Agenda and minutes

Further to a minute of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 27^th November, 2006, consideration was given to a report of the Licensing Manager proposing the making of an order to designate public places in the Wath upon Dearne town centre as places where it was an offence to continue to consume alcohol after being requested not to do so by a police officer or a police community support officer. The making of the order was governed by a procedure laid down by the Local Authorities (Alcohol Consumption in Public Places) Regulations 2001.

The report stated that this proposal had the approval and support of the South Yorkshire Police and the Safer Rotherham Partnership, including the Safer Neighbourhoods Joint Action Group. This prior indication of approval and support was necessary because the policing and enforcement of any order was a matter for South Yorkshire Police; the evidence of nuisance, annoyance or disorder associated with the consumption of alcohol was Police-led; the identification of the area to be designated was a policing/police resource issue.

The proposed order was included with the report, in the form of the Government model order, together with a plan of the area of the Wath upon Dearne town centre to be designated. The consultation process had been undertaken during the period 8^th December, 2006 to 5^th January, 2007.

Members noted that there had been requests made during the consultation process for the proposed alcohol exclusion zone to be extended to include the nearby children’s play area and skateboard park situated to the north of Biscay Way adjacent the Wath swimming pool. The Committee noted that the making of this order might displace the problem of anti-social behaviour to these recreation areas.

Resolved:- (1) That, under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, the part of the Wath upon Dearne town centre which falls within the area defined on the map submitted to this meeting, be approved as a designated public place (‘alcohol exclusion zone’).

(2) That the order shall come into force at 00.01 on Thursday, 1st February, 2007.

(3) That the wider effects of both this order and the similar order affecting the Rotherham town centre be reviewed over a period of time and any future applications for orders for specific areas be considered by this Committee in accordance with delegated powers.