Coun Milton said.

"We need to consult with the unions and the staff."

The decision whether to send the plan for a feasibility study is expected at the council's environment and leisure overview committee tomorrow.