Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

The Cabinet approves the renewal of the Fitzwilliam Road Order (Appendix 1) for a period of three years upon expiry of the current Order in July 2025. 

Consideration was given to the report which outlined the consultation on the Fitzwilliam Road Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) and the responses. The report recommended the renewal of the PSPO currently in place for a further period of 3 years from July 2025. Over half of the respondents to the consultation confirmed that they had confidence in the effectiveness of a future Order, (as set out in question 3 in Appendix 3), whilst providing some challenge around the ability of the Police and Council to enforce the Order. As a result of this feedback, this report also outlined further steps to provide additional assurance and oversight on the application of the tools by both the Police and Council, subject to the renewal of the Order.

The current Fitzwilliam Road PSPO was renewed in June 2022 for a period of three years and had the following conditions attached to it:

1.    The consumption of alcohol and/or the possession of an open container containing or purporting to contain alcohol in a public place other than at those places identified.

2.    Behaving in such a way or using language that causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to another person.

3.    Causing noise that is likely to have a detrimental impact on a person(s) quality of life.

4.    Each relevant person must ensure that the wheelie bin(s) for their property or waste presented for collection in a manner specified for their property is not situated outside the boundary of their premises other than between 6pm on the day before collection is due, and 9pm on the day of collection unless the wheelie bin is in an identifiable bin storage area or yard for wheelie bins of their property

It was proposed that the above conditions remained in place with a slight amendment to condition one which added clarity to the specific times it would be enforced.

Since the designation of the PSPO on the Fitzwilliam Road, complaints of Anti-Social Behaviour had slowly been on the rise and peaked in 2024 with numerous reports of drinking in the pocket parks and Eldon Road playing field. This showed that the condition regarding drinking alcohol in open spaces in the current PSPO was still relevant to a future PSPO.

Section 4 of the report set out the consultation details. Following the approval of the Officer Decision to proceed with the consultation process, an engagement programme was implemented between 22 April 2025 to 20 May 2025. This was then extended by three further days to allow additional

responses. The main method of engagement was through surveys and internet-driven communication, using information published on the Council’s website where users were invited to complete an online survey. Hard copy questionnaires were also made available on request, and hand-delivered to businesses in order to promote wide responses. A completed activity tracker which outlined the steps taken to gather responses was attached at Appendix 4.

In accordance with statutory guidelines detailed under Section 72, Anti-Social

Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, the Council had to undertake consultation with the affected parties. As part of this process, the Council consulted directly with local residents and statutory consultees which included the Chief Inspector of Rotherham Neighbourhood Policing. An email of support and comment can be found in Appendix 5.The Council also notified all Ward Councillors and Parish Councils via a written briefing and an offer of meetings/workshops should it be required. The consultation was also discussed in Community Action Partnership (CAP) meetings during the consultation period.

Throughout the consultation the Council received a total of 58 responses from members of the public or businesses. Appendix 3 provided a summary of the

responses received via the website and a further six forms were received in

paper format. A return of only 16% of respondents felt that the current Order had been effective in reducing Anti-Social Behaviour in the area. However 47% felt that a future Order might assist in the same regard. This showed that both the Council and the Police had a challenge to address the perception of visibility and achieve formal outcomes from the order. This would give further confidence and reassurance to the public  around tackling ASB in Eastwood. This was further assessed in the risks and mitigation section of this report.

Resolved:

The Cabinet approve the renewal of the Fitzwilliam Road Order (Appendix 1) for a period of three years upon expiry of the current Order in July 2025.