Agenda item

To consider a report of the Service Manager, Licensing and Community Safety.

The committee received and considered a report of the Service Manager Licensing and Community Safety which set out the results of the consultation for the proposed Anti-social Behaviour related Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) for parts of the Dorset Council area.  The committee was invited to comment on the draft Orders and recommend them to Cabinet for approval if they were satisfied that the relevant criteria had been met for each order.

 

The Service Manager Licensing and Community Safety provided an introduction to the draft orders and a summary of the changes that had been made following the period of consultation.  In addition, he noted that requests for additional areas to be covered by a PSPO would be considered and would be subject to future consultation if appropriate.  Ward members would be included in this process.

 

The Service Manager Licensing and Community Safety provided an overview of the issues in respect of each PSPO.  The committee considered each PSPO in turn and discussion and recommendations were made as follows:

 

The Bridport Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order 2022

 

Recommendation to Cabinet

 

That the Bridport Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order be approved.

 

The Dorchester Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order 2022

 

Recommendation to Cabinet

 

That the Dorchester Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order be approved.

 

The Lyme Regis Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order 2022

 

Recommendation to Cabinet

 

That the Lyme Regis Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order be approved.

 

The Portland Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order 2022

 

Recommendation to Cabinet

 

That the Portland Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order be approved.

 

The West Bay Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order 2022

 

Recommendation to Cabinet

 

That the West Bay Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order be approved.

 

The Weymouth Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order 2022

 

·            The approach to dealing with aggressive begging was questioned and there were different views as to how this should be dealt with

·            The difference between begging and aggressive begging was recognised

·            The Service Manager Licensing and Community Safety set out the Council’s evidence-based approach and confirmed that the PSPO provisions were useful to have if other preferred approaches for dealing with a situation had not brought about a resolution

·            Issues around cycling on The Esplanade were discussed, including the reasons that the provisions had been included and consideration to the different users of The Esplanade

·            R Tarr declared an interest as a Cycle England Right to Ride representative, who was consulted by the Council on relevant matters, and also noted that he was a writer of walking guidebooks.  Following advice from the Monitoring Officer he confirmed that he did not need to declare an interest in respect of royalties received for his guidebooks as this was not relevant to the cycling issues under discussion

·            Reference was made to relevant work on the Local Transport Plan

·            M Roe indicated that she did not agree with the aggressive begging element of the order and therefore would vote against the PSPO for Weymouth.

 

In respect to the provisions contained within the PSPO related to cycling on The Esplanade, it was proposed by T Coombs seconded by V Pothecary

 

Recommendation to Cabinet

 

That the provision within the Weymouth Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order with regard to cycling on The Esplanade be approved as per the draft order.

 

It was proposed by L Fry seconded by R Hope

 

Recommendation to Cabinet

 

That the Weymouth Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order be approved.

 

The Dorset Beaches Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order 2022

 

·            The wording contained within the draft order had been amended to remove reference to ‘no groups of more than one’ for clarity

·            There was a general level of support for the provisions in the Order.

 

It was proposed by L Fry seconded by S Jespersen

 

Recommendation to Cabinet

 

That the Dorset Beaches Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order be approved.

 

The Dorset Open Land Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order 2022

 

·            Enforcement issues needed to be further considered in terms of those who would be expected to enforce the provisions in the Order and full training would be given.

 

It was proposed by L Fry seconded by V Pothecary

 

Recommendation to Cabinet

 

That the Dorset Open Land Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order be approved.

 

The Chairman thanked officers for their work and report on this issue.  It was noted that a post-implementation report in respect of the Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Orders could be considered by the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee at an appropriate time.