Decision details

At the Cabinet meeting arranged for 16 March 2021, Members were to make the decision to approve a proposal in Haverhill for the removal of a residential area from the existing PSPO and to approve a proposal to introduce a new PSPO in the Moreton Hall area of Bury St Edmunds.

Unfortunately, due to technical issues which prevented the Cabinet agenda and the livestream to the meeting being accessed by the public, the meeting was cancelled.

Therefore, it is not deemed appropriate to delay this decision to a later meeting of the Cabinet as it related to concerns of residents regarding anti-social behaviour and for this decision to now be made by the Portfolio Holder for Families and Communities.

Due to the unforeseen circumstances of the Cabinet not being able to make this decision on 16  March 2021, it has not been possible to provide for the required 28 days’ notice of this key decision to be made by the Portfolio Holder.

As provided for under Part 4 of the Constitution under the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Procedure Rules, the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee has agreed that the decision proposed is reasonable and to it being treated as a matter of urgency.

Under the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Constitution, paragraphs 17.1 and 17.3 relates to a key decision and matters being taken in private and requires that where the normal procedure cannot be follows, the agreement of the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that the taking of the decision cannot be reasonably deferred is required and this agreement has been given accordingly.

Resolved:

That:

1.           The result of the public consultations associated with the two PSPOs be noted.

2.           The proposal in Haverhill for the removal of a residential area from the existing PSPO, be approved.

3.           The proposal to introduce a new PSPO in Moreton Hall area of Bury St Edmunds be approved.

West Suffolk Council completed a review of all existing Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) in September 2020 in accordance with the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.  By virtue of the Act, the Council must undertake a review, communicate intent to introduce the new PSPOs and undertake consultations with certain key stakeholders to ensure that it could make an informed decision when determining the outcome of the review.  Therefore, it was resolved by Cabinet on 22 September 2020 (Report number CAB/WS/20/058) that all existing PSPOs were extended for a further three years.

In order to amend any PSPO or implement a new PSPO, the Council must consider the evidence, from partners and communities, as well as undertake a thorough public consultation process including providing the opportunity to consider the new proposed area.

As a result of the review of existing PSPOs, West Suffolk Council received suggestions for variations in Brandon, Haverhill and Bury St Edmunds.  Therefore, at its meeting on 22 September 2020, Cabinet agreed further consideration be given to the proposed variations submitted during engagement with stakeholders, as set out in section 3.3 of Report number CAB/WS/20/058.

Therefore, based on the evidence available and feedback from the public and key stakeholders, including the Police, the proposals were set out in Report number CAB/WS/21/013.

West Suffolk Council had a duty under the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, that whilst conducing a review of PSPOs, it must consider any variations to existing PSPOs or requests for additional PSPOs.