Renfrewshire Council's £30,000 dog fouling awareness campaign blasted as 'waste' of taxpayer funds

A war of words has broken out over a dog fouling awareness campaign after Renfrewshire Council was accused of “wasting” taxpayers’ money on the initiative.

Last year, £30,000 was allocated to resource the scheme in the SNP administration’s budget for 2025/26 – a commitment which has been lambasted by a vexed politician.

Dog fouling is understood to be one of the most complained about environmental incivility issues in the area and is tackled by a combination of education, engagement and enforcement.

But Councillor Jamie McGuire, a Reform UK representative for Renfrew North and Braehead, has claimed the local authority cares more about “appearances than outcomes” when it comes to the problem.

He said: “The decision to waste £30,000 of taxpayers’ money on a dog fouling awareness campaign is not an error of judgement, it is a deliberate choice to prioritise spin over substance and it exposes a council leadership that has lost touch with both reality and responsibility.

“Dog fouling remains endemic because the SNP has failed to enforce the law. That failure is long-standing, well-known and entirely of its own making.

“Residents do not need to be patronised by council signage explaining that leaving dog waste in public spaces is unacceptable. This is basic social behaviour.

“Anyone still fouling pavements and parks in 2026 is not waiting for a leaflet to change their mind. Pretending otherwise is either dishonest or delusional.

“Even more damning is the council’s own admission that enforcement is rare and penalties are seldom issued. In a competent administration, that would prompt a fundamental rethink.

“Under the SNP, it has instead produced a marketing campaign. When enforcement collapses, they do not fix it. They paper over the cracks with posters and call it action.”

The council has previously told elected members its awareness work – such as signage and using advertising space at bus shelters – supports the service’s enforcement activity.

Officers have carried out ‘days of action’ and targeted dog fouling in areas with the highest records of complaint and concern, such as in cemeteries.

SNP council leader Iain Nicolson, a representative for Erskine and Inchinnan, responded: “Councillor McGuire of Reform UK Limited often produces comments where after basic scrutiny they immediately fall apart.

“The council employs many different means to advise its residents on a wide range of different issues, particularly involving public health and to encourage behavioural change. This is carried out along with enforcement measures.

“Many local groups and residents ask us for materials so they can work in their own communities on various issues that are of a concern to them. That is why we provided that small budget, to support our communities.

“I would point out that Reform UK Limited have never produced a council budget with their ideas of where the council spends its resources.

“They will have an opportunity in a few weeks’ time where the council sets its budget out for next year.

“Can we expect to see a fully costed and detailed Reform UK Limited budget for Renfrewshire?

“Given what’s happened in some local councils in England with Reform it will be an interesting opportunity to see their ideas for Renfrewshire.”