Issue - items at meetings - Public Space Protection Order City Centre Consultation

This report presents the option to agree to proceed to public consultations on the potential extension of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to tackle the problems caused by groups of people within the city walls.

Resolved:

i. Approved the decision to consult with the public and partners on the extension of the PSPO which would ensure that the Council would have greater powers to deal with anti-social behaviour within the city walls including the following possible options the council could consider:

· A ban on drinking alcohol in public within the area;

· The ability to remove large groups of 3 or more people who are causing anti-social behaviour for both sites;

· Begging, no person shall make any verbal, non-verbal or written request for money, donations or goods, including the placing of hats, clothing or containers so as to cause or is likely to cause harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance or annoyance.

· No return within 24 hours if asked to leave. No person shall, after being requested to leave by an authorised officer due to them behaving in a manner causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance or annoyance to any person within the city Centre without reasonable excuse, remain or return to the city Centre within a period of 24 hours.

· Loitering, no person shall loiter, sit or lay on the floor or on temporary structures in or adjacent to doorways or around pay machines (including banks, supermarkets) in a manner causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance or annoyance to any person within the city Centre.

Reason: To consult on providing the Council with greater powers to deal with anti-social behaviour within the city walls.

Officers introduced the report outlining the proposal to go for public consultation on the Public Space Protection Order for the City Centre. It was confirmed that this area had had persistent issues with drinking and begging and North Yorkshire Police believed having a broader public safety protection order like other areas of the country would assist in addressing issues.

The Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities noted the comments from public speakers and concerns raised in the media, the Executive Member confirmed that these changes to the Public Space Protection Order would not aim to evict people from York. Officers also clarified in relation to homelessness and rough sleepers the Council had a specific Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy that aimed to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.

The Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities noted that the city centre had issues relating to drinking and aggressive behaviour with an increase in anti-social behaviour in recent months. He welcomed everyone to engage in the consultation.