Issue - meetings

Report number:     CAB/WS/20/058

Portfolio holders: Councillors Robert Everitt and Joanna Rayner

Lead officer: Davina Howes

Resolved:

That:

1.       in considering the outcomes of the review, it be agreed to continue with the existing Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) detailed in Appendices A and B to Report number: CAB/WS/20/058; and

2.       further consideration be given to the proposed variations submitted during engagement with stakeholders, namely the extension of PSPO areas in Brandon, Haverhill and Bury St Edmunds as set out in section 3.3 of Report number: CAB/WS/20/058.

The Cabinet considered this report, which sought approval for the continuation of existing Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) detailed in Appendices A and B attached to the report; and for further consideration to be given to potential extensions to PSPO areas in Brandon, Haverhill and Bury St Edmunds.

By virtue of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, the Council must carry out a review, communicate intent to introduce 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.

Extension of existing orders could be granted under section 60 of the Act where it was shown that an extension was necessary to prevent activity occurring or there had been an increase in frequency or seriousness of the activities.

However, an extension could only be granted following a review. If no review was undertaken there was no mechanism for automatic review. As a consequence, Cabinet was required to make a formal decision regarding the PSPOs by 30 September 2020 otherwise all PSPOs would expire with the exception of the Bury St Edmunds PSPO. Whilst it was not necessary to review the Bury St Edmunds PSPO until September 2021 it had been included to enable all PSPOs to be reviewed in the same timescales in future.

Councillor Robert Everitt, Portfolio Holder for Families and Communities, drew relevant issues to the attention of Cabinet, including providing details of the PSPOs currently in place in West Suffolk as set out in paragraph 1.4 of the report, and summarising details of the responses received during the stakeholder engagement exercise held on the PSPOs, as set out in section 3.

Councillor Joanna Rayner, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Community Hubs, provided further details of the dog-related PSPOs currently in place, as set out in the appendices.

Having considered the responses to the stakeholder engagement exercise, the Cabinet supported the continuation of the existing PSPOs. The Cabinet also considered the additional representations received during the engagement exercise, as summarised in section 3.3 of the report, and considered it appropriate that reviews should be undertaken in a timely manner in connection with the specific representations summarised in section 4.1.3. It was aimed that these reviews would be completed by February 2021 with a recommendation to Cabinet duly following.

Resolved:

That:

1.       in considering the outcomes of the review, it be agreed to continue with the existing Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) detailed in Appendices A and B to Report number: CAB/WS/20/058; and

2.       further consideration be given to the proposed variations submitted during engagement with stakeholders, namely the extension of PSPO areas in Brandon, Haverhill and Bury St Edmunds as set out in section 3.3 of Report number: CAB/WS/20/058.

(Councillor Trevor Beckwith left the meeting at the conclusion of this item.)