Agenda item

Report number: OAS/WS/21/001

[Councillor Diane Hind declared a local non-pecuniary interest, as a resident of Moreton Hall, Bury St Edmunds.

Councillors Tony Brown, Margaret Marks and Joe Mason all declared local non-pecuniary interests as being Town Councillors for Haverhill].

The Committee received report number OAS/WS/21/001, presented by Councillor Robert Everitt, Cabinet Member for Families and Communities, which outlined the process due to be undertaken on Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) following recommendations made by Cabinet on 22 September 2020.

In September 2020, Cabinet recommended that further consideration be given to the proposals submitted during engagement with stakeholders, namely the extension of PSPO areas in Brandon, Haverhill, and Bury St Edmunds. 

The report set out the work undertaken since Cabinet met in September 2020, including undertaking additional evidence gathering with Suffolk Police and those submitting the proposals.  In accordance with guidance, any changes to existing PSPOs or a request for a new PSPO should undertake consultation with those affected by the changes.

The recommendation to Overview and Scrutiny was that public consultation should take place in Haverhill to remove an area that was now a residential area, and in Bury St Edmunds to introduce a PSPO in the Moreton Hall area relating to anti-social driving.  Evidence and further consultation with Brandon Town Council had concluded that no further consultation within this area was required.

The police, Brandon Town Council, Haverhill Town Council and Moreton Hall Residents Association were supportive of the recommendations.

Attached at Appendix A to the report was a map which identified the area for removal in Haverhill.  Attached at Appendix B to the report was a map which identified areas within the Moreton Hall ward; these were subject to change depending on consultation results received.

Consultation would take place between 18 January and 21 February 2021.  Due to the Covid restrictions consultation with the general public within the proposed areas, would be focused through online, social media and press releases to raise awareness of the consultation.  Public consultation would run alongside the stakeholder consultation.  Once the consultation was completed, the data would be analysed, with a final decision being considered by Cabinet in March 2021.

The Chair then invited Councillor Trevor Beckwith, Ward Member for Moreton Hall to address the Committee in respect of this item.  He thanked the Committee for allowing him to speak.  He informed the Committee that anti-social driving on the Moreton Hall estate had been a big issue since 2016.  He set out the history to the anti-social driving which had moved from the centre of Bury St Edmunds to Moreton Hall.   He explained that although Covid-19 had an impact and reduced the number of vehicles in the area, residents continued to report incidents to the Police who were supportive of a PSPO being introduced in Moreton Hall.

The Committee then considered the report and asked questions.  In particular, detailed discussions were held on the need for more enforcement, how practical it was in issuing Fixed Penalty Notices for anti-social driving, and who was responsible for carrying out enforcement of the various PSPOs to which comprehensive responses were provided.

In response to a question raised about street drinking in Haverhill, particularly in Railway Walk and the Town Centre, officers explained that this had not been raised with the Families and Communities Team as an issue.  However, officers agreed to raise this with the Haverhill Police inspector.  Officers also confirmed that the Railway Walk was still included in the PSPO and this would be made clear in the public consultation.  The only area which was proposed for removal was the small residential area.

In response to a question asked about how many Fixed Penalty Notices had been issued, officers agreed to provide members with a written response.

In response to a question raised about anti-social street driving in Moreton Hall, officers advised members that action had been taken in tacking the issue.  The council was working closely with the various agencies such as the police, who were doing their best in resolving the issue.

In response to a question raised regarding how the council benchmarked PSPOs and whether this could be a future scrutiny topic, officers explained that the Committee would need to have a clear rational before adding to its future work programme.  An alternative option could be to include an update on PSPOs in the Annual Community Safety Partnership report.

The Chair informed members it was crucial for residents and members to report any anti-social behaviour in their wards to the Police.  This will enable the Police to compile evidence and deploy resources to those areas affected with anti-social behaviour and issue Fixed Penalty Notices.

There being no decision required, the Committee noted that:

1)   No further extension of the PSPO was necessary in Brandon.

2)   Public consultation would be carried out in Haverhill for the removal of a residential area from the existing PSPO.

3)   Public consultation would be undertaken on the proposal to introduce a new PSPO for antisocial driving in the Moreton Hall area of Bury St Edmunds.

4)   Cabinet will consider the results of the consultation and make a decision in March 2021.