Issue - meetings

Report of Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety

Purpose of report

A consultation was recently undertaken on a proposal to renewal the current Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Bicester town centre. This report provides the Executive with the background to the proposal, a summary of the consultation undertaken and the feedback from stakeholders and the details of the potential scope of the Order. The report asks the Executive to decide whether to renew the current PSPO in Bicester town centre.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1           To renew the Public Spaces Protection Order for Bicester town centre taking into consideration the outcomes of the public consultation and the feedback received from stakeholders.

1.2           The basis of the order will be items (a)-(e) as set out in the consultation in section 4.14 and the order will apply to the area set within the red border in appendix 1.

1.3           To agree the order can remain in place for up to 3 years.

Resolved

(1)            That the Public Spaces Protection Order for Bicester town centre, taking into consideration the outcomes of the public consultation and the feedback received from stakeholders, be renewed.

(2)            That the basis of the order will be the following items and the order will apply to the area set within the red border in the annex to the Minutes (as set out in the Minute Book).

a)    No person shall loiter in the restricted area either as an individual or in a group if they are causing or likely to cause anti-social behaviour.  If asked to disperse by a Police Constable, PCSO, or an authorised officer of the Council that person must not return to the restricted area for a period of 24 hours.

b)    No person shall beg (using either active or passive methods of obtaining alms) or ask members of the public for money in the restricted area.

c)     No person shall consume alcohol in the restricted area (other than premises specified in Section 62(1) of the Act) in a manner which causes nuisance or annoyance to other persons in the locality.

d)    No person shall continue to consume alcohol when directed by an officer to stop in the restricted area.

e)    No person shall fail to surrender alcohol or a container for alcohol when requested to do so by an officer in the restricted area.

(3)            That it be agreed the Order can remain in place for up to 3 years.

The Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety submitted a report which sought consideration of the renewal of the current Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Bicester town centre. The report provided Executive with the background to the proposal, a summary of the consultation undertaken, the feedback from stakeholders and the details of the potential scope of the Order.

Resolved

(1)            That the Public Spaces Protection Order for Bicester town centre, taking into consideration the outcomes of the public consultation and the feedback received from stakeholders, be renewed.

(2)            That the basis of the order will be the following items and the order will apply to the area set within the red border in the annex to the Minutes (as set out in the Minute Book).

a)    No person shall loiter in the restricted area either as an individual or in a group if they are causing or likely to cause anti-social behaviour.  If asked to disperse by a Police Constable, PCSO, or an authorised officer of the Council that person must not return to the restricted area for a period of 24 hours.

b)    No person shall beg (using either active or passive methods of obtaining alms) or ask members of the public for money in the restricted area.

c)     No person shall consume alcohol in the restricted area (other than premises specified in Section 62(1) of the Act) in a manner which causes nuisance or annoyance to other persons in the locality.

d)    No person shall continue to consume alcohol when directed by an officer to stop in the restricted area.

e)    No person shall fail to surrender alcohol or a container for alcohol when requested to do so by an officer in the restricted area.

(3)            That it be agreed the Order can remain in place for up to 3 years.

Reasons

The results of the consultation show overwhelming support for the introduction of a PSPO in Bicester Town Centre from the public and stakeholder organisations. The responses support including all three prohibitions that were included in the consultation.

Crime and incident data from the Police evidence supports the conclusion that prevalent and persistent problem of anti-social behaviour in and around Bicester town centre and that the legal requirements for the introduction of a PSPO are met. Therefore, the Executive is recommended to approve the renewal of the PSPO for Bicester town centre.

Alternative options

Option 1: Not renew the  PSPO.

This option is not recommended. The information gathered to support the renewal of the PSPO for Bicester town centre demonstrates that there is a persistent problem with ASB occurring in and around Bicester town centre. The consultation outcomes show very strong support for the renewal of the PSPO to continue to tackle this problem and stakeholders, including Thames Valley Police, support the proposal. 

Option 2: Introduce a PSPO with a more limited scope.

This option is not recommended. The consultation outcomes show support for all aspects of the proposed PSPO, and the information collected provides evidence  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42