The Head of Environmental Development submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) which advised on the introduction of Public Spaces Protection Orders and their future implementation.

Cllr Sinclair, Board Member for Crime and Community Safety presented the report. She explained that protection orders give the Council the power to prohibit anti-social behaviour in designated areas for up to three years.

Cllr Brown warned about the perils of trying to stop a behaviour in one locality, as it often only pushed the undesirable behaviour outside of the area where it can’t be enforced.

Cllr Hollick urged the Board not to adopt the powers. He felt the powers were too broad and there were not adequate safeguarding measures in place to protect individuals from being unfairly targeted ie the homeless.

The Executive Director of Community Services stated they were modelled on the Police’s dispersal orders that are pretty sparingly used.

Cllr Sinclair gave assurances that they would be reviewed on a regular basis.

The City Executive Board resolved:

1. That the making of Public Spaces Protection Orders that affect multiple neighbourhood action area or the city centre and have a significant impact on anti-social behaviour across the city be reserved to the Board and that the Executive scheme of delegation be amended accordingly.

2. Delegate to the Executive Director of Community Services authority, following appropriate consultation to include the relevant CEB member and ward councillors, to adopt and publish Public Spaces Protection Orders where the area covered by the proposed Order is wholly within a neighbourhood action group (NAG) area or is confined to the vicinity of the banks of waterways within the city and subject to the statutory requirements for the making of an Order being satisfied.