A review of fly-tipping policies will be carried out after residents claimed they are still being fined for leaving out their rubbish.

Cllr Geof Cooke (Labour, Woodhouse), warned “generally law-abiding people” had reported being given £400 penalty charge notices (PCNs) for “minor infringements”, while serious fly-tipping continues to cause problems.

In November 2018, Barnet Council banned fly-tipping enforcement officers from patrolling residential areas on the afternoon before bin collections to stamp out any unfair behaviour from contractors.

It came after residents reported receiving £400 PCNs for leaving cardboard boxes that would not fit into their recycling bins out in the open.

But at a meeting of the environment committee on Monday (January 20), Cllr Cooke said he had received “a number of complaints from residents” who had received PCNs.

He added: “It seems to me the contractor incentive scheme may not be appropriate and in the best public interest, because generally law-abiding people are being hit with substantial penalties for something pretty trivial.

“I wonder whether the incentive scheme is encouraging contractors to go after soft targets and antagonising generally law-abiding people rather than trying to address serious problems.”

Committee chairman Cllr Dean Cohen (Conservative, Golders Green) said he did not think there had been any issues since the council switched to a new contractor.

Cllr Peter Zinkin (Conservative, Childs Hill) gave his backing to a review.

But he added that a previous review had shown only a small proportion of tickets were being issued unfairly, and the system was working.

Cllr Laithe Jajeh (Conservative, Hale) said he “fully supported” a review, and enforcement companies should be reminded that “Barnet residents are their boss, not their customer”.