Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

(a)  To agree the minutes of the Cabinet Member (Policing and Equalities) meeting held on 30^th January 2025.

(b)  Matters arising.

The minutes of the meeting held on 30^th January 2025 were agreed and signed as a true record. 

There were no matters arising.

Report of the Director of Law and Governance.

The Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance, which sought approval to adopt the updated Regulation, Communities and Environmental Enforcement Policy.

The Cabinet Member noted that the report had also been considered by the Licensing and Regulatory Committee at its meeting held on 18^th February 2025 (their minute  19/24 refers) and had made no comments or recommendations.

The report indicated that the Regulators Code (‘the Code’) was laid before Parliament in accordance with section 23 of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (‘the Act’). Regulators whose functions were specified under the Act, must have regard to the Code when developing policies and operational procedures that guide their regulatory activity.  Functions specified by order under the provisions of the Act, include those functions carried out by Regulation, Communities and Environmental Teams.

The Code provides a set of principles for regulators to consider:

a.  Regulators should carry out their activities in a way that supports those they regulate to comply and grow.

b.  Regulators should provide simple and straightforward ways to engage with those they regulate and hear their views.

c.  Regulators should base their regulatory activity on risk.

d.  Regulators should share information about compliance and risk.

e.  Regulators should ensure clear information, guidance and advice is available to help those they regulate meet their responsibilities to comply.

f.  Regulators should ensure that their approach to regulatory activities is transparent.

Section 6 of the Code sets out the expectation that Local Authorities will ensure their approach to enforcement is transparent. The Regulation, Communities and Environmental Enforcement Policy helps to fulfil this expectation.

The current Enforcement Policy is published on the Council’s web site. however, it needs to be reviewed. This review has now been completed and a copy of the proposed Policy was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

The proposed Policy is an overarching document written to set out the Regulation, Communities and Environmental teams’ general approach to good enforcement. Several teams within the wider service area have specific team Enforcement Policies which sit underneath this one and should be referred to in addition to the overarching Policy. Where a team specific Enforcement Policy is not in place, the overarching Policy is sufficient to meet the requirements of the Code. 

RESOLVED that, the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities:

1.  Considered the revised Regulation, Communities and Environmental Enforcement Policy and any comments received from the Licensing and Regulatory Committee.

2.  Approves the adoption of the Regulatory, Communities and Environmental Enforcement Policy attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

3.  Delegates authority to the Strategic Lead Regulation and Communities to conduct a three yearly review of the Policy or a review at such times as guidance or legislation requires.

Report of the Director of Law and Governance.

The Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance which set out proposals to extend the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for Edgewick Park.

The Cabinet Member noted that there is currently a PSPO in place for Edgewick Park and the bordering streets.  The Order, that prohibits the congregation of groups of 2 or more persons in the designated areas, was initially put in place in 2019 and then extended for further three years is due to expire in April 2025.

It is proposed to extend the PSOP with the same conditions for a further 3 years to allow park users and the local community to benefit from the facilities of the park, without suffering the issues that blighted the park previously.

The report contained at Appendix 2, impact statements from key partner agencies supporting the extension of the existing PSOP, under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

RESOLVED that, the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities:

1.  Notes the impact statements from key agencies and their rationale for extending the existing Order, set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

2.  Approves that the Order be extended for a period of three years from the date of the current Order is due to expire.

3.  Requests that all partner agencies continue their current actions, patrol plans and monitor the surrounding areas for any potential displacement of the issue.

There are no outstanding issues

There were no outstanding issues.

To consider any other items of business which the Cabinet Member decides to take as a matter of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were other items of public business.