Agenda item

Report for Decision

 

ORDERED that Executive approve the request to extend the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) that covered the TS1 area for a further three years from the 25 November 2025.

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods submitted a report for Executive’s consideration. The purpose of the report was to seek Executive approval for the request to extend the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) that covers the TS1 area. The current PSPO will expire on 25th November 2025.

 

PSPO’s could be be determined by a Local Authority where it was satisfied that two conditions were met:

 

a)    It was likely that activities in a public place within the Authorities area had, or would have, a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality.

b)    The effect of those activities was, or was likely to be, of a persistent or continuing nature: as such as to make the activities unreasonable and that the effect of likely effect of the activities justified proposed prohibitions.

 

A PSPO did not have effect for longer than three years, however it could be extended more than once if required.

 

The current PSPO prohibited a list of actions within the designated area. The prohibited actions were listed in the report and included:

 

·         Drinking Alcohol in public

·         Littering

·         Begging

·         Skate boarding, using scooters, skates or bikes (including mechanically propelled

·         bikes or vehicles) in such a way as to be a nuisance to others or cause damage to property

·         Spitting

·         Urinating or defecating

·         Gangs of more than three causing harassment alarm or distress

·         Verbal abuse and threatening and intimidating behaviour Dog control (including dogs to be required on leads, dog fouling and having control of more than four dogs)

·         Rummaging in bins

·         Appropriating monies for charitable or other purposes without a licence including asking members of the public to sign up to schemes.

 

To extend the PSPO Executive needed to be satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that the extension was necessary to prevent the occurrence or recurrence of the detrimental activities or to prevent an increase in the frequency or seriousness of those activities.

 

The current PSPO came into effect on 26 November 2022 for a period of three years. It would therefore expire on 25th November 2025.

 

The formal consultation on the extension of the PSPO ran for a two-week period starting on 03/10/2025 until 17/10/2025. The consultation was publicised via local media links as well as being prevalent on the Council’s website. Letters were also sent to all key stakeholders and posters were displayed in public buildings alongside prominent signage displayed in various locations.

 

The results of the consultation showed there was strong support for an extension of the PSPO. The total number of respondents was 77. The makeup of the respondents was detailed in the report.

 

OPTIONS

 

Not to extend the PSPO. This was not recommended as there was still a high level of crime and antisocial behaviour in the TS1 area and the current Order gave powers to the Local Authority to act regarding the prohibited behaviour. If the order was not made the activities would reoccur or would increase in frequency or seriousness to the detriment of the community and the public.

 

ORDERED that Executive approve the request to extend the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) that covered the TS1 area for a further three years from the 25 November 2025

 

REASONS

 

The current PSPO expired on 25th November 2025.

 

The consultation supported the extension of the PSPO in the TS1 area for a further three years

 

It was felt the content of the report provided enough information to satisfy Executive, on reasonable grounds, that the extension was necessary to prevent the occurrence or recurrence of the activities prohibited or restricted in the Order or to prevent an increase in frequency or seriousness of those activities if the Order was to expire.