Councillors are set to debate a major budget amendment tomorrow aimed at stepping up the fight against litter and fly-tipping, with opposition members arguing Salford needs a more proactive approach to clean up its streets.
The proposed £212,300 ‘Operation Clean Streets Salford’ pilot has been tabled ahead of the 2026/27 budget vote, setting out plans to add street cleansing personnel, expand targeted cleaning in residential wards and introduce a new community-focused “Urban Litter Ranger” role
Councillor Paul Heilbron, who tabled the amendment, described the current approach as “largely reactive,” leaving crews stretched and residents frustrated. “Street sweeping isn’t always effective, gutters remain clogged because cars prevent proper access, and residential streets can go too long without meaningful attention. That erodes confidence,” he said.
At the heart of the proposal is the recruitment of four additional Street Cleansing Labourers on fixed-term contracts for one year, working on residential streets identified as needing extra attention.
The amendment states that increasing workforce capacity would “improve cleaning frequency and quality,” reducing repeat incidents and the longer-term costs associated with enforcement and reactive responses.
A new Urban Litter Ranger, employed for the duration of the pilot, would lead education campaigns and support initiatives with residents, schools and businesses to promote civic responsibility and reduce reliance on enforcement.
“By adding dedicated capacity, introducing planned, resident-notified deep cleans, and investing in community engagement, we’re tackling the root causes, not just clearing up after the fact,” Heilbron said. “It’s about doing the job properly the first time, reducing repeat problems, and raising standards consistently across the city.”
Heilbron stressed that the amendment isn’t a criticism of frontline staff, who “work incredibly hard,” but rather of political leadership. When asked if the Labour leadership hadn’t done enough to address issues, he said: “I think residents would say standards have slipped in too many areas.”
Additionally, visitors to Salford have previously complained about the overwhelming rise of fly-tipping.
“Cleaner streets should be treated as a core service, not an afterthought. When residents repeatedly raise the same concerns, that’s a signal that something needs to change.”
The document also proposes a coordinated, community-driven maintenance programme to address problems caused by parked cars obstructing sweepers, which can leave litter and debris along kerbs.
Residents would be given advance notice to temporarily move vehicles before scheduled deep cleans, with selected streets undergoing sweeping, refreshed road markings where required and fly-tip removal.
Tomorrow’s budget vote will determine whether the opposition’s proposed pilot becomes part of Salford’s strategy for the year ahead, or whether the administration continues with its existing plan to address what many residents say remains a persistent and highly visible problem.
