LAST WEEK the Prime Minister revealed a Government Consultation document in an effort to address problems in urban areas.

Planned measures would give local authorities and local police the right to set fines for littering, dog fouling and other acts of anti-social behaviour.

Dog by-laws will be de-regulated under proposed measures giving local authorities the right to set their own penalty measures without consulting Westminster. Other proposals would given anyone working for a local authority the power to issue on the spot fines for dog fouling.

The initiatives were suggested in a consultation paper called “living places: powers, rights, responsibilities, were part of the document unveiled by Tony Blair at Birmingham’s Urban Summit.