Agenda item

Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Dog fouling & control

Minutes:

Members agreed that the Council’s first priority is a clean and welcoming environment and to achieve this would require maintaining a zero tolerance to littering and an approach that encouraged positive behaviour to help improve the local environment.

 

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014 provides the Council with new powers to continue to enforce dog fouling and dog control issues within the district. The previous legislation used to do this needs to be replaced by a new Public Spaces Protection Order.

 

The Council can make a Public Spaces Protection Order if it is satisfied that two conditions are met:-

 

  1. Firstly, activities carried out on a public place within the local authority’s area have had a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality, or it is likely that activities will have such an effect. And;

 

  1. Secondly, that the effect of these activities is or is likely to be of a persistent or continuing nature is or is likely to be unreasonable and justifies the restrictions imposed by the order.

 

Members were informed that in relation to dog fouling and the control of dogs the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order would exclude and restrict dogs from designated areas, not allow dogs within fenced children’s play areas and control dogs in cemeteries.

 

The order would also require dog faeces to be picked up by owners or any person in charge of the animal, require dogs to be kept on leads; or placed on a lead if considered to be out of control upon request by authorised officers and require persons in control of dogs in a public place to have a suitable receptacle on their person to pick up their dogs faeces.

 

A community feedback on the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order was carried out between 10 August and 2 September 2017 and the Council received a total of 74 community submissions, which were taken into account when drafting the order.

 

Britain Tidy Group. The Kennel Club made positive suggestions to the order and generally supported the provisions of the order and the Council’s approach.

 

Council would be publishing a list of restriction free alternative locations for dog walkers on our website, and in the coming months will also review communication with local dog owners.

 

Following that positive partnership working with Keep Britain Tidy and the Kennel Club, an amendment to the proposed PSPO for Dog Fouling and Control was tabled at the meeting. The amendment would allow the seasonal dog bans to remain in their current form.

 

The proposed PSPO would now:

 

·  Exclude dogs from fenced children’s play areas;

·  Exclude dogs from Minnis Bay, Viking Bay, Margate Main Sands Ramsgate Main Sands (Harbour end) from 1 May to 30 September;

·  Control dogs in cemeteries;

·  Ban dogs from 1 May to 30 September during the hours of 10am and 6pm on Botany Bay, Joss Bay, Louisa Bay, Stone Bay, Westbrook Bay, West Bay and St Midlred’s Bay. At Walpole Bay, dogs will need to be kept on a lead during these times;

·  Require dogs to be kept on leads; or placed on a lead if considered to be out of control upon request by authorised officers;

·  Require dog faeces to be picked up by owners or any person in charge of the animal on any land which is open to the air to which the public have access, with or without payment;

·  Require persons in control of dogs in a public place to have a suitable receptacle on their person to pick up their dogs faeces.

 

The following Members spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1:

 

Councillor Game;

Councillor Bayford;

Councillor Taylor-Smith;

Councillor Savage;

Councillor Campbell.

 

Councillor L Fairbrass proposed, Councillor Wells seconded and Cabinet approved the Public Spaces Protection Order for dog fouling and dog control across the district as detailed in the amended Annex 1, copy attached to this minute item.

Supporting documents: