Public Document Pack Place and Resources Overview Committee Date: Monday, 21 September 2020 Time: 10.00 am Venue: A link to the meeting can be found on the front page of the agenda. Membership: (Quorum 3) Daryl Turner (Chairman), Les Fry (Vice-Chairman), Pauline Batstone, Ryan Hope, Sherry Jespersen, Carole Jones, Val Pothecary, Andrew Starr, Roland Tarr and David Taylor Chief Executive: Matt Prosser, South Walks House, South Walks Road, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1UZ (Sat Nav DT1 1EE) For more information about this agenda please contact Democratic Services on 01305 252209 / [email protected] For easy access to the Council agendas and minutes download the free public app Mod.gov for use on your iPad, Android and Windows tablet. Once downloaded select Dorset Council. Due to the current coronavirus pandemic the Council has reviewed its approach to holding committee meetings. Members of the public are welcome to attend this meeting and listen to the debate online by using the following link: Link to meeting via Teams Live event Members of the public wishing to view the meeting from an iphone, ipad or android phone will need to download the free Microsoft Team App to sign in as a Guest, it is advised to do this at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Please note that public speaking has been suspended. However Public Participation will continue by written submission only. Please see detail set out below. Dorset Council is committed to being open and transparent in the way it carries out its business whenever possible. A recording of the meeting will be available on the council’s website after the event. A G E N D A Page No. 1 APOLOGIES To receive any apologies for absence. 2 MINUTES OF FORMER SCRUTINY COMMITTEES - FOR INFORMATION ONLY To note the minutes of the meetings of the Place Scrutiny Committee held on 23 July 2020 and Resources Scrutiny Committee held on 19 August 2020. Place Scrutiny Committee 23 July 2020 Resources Scrutiny Committee 19 August 2020 Please note that links to these minutes are included for information only and not for the purpose of confirming as a correct record. 3 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST To receive any declarations of interest. 4 CHAIRMAN'S UPDATE To receive any updates from the Chairman of the Place and Resources Overview Committee and to note the committee’s terms of reference as set out below: The Overview Committees shall: (i) Review and develop policy at their own initiative and at the request of the Cabinet. (ii) Oversee major consultations and make recommendations to Cabinet and full Council. (iii) Monitor performance of services in accordance with the targets in the Corporate Plan. (iv) Provide a clear focus on finding efficiency savings in accordance with requirements in the Council’s financial strategy. (v) Monitor expenditure against available budgets and make recommendations to the Cabinet (vi) Make reports and recommendations to the full Council or the Cabinet on matters which affect the authority’s area or its inhabitants. 5 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION To receive questions or statements on the business of the committee from town and parish councils and members of the public. Public speaking has been suspended for virtual committee meetings during the Covid-19 crisis and public participation will be dealt with through written submissions only. Members of the public who live, work or represent an organisation within the Dorset Council area, may submit up to two questions or a statement of up to a maximum of 450 words. All submissions must be sent electronically to [email protected] by the deadline set out below. When submitting a question please indicate who the question is for and include your name, address and contact details. Questions and statements received in line with the council’s rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the agenda. Questions will be read out by an officer of the council and a response given by the appropriate Portfolio Holder or officer at the meeting. All questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting. The deadline for submission of the full text of a question or statement is 8.30am on Wednesday 16 September 2020. 6 DOG-RELATED PUBLIC SPACE PROTECTION ORDER 5 - 202 To consider the matters within the report and make any comments on the draft Order and recommend the draft Order (as amended) to Cabinet at their meeting on 6 October 2020. 7 DRAFT PLACE AND RESOURCES OVERVIEW COMMITTEE 203 - 208 FORWARD PLAN To review a draft forward plan for the Place and Resources Overview Committee (attached). To review the Cabinet Forward Plan. To review recent Cabinet decisions (click on links below to view): 8 September 2020 28 July 2020 30 June 2020 5 May 2020 8 URGENT ITEMS To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes. 9 EXEMPT BUSINESS To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph x of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended). The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered. There is no exempt business. Agenda Item 6 Place and Resources Overview Committee 21 September 2020 Dog-related Public Space Protection Order For Recommendation to Cabinet Portfolio Holder: Cllr J Haynes, Customer and Community Services Local Councillor(s): Impact on all wards Executive Director: J Sellgren, Executive Director of Place Report Author: Janet Moore Title: Service Manager, Environmental Protection Tel: 01305 838413 Email: [email protected] Report Status: Public Recommendation: 1. That your Committee consider and comment on the draft Dog-related Public Space Protection Order. 2. That the draft Dog-related Public Space Protection Order (as amended) be recommended to Cabinet for approval. Reason for Recommendation: 1. To protect public health, public safety and animal welfare. 2. To consolidate existing Dog-related PSPOs into a single Order to give greater consistency and clarity for residents and visitors to Dorset. 3. To assist with the efficient use of enforcement resources. 1 Page 5 1. Executive Summary This report summarises the findings from a Dog-related Public Space Protection Order consultation undertaken between January and May 2020. Informed by the consultation it proposes a draft Dog-related Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to replace and consolidate existing PSPO’s and byelaws for the Council area for a period of 3 years. Your committee is asked to consider the matters within the report and make any comments on the draft Order and recommend the draft Order (as amended) to Cabinet at their meeting on 6 October 2020. 2. Financial Implications The PSPO will require changes to existing signage and new signage. The cost of changes and replacement of routine signage will be met from existing budget. The replacement of any larger signs, particularly in beach areas, will be kept to a minimum and options discussed with the relevant Town Councils. 3. Climate implications The restrictions placed on some open spaces may cause dog owners to travel further by car to exercise their dogs. This could lead to increased carbon dioxide emissions. Officers look to take account of such restrictions through the provision of alternative open spaces. 4. Other Implications Public Health: Keeping public open space free from dog fouling is a high priority for our residents as is the safe use of parks and open spaces by all. Dog fouling is unpleasant and can spread disease. Having adequate control over a dog by placing it on a lead helps ensure that the owner can see if the dog fouls and ensures the dog is under the owner’s control. Dogs not under the owner’s control can cause injury to people and other animals and be a public hazard. Animal Welfare: For animal welfare reasons and the well-being of dog owners it is also important to have appropriate areas to exercise dogs off-lead when there is reduced risk to others. 2 Page 6 5. Risk Assessment Having considered the risks associated with this decision, the level of risk has been identified as: Current Risk: MEDIUM Residual Risk: LOW 6. Equalities Impact Assessment An Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) was completed for the consultation. A draft EqIA for the proposed Order is given at Appendix D. This will be completed once the content of the Order is confirmed. The exemptions for compliance contained in the proposed Order and the enforcement process have been informed by the EqIA. The EqIA shapes the approach to enforcement addressing issues such as assistance dogs, reduced mobility of some dog owners and the understanding of signage. The EqIA will be re-visited and updated during the life of the Order. 7. Appendices A. Consultation Report B. Infographic – Key Findings from the Consultation Report C. Draft Dog-related Public Space Protection Order D. Draft Equalities Impact Assessment 8. Background Papers Anti-social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 - Statutory Guidance for Frontline Professionals, Home Office, July 2014 Dealing with Irresponsible Dog Ownership publication - DEFRA Information on the Dog Warden Service – Dorset Council website Highways Act 1980 3 Page 7 9. Background 1.1. There are currently a number of dog-related controls in existence across the Dorset Council area from the predecessor district and borough councils.