Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services that sought approval to renew the Dog related Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) that was last approved in 2018 and was due to expire on 29^th August 2021. The proposed draft Order, maps of relevant areas and impact statements were provided as appendices to the report.

The Order was required to assist with the enforcement of dog fouling offences, but also to specify: where dogs should be kept on leads, where dogs were prohibited, the maximum number of dogs that could be walked by one person and enabled officers to request that a dog be put on a lead if problems were ensuing. The Order would provide for the continued use of powers to address matters pertaining to the control and management of dogs in the City, with a particular focus within parks in the City. It was devised following extensive consultation and collaboration with a number of stakeholders in the City, a number of which had provided impact statements detailed in an Appendix to the report.

The City Council believed that the Order was currently working very well, was fit for purpose and enabled people to enjoy parks and public spaces whilst providing clear guidance as to when it was and wasn’t appropriate to allow dogs to exercise off leads or when they needed to be under the direct control of their owner. There was a high level of compliance with the Order, this could be seen by reference to the relatively low levels of enforcement Council officers had to use and this was referred to in the Impact Statement from the Pest Control and Animal Welfare manager.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet approves the renewal of the Public Space Protection Order for a further three years and made the Order effective on 28^th August 2021m this being the day before the existing order was due to expire.