Issue - meetings

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment

Recommendations:

1.    That approval be given to carry out a consultation in relation to a new Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order.

2.    That approval be given to carry out a consultation in relation to a Borough wide Public Spaces Protection  ...  view the full agenda text for item 37

Consideration was given to a report which proposed to undertake consultation to establish views in relation to Public Spaces Protection Orders and support a future decision about these Public Spaces Protection Orders.

It was reported that the current Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order and the transitioned borough-wide dog fouling  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37

Cabinet Portfolio:                 Waste, Roads and Community Safety

Strategic Directorate:           Regeneration and Environment

Consideration was given to a report that was submitted for pre-decision scrutiny ahead of the Cabinet meeting scheduled for 20 July 2020 in respect of consultation on two Public Spaces Protection Orders.

The Cabinet Member for Waste, Roads and Community Safety, the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment and the Head of Service – Community Safety and Regulatory Services attended the meeting to present the report and to answer members’ questions.

The current Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) and the transitioned borough-wide dog fouling Public Spaces Protection Order would expire in September and October 2020 respectively.  This report proposed to undertake consultation in respect of both PSPOs at the same time to establish views about the conditions that might be included within each PSPO and to support a future decision. The consultation was planned to run from 27July to 23 August 2020 and to focus on the existing conditions, together with identifying any emerging issues of concern to partners and the public.

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provided for PSPOs, including those that were transitioned: to be extended by three years; to be varied; and to be discharged, alongside the powers to introduce new Orders.  The Act stipulated specific requirements on who should be consulted where Orders were to be introduced or extended and the Council was obliged to notify the parish council or community council, of the proposed order, extension, variation or discharge. A consultation plan was included with the report.

Data provided showed that incidents of anti-social behaviour in the town centre and complaints of dog fouling across the Borough had been declining since 2016. Whilst this was encouraging, it was important to recognise that the issues remained and suitable tools and powers needed to be in place to tackle the problems as they arose.  Complaints relating to rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour remained significant as a proportion of anti-social behaviour incidents in the town centre and dog fouling remained an important issue to local communities.

Members raised a concern about public drinking in Rotherham town centre near the Minster and asked who was responsible for enforcement of the Town Centre PSPO.  Both the Police and the Council had enforcement powers and fines issued had been split roughly equally between both bodies.  Good joint working was in place and the Police did also have additional powers.

Officers confirmed 168 fines were issued in the last three years under the town centre order to 106 different people, showing a number of repeat offenders, some of whom had committed several offences. 39 fines had been issued for dog fouling. Under the 2014 Act a range of other potential powers could be used for repeat offenders, such as injunctions or community protection notices, tailored to the individual.  One such example was the imposition of positive requirements where fines alone would not be effective. For example, with regard to tackling alcohol consumption a requirement to engage with CGL the substance misuse treatment and recovery service to change  ...  view the full minutes text for item 193