Agenda item - Public Spaces Protection Order- Alcohol Prohibition (36:01)

To receive a report from the Head of People, Performance and Waste and the Environment and Enforcement Manager that it considers issuing a Public Spaces Protection Order under the powers given to the Council by the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to tackle anti-social behaviour associated with public consumption of alcohol in Crediton Town Centre.

Cabinet had before it a report * from the Head of People, Performance & Waste and Environment and Enforcement Manager recommending the approval of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in order to tackle anti-social behaviour associated with the public consumption of alcohol in Crediton Town Centre.

RESOLVED that:

On being satisfied that the statutory grounds for making the Crediton Order were met, authorisation be given to the Operations Manager for Street Scene and Open Spaces to carry out the necessary statutory consultation, publicity and notification for the proposed Crediton Order.

Delegated authority be granted to the Director of Legal, People & Governance (Monitoring Officer) to draft the Crediton Order to go out to consultation.

Delegated authority be given to the Operations Manager for Street Scene and Open Spaces, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Service Delivery and Continuous Improvement, to then:

· Consider the responses to the necessary consultation, publicity and notification

· Decide, in light of the responses received to the consultation, whether to not proceed with the order if there were numerous material objections, or to authorise the Director of Legal, People and Governance (Monitoring Officer) to seal the order.

· To authorise the Director of Legal, People and Governance (Monitoring Officer) to make any minor amendments to the draft of the Crediton Order prior to sealing.

Note:

(i) *Report previously circulated.

(ii) Cllr J Downes declared a personal interest as he was a member of Crediton Town Council and residing in Crediton.

Cabinet had before it a report * from the Head of People, Performance & Waste and Environment and Enforcement Manager recommending the approval of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in order to tackle anti-social behaviour associated with the public consumption of alcohol in Crediton Town Centre.

The Cabinet Member for Service Delivery and Continuous Improvement outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to the following:

To consider issuing a Public Spaces Protection Order under the powers given to the Council by the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to tackle anti-social behaviour associated with public consumption of alcohol in Crediton Town Centre.
The proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (the “Crediton Order”), could be found at Appendix 1 of the report, prohibiting the consumption of alcohol in areas located in Crediton Town Centre as highlighted in the plan at Appendix 2.

Discussion took place with regards to:

Would there be a sufficient number of Police to patrol this area, had there been any success in other towns and whether it had been beneficial? It was explained that this was a request from the Police and the Neighbourhood Team and there was a restricted alcohol PSPO in the Taunton area.

· Were the concerns that had been highlighted around people that were leaving the pubs or those that were drinking on the street? It was explained that the PSPO was in regard to daytime drinking in the area that was then causing a nuisance to the residents.

· Clarification around the concerns in the particular areas; were they due to socialising with drinks as some of the facilities were used responsibly?

· Would introducing a PSPO with regards to this issue actually work in practice? There was evidence from other areas where similar orders have been put in place by authorities (including Taunton and Exeter) that the measures could be effective.