Francis Investments was taken to court by the borough council for 21 breaches of community protection notices (CPNs) in relation to waste disposal outside properties containing 13 households in Woodbridge Road and nine households in Hervey Street.
Although evidence of the breaches had been proven, magistrates found that the company had taken reasonable steps to comply with the orders.
The bench accepted evidence that insufficient bins had been provided at both properties, and that bins were removed “without warning” and not completely replaced by the council at Hervey Street.
Furthermore, magistrates accepted tenants had been informed by the company of items that could and could not be deposited in bins.
Ian Persaud, for Francis Investments, argued that the prosecution failed to prove the firm was responsible for the waste found at the properties and also, it was unreasonable for the company to control the behaviour of third parties dumping rubbish.
