WREXHAM Council has been urged not to renew the contract of their environmental enforcement firm Kingdom.

The contract, which runs until 2019, is currently under review and enables Kingdom to fine those caught littering and letting their dogs foul in protected spaces.

But at a meeting of Caia Park Community Council, members expressed their view that the arrangement was not working.

Figures for April showed that of 268 fines dished out across the county, 241 of those fines were issued for dropping cigarettes.

Of the other fixed penalty notices issued, six were issued for dogs being in areas they are excluded from, seven were for dropping food, five were for dog fouling, eight were for general littering (cans, wrappers, tissue, plastic) and one was issued for 'printed' litter (receipts or paper).

Despite this, members felt the enforcement was having no impact and vulnerable people were being targeted for fines.

Whitegate ward County Councillor Brian Cameron added: "Zero tolerance was the term used but look at the state of the streets.

Community Council chair, Wynnstay ward Cllr Malcolm King - a former leader of Wrexham Council - said: "It seems like a licence to print money for Kingdom and partly Wrexham Council but we've got litter everywhere.

"They are criminalising people in Wrexham to make money.

"We should get rid of them as soon as possible, they are disgrace to Wrexham."

Queensway Cllr Colin Powell told of a woman with learning difficulties being fined "four times within a month" because "shewas an easy target".

Members backed Queensway County Cllr Carrie Harper's proposal that the community council write to Wrexham Council asking them not to renew the Kingdom contract.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Harper said: “We’re all hearing some very concerning stories about the way Kingdom are operating across Wrexham, particularly in the way vulnerable people are being targeted. Several councillors shared worrying stories about complaints they’ve had from residents about the way the firm is operating, with one complaining about a resident with learning difficulties being repeatedly targeted by a Kingdom officer.

“The bottom line is that this contract is not delivering against the county councils original objectives, which were about making our streets cleaner. The unintended consequences and ineffectiveness of this contract now make it unsustainable in my view.

"It’s now time to review the County Councils strategy in terms of littering, with Plaid Cymru run Ynys Mon and Gwynedd councils recently scrapping Kingdom, it’s time Wrexham did the same. If that can’t be done immediately we should certainly not be looking to renew their contract when it expires next year.

"I’m very encouraged to see this proposal get unanimous support from Caia Park Community council and thank fellow local Councillors for their support and input tonight”.

At a Wrexham Council scrutiny meeting held last month to review the partnership with Kingdom, the committee recommended a task and finish group to review the contract, zero tolerance and to look at alternatives.

It also recommended that in the meantime officers should speak to Kingdom about the balance between different types of litter, with a view to more focus on dog fouling.

The task and finish group will bring their feedback to members at a future date.