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Public Document Pack MOORLANDS DISTRICT COUNCIL

CABINET DELEGATED DECISIONS

COUNCILLOR M T BOWEN PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR COMMUNITIES

Tuesday, 6 October 2020

1 PUBLIC SPACES PROTECTION ORDER (DOG FOULING AND NUISANCE) 2020 This page is intentionally left blank Agenda Item 1

STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS DISTRICT COUNCIL

Cabinet Delegated Decision

Public Spaces Protection Order (Dog Fouling TITLE: and Nuisance) 2020

PORTFOLIO HOLDER: Councillor Mike Bowen – Portfolio Holder for Communities

CONTACT OFFICER: David Smith – Principal Officer Communities & Partnerships

WARDS INVOLVED: All

Appendices Attached – Appendix A: Draft Order, Appendix B: Response from Peak District National Park Authority

1. Reason for the Report

1.1 On 11th February 2020, the Cabinet considered options for replacing, amending or terminating the Dog Control Orders that are currently in force across the District. The Orders will cease to have effect on 20 October 2020 and need to be extended or replaced if the Council wishes to continue to have the power to take enforcement action in response to dog fouling and nuisance behaviour.

1.2 After considering the options, the Cabinet agreed that:  It be agreed to carry out public consultation on the draft Order appended to this report.

 The subsequent draft Order be approved by Delegated Decision unless the responses from the consultation necessitate material changes to the draft Order.

 In the event of a new order being approved prior to 20th October 2020, formal notice of discharge of the existing Orders should be published simultaneously with the introduction of the replacement Order.

Page 3 2. Recommendation

2.1 That the Cabinet Member notes the responses to the consultation.

2.2 That the Cabinet Member discharges the current Dog Control Orders and at the same time approves the draft Order.

3. Executive Summary

3.1 The Community Overview & Scrutiny Panel recommended that Cabinet approve the introduction of a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to replace the Dog Control Orders which cease to have effect from 20 October 2020.

3.2 The Council has carried out a consultation on the proposed PSPO and the responses are outlined in this report.

3.3 It is suggested that none of the responses necessitate material changes to the draft Order and that the new Order can now be introduced by way of Cabinet Delegated Decision.

4. How this report links to Corporate Priorities

4.1 The proposed Order would support:

Aim 1: To help create a safer and healthier environment for our communities to live and work.

Aim 4: To protect and improve the environment and respond to the climate emergency

5. Alternative Options

5.1 None.

6. Implications

6.1 Community Safety - (Crime and Disorder Act 1998)

The introduction of the Order would assist in preventing nuisance and environmental crime (dog fouling).

6.2 Workforce

None – the current officers already enforce under the existing Orders.

6.3 Equality and Diversity/Equality Impact Assessment

It is recognised that some groups may find it difficult to comply with

Page 4 the Order and hence exemptions are provided for people who are (i) registered blind or (ii) have a disability that affects their mobility, manual dexterity, physical coordination or ability to lift, carry or otherwise move everyday objects, in respect of a dog trained by a prescribed charity and upon which they rely for assistance.

6.4 Financial Considerations

None, enforcement of the Orders would be delivered within current budgets.

6.5 Legal

The draft Order has been reviewed by Legal Services.

6.6 Sustainability

None.

6.7 Consultation

The draft Order was initially considered by the Community Overview & Scrutiny Panel on 3 February 2020. The committee recommended that the Cabinet approve the replacement of all existing Dog Control Orders and authorise the actions set out in paragraph 1.2 of this report. The actions were then approved by the Cabinet on 11 February 2020.

The responses to the subsequent statutory consultation are provided within this report

6.8 Risk Assessment

None

Mark Trillo Executive Director (People) and Monitoring Officer

Web Links and Contact details Background Papers David Smith Principal Officer Communities & Partnerships [email protected]

Page 5

6.4 6. Detail

6.1 Before making a Public Spaces Protection Order, the District Council must carry out the necessary consultation, publicity and notification as outlined in the table below.

Requirements under What we must do What we did Section 72 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 “Necessary Consultation” Consult with: Letters were sent to the Chief a) the chief officer of Constable of , and the local Police; the Staffordshire policing body, for the Police, Fire & Crime police area that Commissioner; and the Chief includes the restricted Executive of the Peak District area’ National Park Authority on 11 b) whatever community August 2020. Consultees representatives the were asked to provide any local authority thinks comments that they have by it appropriate to 11 September 2020. consult; and c) the owner or occupier of land within the restricted area (where reasonably practicable).

“Necessary Publicity” Publish the text of the The text of the proposed proposed order. order was published on the Council’s website and a press release was issued on 14 August “Necessary Notification” Notifying any parish councils A copy of the proposed and the County Council of Order was sent to all town the proposed order. and parish councils on 12 August 2020.

A copy was also sent to Staffordshire County Council on 11 August 2020.

Responses Received

6.1 Comments were received from three Parish Councils:

Bagnall Parish Council:

“In relation to Schedule 3, could I request that the wording of the playing field at Bagnall is changed to "Bagnall Playing Field". Although it sits alongside the village hall it is the responsibility of the Parish Council and has nothing to do with the village hall, which is a totally separate entity”.

6.2 It is suggested that the draft Order be amended accordingly.

Page 6 Onecote Parish Council:

“I note that the list doesn't have Onecote Churchyard, it does have Onecote Cemetery but not the Churchyard, is this an error?”.

6.3 This issue has been clarified with the Clerk to the Parish Council. Only cemeteries owned by Parish and Town Councils were included in the original order. There is no evidence of a specific issue at the churchyard and so it is not proposed to include it in the revised order at this stage.

Checkley Parish Council:

“ Parish Council have noticed that the following areas are missing from your list and would like them adding if at all possible.  Well Meadow Gardens, Riverside, Old Road, Tean  The Wentlows Playing Field and Play Area, Wentlows Road, Tean  Greatwood Hall playground, Hollington Road, Tean  Hollington Picnic Area, Quarry Bank, Hollington”.

6.4 The Dog Control Orders only included playing fields and playgrounds owned by Parish or Town Councils or the District Council. The District Council is grateful for the feedback from the Parish Council but does not propose to include the suggested areas and widen the geographic coverage of the replacement order at this stage. The District Council will, however, monitor the locations identified above and will re-consider adding specific sites should problems be identified.

6.2 The response from the Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) is provided at Appendix 2. In summary, the PDNPA suggest that the Order should be limited to only those areas where there is already a presence by Council officers rather than covering the whole District and that the Order as drafted could raise expectations and result in conflict.

6.3 As the response states, the PDNPA provided similar comments prior to the introduction of the 2014 Dog Control Orders, which do not vary significantly from the proposed replacement Order. We have no information to show that the 2014 Order resulted in conflict or placed an increased demand on the Park Rangers.

6.4 The Enforcement Officers focus their patrol on areas frequented by dog walkers and/or where there are reports of dog fouling. This means that the officers will not routinely patrol areas of open countryside but have the flexibility to do so if the need arises.

6.5 Reducing geographic coverage of the Order would leave parts of the District. without a legal requirement for owners to pick up any faeces left by their dog. This would potentially cause confusion and make it more difficult to carry out educational campaigns since it would be necessary to clearly communicate which parts of the District are covered by the Order and which are not.

Page 7 This page is intentionally left blank PUBLIC SPACES PROTECTION ORDER (Dog Fouling and Nuisance) 2020

The District Council (the Council) in exercise of the power under section 59 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (the Act), being satisfied that the conditions set out in section 59 of the Act have been met, makes the following order:

1. This Order comes into force on [INSERT DATE] and will last for a period of three years.

Purpose

2. This order is intended to help stop or reduce the detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality caused by (i) failure to remove dog faeces from land and (ii) nuisance behaviour caused by dogs in public areas.

Prohibitions

3. A person who is in charge of a dog at that time shall be in breach of this Order if:

3.1 A dog defecates at any time on land described in Schedule 1 and he/she fails to remove the faeces from the land forthwith.

3.2 He/she does not comply with a direction given him/her by an Authorised Officer of the Authority to put and keep the dog on a lead of not more than four feet in length when on land described in Schedule 1.

3.3 He/she enters any land described in Schedule 2 and does not keep the dog on a lead of not more than four feet in length.

3.4 He/she takes the dog onto or permits the dog to enter or remain on any land described in Schedule 3.

3.5 An Authorised Officer of the Authority has reason to believe that a person has committed an offence under this Order and the person: (a) fails to give his/her name and address when asked to do so, or (b) gives a false or inaccurate name or address.

Page1 9 Offence of Failing to Comply with Order

4.1 Under section 67 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, it is an offence for a person without reasonable excuse to: (a) do anything that the person is prohibited from doing by this Order, or (b) fail to comply with a requirement to which the person is subject under this Order.

4.2 A person does not commit an offence under this Order by failing to comply with a prohibition or requirement if: (a) the owner, occupier or other person or authority having control of the land has consented (generally or specifically) to his/her failing to do so; or (b) the local authority did not have power to include the prohibition or requirement in this Order.

4.3 A person does not commit an offence under paragraph 3.1 by failing to comply with the prohibition or requirement if: (a) he/she is registered as a blind person in a register compiled under section 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948; or (b) he/she has a disability which affects his/her mobility, manual dexterity, physical coordination or ability to lift, carry or otherwise move everyday objects, in respect of a dog trained by a prescribed charity and upon which he relies for assistance.

4.4 A person guilty of an offence of failing to comply with this Order is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

Challenging the Validity of the Order

5. An Interested Person may apply to the High Court to question the validity of the Order on the grounds that the Council has no power to make the Order, include the particular prohibitions or requirements imposed by the Order, or that has a requirement of the Act has not been complied with within six weeks beginning with the date on which the order is made.

Interpretation

6. For the purpose of this Order: (a) a person who habitually has a dog in his/her possession shall be taken to be in charge of the dog at any time unless: (i) at that time some other person is in charge of the dog; or (ii) the person is under the age of 16, in which case the Parent of that person shall be treated as being in charge of the dog at the relevant time; (b) placing the faeces in a receptacle on the land which is provided for the purpose, or for the disposal of waste, shall be a sufficient removal from the land; (c) being unaware of the defecation (whether by reason of not being in the vicinity or otherwise), or not having a device for or other suitable means of removing the faeces shall not be a reasonable excuse for failing to remove the faeces;

Page2 10 (d) each of the following is a “prescribed charity”:- (i) Dogs for the Disabled (registered charity number 700454); (ii) Support Dogs (registered charity number 1088281); (iii) Canine Partners for Independence (registered charity number 803680). (e) an Authorised Officer of the Authority may only give a direction under this Order to put and keep a dog on a lead if such restraint is reasonably necessary to prevent a nuisance or behaviour by the dog is likely to cause annoyance or disturbance to any other person or the worrying or disturbance of any animal or bird. (f) an Authorised Officer of the Authority means an employee, partner agency or contractor of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council who is authorised in writing by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council for the purposes of administrating the requirements of this Order. (g) Parent, in relation to a person under the age of 16, includes any person: (i) who is not his or her parent but who has parental responsibility for him/her, or (ii) who has care of him/her. (h) Interested Person means an individual who lives in the restricted area or who regularly works in or visits that area. (i) Words importing any gender shall be interpreted to mean any or all genders.

IN WITNESS whereof the COMMON SEAL STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS DISTRICT COUNCIL was hereunto affixed this day of two thousand and twenty in the presence of

Chairman

Chief Executive

Page3 11 SCHEDULE 1

All land within the area of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council that is open to the air and to which the public are entitled or permitted to have access (with or without payment) including access land as defined in section 1 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. This includes, but is not limited to all footpaths, the footways and carriageways of every highway (including tree bases and grass verges) and every cemetery, park, public garden and open space including land owned by parish and town councils.

SCHEDULE 2

Leek Cemetery; Buxton Road Cemetery; Birch Gardens, Buxton Road, Leek; Ball Haye Gardens, Park Road, Leek; Lawn Cemetery; Boardmans Bank, Brown Edge; St Peter’s Church, ; Checkley Parish Cemetery, Hollington Road, Tean; Cotton Parish Cemetery, Cotton Lane, Cotton; Cemetery, Ipstones; Kingsley Parish Cemetery High Street, Kingsley; Onecote Parish Cemetery, Douse Lane, Onecote; Church of St. Mary and St. Lawrence, Waterhouses.

SCHEDULE 3

Any fenced children’s play area owned by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council; Alton Village Hall Playing Field, Hurstons Lane, Alton; Bagnall Playing Field, off Clewlows Bank, Bagnall; High Lane Playing Field, Brown Edge; Tean Road Recreation Ground, Tean Road, Cheadle; Churchill Road Recreation Ground, Cheadle; Kenilworth Walk, Cheadle; Tean Recreation Ground, High Street, Tean; Checkley Play Area, Checkley Community Centre, off Road, Checkley; Cauldon Low Recreation Ground, Moorfields Close, Cauldon Lowe; Station Road Playing Fields, Endon; Foxt Children’s Play Area, Foxt; Blythe Bridge Recreation Ground, The Avenue, Blythe Bridge; Ball Haye Green Recreation Ground, Leek; Waterhouses Play Area, adjacent to the school fields, Waterhouses; Meigh Road Playing Fields, Werrington.

The following cemetery and church yards/burial grounds:

St John’s, Alton; Bidulph Town Burial Ground, Congleton Road, ; Cheadle Cemetery, St Giles; The Abbot Churchyard, Park Lane, Cheadle; Endon with Stanley Parish Council Cemetery, St Luke’s Church, Endon; Parish Cemetery, Cheadle Road, Forsbrook.

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