The leader of New Forest District Council has been convicted of waste disposal offences in relation to a scrap yard he co-owns with his brother.
Barry Rickman, 63, of Heron Close, Sway, Lymington, admitted an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 when he appeared at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Friday, 12th March 2021.
The charge under section 33(1)(a) of the Act reads as follows: "knowingly causing/permitting a person to operate a regulated waste operation facility that dealt with the deposit, treatment and or storage of waste, without authorisation of an environmental permit."
The maximum penalty for this offence is 6 months' custody and/or an unlimited fine on summary conviction; 5 years' custody and/or an unlimited fine on conviction on indictment.
The charge is in relation to activities carried out at C. Rickman Scrap Yard on Lower Mead Road in Sway between 17th November 2017 and 9th October 2020.
The prosecution was brought by the Environment Agency, but disappointingly there is very little reporting of the circumstances of the offence. It would appear, however, that Rickman, a professional photographer by trade, is not directly involved in the day-to-day running of the scrap yard.
District Judge Richard Blake decided to defer sentencing the pair until Wednesday, 28th July 2021.
Deferral of sentence is always an option available to the court under section 5 of the Sentencing Act 2020. A deferral of up to six months is permitted, but can only be made with the agreement of the offender.
"Quite clearly the land needs to be made good," the Judge said.
"The substantial mitigation will be the manner in which you deal with this land and make it good. I think it's appropriate that you are given the opportunity.
"This is in a rural area and is clearly a curse on the community in the position it is.
"At the next hearing I will want to know the manner in which it is done does put it right, does not pose any further problems, and is dealt with appropriately and in the line with regulations."
Rickman, who represents the Conservatives, was elected to New Forest District Council in 1995, having previously served a five-year term between 1983 and 1988.
The Liberal Democrats, which form the minority opposition on the council, are calling for his resignation.
Councillor Jack Davies said: "These regulations are in place to protect our environment and everybody else has to follow them.
"How can the Conservatives say, with a straight face, that they want to protect the environment if they let their leader get away with this?
"Therefore, it is with deep regret that we call for Councillor Barry Rickman to resign as leader of the council so that people's confidence in the council can be restored."
New Forest District Council described Rickman's conviction as a personal matter, which it would not comment on.
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