Issue - meetings

Decision for Dog Public Spaces Protection Order Amendments (PSPO)

Meeting: 18/03/2021 - Cabinet (Item 719)

719 Dog Public Spaces Protection Order Amendments (PSPO) pdf icon PDF 121 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered the report previously presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel on 18 February 2021.

 

It was noted that:

·  The existing PSPO will be extended to 25 October 2023, covering dog control, dog fouling and dog exclusion.

·  The majority of the PSPO will remain the same as has been in force for the last three years, with 2 amendments:

1.  Pegwell Bay; amend to cover upper chalk shore to protect endangered wildlife. Feedback has been positive and should proceed with amendment.

2.  Activities that could be banned to protect wildlife; Humans and dogs interfering with, trapping or attempting to trap or snare or disturb any wildlife on council owned land. Feedback has been positive and should proceed with amendment.

·  Both amendments are aimed at helping to protect wildlife.

·  A third amendment, following consultation, will not be taken forward:

3.  Westbrook Bay - Currently dogs must be kept on a lead -consultation suggested change to become a dog ban in bathing season - people responded in the majority against this change therefore no amendment or change should be taken forward.

 

There was no further discussion from Members.

 

Councillor Albon proposed, Councillor Everitt seconded and Members agreed to approve that the current PSPO is amended to last until 2023 and adopted in accordance with the Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), Crime and Policing Act 2014.


Meeting: 18/02/2021 - Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Item 285)

285 Dog Public Spaces Protection Order Amendments (PSPO) pdf icon PDF 133 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Jasmin Vickers, Secondment Director of Environment introduced the report and made the following comments:

  • The new PSPO public consultation comments were now being considered before the Order was finalised for consideration by Cabinet;
  • The results of the public survey were shared at the meeting via a slides presentation, which is attached as an annex to the minutes;
  • Once adopted the PSPO could still be reviewed at any point during the course of the year
  • The current PSPO had had a positive impact on Thanet beaches;
  • There were user signs at certain locations that show the public where they can or cannot take their dogs to for exercise on the beach;
  • Most of what was in the current PSPO would be retained in the amended version.

 

Members asked questions as follows:

 

  • It would be helpful if the new user maps for dog walking distributed at as many sites as is possible to assist dog owners;
  • How did you conduct the public consultation?
  • How much work was done to show the public the impact dogs may have on the blue flag status of Thanet beaches?

 

Ms Vickers responded as follows:

  • Public consultation was done through the communications team;
  • Targeting emails were used due to the current pandemic environment;
  • Moving forward, the team would look to come up with even better approaches to get the most responses;
  • The dog owners guide map should be put on rails and most places where the public could see them would be great.

 

Members recommended the following option to Cabinet:

 

  1. That the current PSPO is altered to support the suggested minor amendments until 2023 and adopted in accordance with the Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), Crime and Policing Act 2014 to include the following restriction;

 

District-wide (any place to which the public or any section of the public has access. On payment or otherwise, as a right or by virtue of express or implied permission):

 

a.  Westbrook Bay - Currently dogs must be kept on a lead change to dog ban in bathing season. As the public voted against this change in the consultation, no amendment or change will be made.

 

  1. Pegwell Bay - amend to cover upper chalk shore to protect endangered wildlife. Feedback from consultation was positive with regard to this change therefore the PSPO should be amended accordingly.

 

  1. The activities that could be banned to protect wildlife not in the existing PSPO;

Humans and dogs interfering with, trapping or attempting to trap or snare or disturb any wildlife on council owned land. Feedback from consultation was positive with regard to this change therefore we should amend the PSPO accordingly.