Agenda item

*RESOLVED –

1.   That the outcomes of the consultations undertaken on the Public Spaces Protection Order Chesterfield (No1) (relating to restricting alcohol consumption) and the Public Spaces Protection Order Chesterfield (No2) (relating to other anti-social behaviour controls) and related issues be acknowledged by Members.

2.   That the Public Spaces Protection Order Chesterfield (No1) (relating to restricting alcohol consumption) and the Public Spaces Protection Order Chesterfield (No2) (relating to other anti-social behaviour controls) be continued with effect from 15 December 2023 for a period of three years.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

1.   The current PSPOs were initially considered and approved by Cabinet on 10October 2017, following a Cabinet report regarding the potential for the PSPOs being considered on 25 July 2017. This report outlined the legislative background and evidence that supported the restrictions and the scope of the two PSPOs to restrict alcohol consumption and other anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Chesterfield town centre.

2.   The PSPO’s were subsequently renewed for a period of three years commencing on 15 December 2020.  The PSPOs can only be in place for a maximum of three years before they are required to be renewed, consequently this report seeks approval to again renew the existing orders. There is no limit on the number of times that Orders can be renewed, if the evidence need is still present.

The Head of Community Safety and Regulatory Services presented a report requesting Members to renew the Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) that were currently in place to control street drinking and other anti-social behaviour within specified areas within Chesterfield borough.

PSPOs were designed to ensure the law-abiding majority could use and enjoy public spaces, safe from anti-social behaviour. Since their introduction in December 2017, the PSPOs had been an effective mechanism to support the Council and its partners in tackling town centre anti-social behaviour and street drinking.

It was reported that in the last two years, PSPOs had been issued on 143 occasions, of which 81 had been in the last twelve months. The issue of PSPOs had also informed and enabled further enforcement action to be taken, specifically 19 Community Protection warnings, 7 Community Protection notices and one civil injunction.

The current PSPOs expire on 15 December 2023. The decision to renew them must be taken prior to the expiry date and following a period of public consultation. The Council had therefore carried out a public consultation exercise from 30 October through 15 November 2023. Copies of notices relating to each PSPO consultation were included for information in Appendix One of the officer’s report and the full report on the outcomes of the public consultation exercise in Appendix Two.

In addition to public consultation, the Council was also required to engage with Derbyshire Constabulary, Derbyshire County Council, and the Police and Crime Commissioner as part of the renewal process. The responses received were copied in Appendices Three, Four and Five. All overwhelmingly confirmed their support for the PSPOs to be renewed.

*RESOLVED –

1.   That the outcomes of the consultations undertaken on the Public Spaces Protection Order Chesterfield (No1) (relating to restricting alcohol consumption) and the Public Spaces Protection Order Chesterfield (No2) (relating to other anti-social behaviour controls) and related issues be acknowledged by Members.

2.   That the Public Spaces Protection Order Chesterfield (No1) (relating to restricting alcohol consumption) and the Public Spaces Protection Order Chesterfield (No2) (relating to other anti-social behaviour controls) be continued with effect from 15 December 2023 for a period of three years.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

1.   The current PSPOs were initially considered and approved by Cabinet on 10October 2017, following a Cabinet report regarding the potential for the PSPOs being considered on 25 July 2017. This report outlined the legislative background and evidence that supported the restrictions and the scope of the two PSPOs to restrict alcohol consumption and other anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Chesterfield town centre.

2.   The PSPO’s were subsequently renewed for a period of three years commencing on 15 December 2020.  The PSPOs can only be in place for a maximum of three years before they are required to be renewed, consequently this report seeks approval to again renew the existing orders. There is no limit on the number of times that Orders can be renewed, if the evidence need is still present.