THE decision to give controversial litter enforcement team Kingdom up to six extra years in Wirral could now be overturned after it was called in.

The local authority’s Liberal Democrat and Green groups have asked for the move, which was announced last week, to be reconsidered by the cabinet.

The environment team, whose responsibilities cover offences like dog fouling and littering, have been working for the council since 2015.

And the latest move also had the option of extending the contract for a further three years to a total of six – stretching to 2024, but that could now change.

This week, six opposition councillors said they chose to call in the decision as members have had “insufficient opportunity” to look at the revised contract, “so that they can be satisfied the contractor will meet requirements that members might reasonably expect”.

The call-in schedule, issued earlier this week, said: “Members believe that the approach to litter enforcement approved by Council needs to be undertaken in a way that secures public support and understanding. They, therefore, wish to be satisfied that the aim of reducing litter is not undermined by suspicions that the ease of generating cash from some crackdowns and fines leads to the prioritising of some activities rather than others.”

They were also not happy about Kingdom’s contract running on a “per ticket” share of the income, with the document providing “little information on the financial arrangements, costs and income generation”.

Cllr Phil Gilchrist, leader of the five-councillor strong Lib Dem group, said: “We all want a cleaner Wirral. There are people carelessly and needlessly tossing litter around.

“We want the company to work within clear and acceptable guidelines. They have, in recent years, been busy in a few locations, waiting for thoughtless people to drop cigarette ends. The litter problem is more widespread. and it will take time to turn our throw-away society around.

“If Wirral is to proceed with Kingdom they need the right people, working under good supervision, to get this right. We need to be satisfied that they’re up to it.”

Green Cllr Pat Cleary added: “By consistently ignoring Government guidelines and operating outside the public interest, Kingdom has shown that its approach is simply not fit for purpose. There is no evidence that their activities are reducing the volume of litter on our streets.”

The terms of the call-in will be heard by the environment overview and scrutiny committee next month.

When contacted for comment about the call-in, a spokesman for Kingdom said: “It’s part of the democratic process, and we wait to hear back from the council.”

A council spokesman added: “The initial environmental enforcement contract was due to expire and had to be renewed at this time. The decision to award the contract to Kingdom for a further three years was taken as a result of a thorough competitive tendering process.”