There’s not often you hear of something new a council is doing and the thought ‘that’s a good idea’ pops into you head.

Our well-meaning local authorities deliver a multitude of services but when they try to deviate from the accepted norms we tend to be quizzical about what they’re up to.

But Calderdale Council’s plans to help smokers to quit if they are found to have thrown a cigarette butt on the floor is a great piece of thinking.

In short, if you get done for littering in Halifax, Brighouse, Elland or other areas the council covers then you normally get slapped with an £80 fine.

However, if it’s a cigarette end you’ve chucked on the ground then you are going to have the option of foregoing the fine if you go on a course that helps you kick the fags.

There will be some who see this as an invasion of their civil liberties but if you decide you don’t want to quit then you can just put your hand in your pocket and fork out for the fine.

It just seems to tick all the boxes of being a good idea – it’s simple, it utilises what’s already existing and actually targets the relevant group.

Rather than fining someone, which doesn’t deal with the problem and merely applies a temporary sticking plaster to the symptom, the plan, if successful, will stop people littering because they simply don’t use cigarettes any more.

But could it be extended to other areas of council policy? What about just general littering?

I despise littering. It’s so unnecessary and the people who litter smack of arrogance as well as ignorance.

It’s like they think to themselves ‘this doesn’t apply to me, I’m too important for this rule’.

But you can’t ban people from buying crisps or burgers can you in order to stop them from flinging the bags and cartons onto the floor.

Maybe not, but rather than fining them why don’t we give them the option of a community service type punishment where they have to spend a day with a street cleaning team and actually pick up what other litter louts have left?

Yes, it’s not as clean as the cigarette solution but there is a natural justice about it and having done it maybe they’d realise they need to take a bit of pride in their surroundings as there are people who work hard to keep it relatively spick and span.

The other one that troubles most people would be dog muck.

I’m like the rest of you – it infuriates me to step in a pile of steaming mess and then I gag as I poke the sole of my shoe with a stick to remove the big bits before dragging my foot along the grass to try and remove my poo poo platform shoe.

I think we should adopt a community service type punishment there too. Rather than emptying the bins or even pooper scooping the errant piles, why not get the offenders to clean the shoes of those affected?

As I said above it’s a hell of a job and surely would make them think twice about not picking up after their pooch.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they begged to pay the fine!