Issue details

To seek Executive authorisation to make a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), relating to dog control, in accordance with the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

On 07 March 2016, the Executive authorised the making of Public Spaces Protection Order (Dog Fouling) 2016.  These can be made for a maximum duration of three years, after which it may be extended.  The current PSPO will expire on 31 March 2019 unless extended.  However, instead of extending the current order, the proposal is to introduce a new order that not only included dog fouling but other restrictions covering dog control as well.

On 05 November 2018, the Executive authorised the commencement of the required consultation on a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) relating to dog fouling and control in the Borough.  An 8-week consultation was undertaken from 19 November 2018 to 14 January 2019, the results of which are summarised in this report and in more detail in Appendix A.

1,168 people and organisations took part in the consultation, 65% of whom were dog owners.  Most respondents strongly supported most of the proposals.  However, there were mixed responses received for both the ‘means to pick up’ dog waste and the proposed ‘extension of the summer dog exclusion zone at Hill Head’.  There was also a suggested amendment to the Council’s definition of people who rely on assistance dogs.

The draft Public Space Protection Order (Dog Control) has been amended to take account of the response to the public consultation.  As a result, the controls relating to ‘means for pick’, extending the ‘dog exclusion zone’ on Hill Head beach and ‘dogs on leads’ on Cliff Road Promenade’ have been removed from the original draft order.

The definition of those people who rely on ‘assistance dogs’ has also been amended to reflect the definition identified in the Equality Impact Assessment.