Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval for the extension of the borough wide street drinking Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for three additional years to October 2023.

Cabinet RESOLVED to extend the Borough wide street drinking Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for a future three years, commencing from 20 October 2020 to 19 October 2023 on the grounds that it was necessary to prevent an increase in the frequency or seriousness of those activities.

The Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Engagement, Councillor Promise Knight, introduced the report seeking approval for the extension of the existing Borough-Wide Street Drinking Public Space Protection Order for a further three years. The report outlined how the order allowed for a proactive and interventionist approach to street drinking and gave a focus to both enforcement and education.  Members’ attention was drawn to the support given to the extension by the police and the Safer Neighbourhood Board (SNB). Councillor Knight also clarified that in relation to paragraph 6.2 of the report, the legal test in relation to deciding to renew a Public Space Protection Order is that the Cabinet needs to be satisfied on reasonable grounds that doing so is necessary to prevent an increase in the frequency or seriousness of street drinking activities after the expiry of the original Public Space Protection Order.

In welcoming the report Cabinet noted the timeliness of the extension and whole system approach identified in terms of tackling street drinking, especially given the additional issues associated with the early closure of pubs and venues due to the pandemic restrictions.

In considering the recommendation Cabinet noted the need to be satisfied on reasonable grounds that the extension was necessary to prevent an increase in the frequency or seriousness of street drinking activities after the expiration of the current order, and considering that this requirement had been met RESOLVED to extend the Borough wide street drinking Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for a future three years, commencing from 20 October 2020 to 19 October 2023.