Issue - meetings

Cabinet considered the report on the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order and noted that Thanet District Council was committed to improving the environment and improving community safety. Directly relating to this commitment was the Council's ability to address anti-social behaviour and related complaints. A remedy to reducing the impact of behaviours affecting communities was the implementation of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). A PSPO was an order made by the Local Authority if it was satisfied on reasonable grounds that two conditions were met. These were:

1.  That activities being carried out within a public place have had a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality or it is likely they will; 

2.  That the effect, or likely effect, of these activities is, or is likely to be, of a persistent or continuing nature, such as to make the activities unreasonable. 

The proposed PSPO area covering Athelstan & Ethelbert roads, including the 195 metre alleyway between the two had been responsible for 7% of all fly-tips in Thanet (from December 2020 to December 2021 data), and 32% of all FPNs issued in Thanet were in relation to offences on Athelstan Road. The PSPO seeks to ensure that households, landlords and agents take equal responsibility for the placement of waste, to reduce anti-social noise and to close off the alleyway between the two roads with gates.

During the public consultation on the proposal, of the 80 people from the community who responded 92% agreed or strongly agreed with the proposals for this PSPO. It was being proposed that this order gives discretion and flexibility to officers to exercise enforcement of these provisions where it was believed to be having a detrimental effect. This PSPO (the 5th in the district) would be in place for a maximum 3 years as per the law, but would be reviewed to ensure it was effective in its approach in tackling issues that affect businesses and the public.

Councillor Keen and Councillor Austin spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

Councillor Kup proposed, Councillor Bob Bayford seconded and Cabinet agreed to:

1.  Exercise its powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to introduce a Public Space Protection Order;

2.  Delegate any minor amendment of the PSPO to a Service Director.