Agenda item - Part 2 - Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Ward

This report (Part 2) considers the gating of 1 snicket in the Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Ward in order to help prevent crime and anti-social behaviour associated with the route. The Executive Member is advised consider the consultation responses and confirm or reject the Panel’s earlier decision to make a Gating Order for night time closure.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Advisory Panel, having considered the consultation responses and the legislative requirements for a Gating Order, advises the Executive Member to accept Option A to confirm the decision made at the City Strategy EMAP on 29 October 2007, to restrict public use of the snicket at night subject to the following:

· The key pad being DDA compliant;

· Key pad access code being made available to residents of properties fronting the alley and to elderly and disabled residents in the near vicinity;

· The Gating Order being reviewed after a 3 month trial period with the results being reported back to the EMAP.

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

RESOLVED:That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON: To take into account additional information that was not available when the original decision was made.

Consideration was given to a report, which examined the gating of a snicket between Carrfield and Chantry Close, Woodthorpe, in order to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour associated with the route.

The Panel had previously agreed to a 24 hour restriction of the snicket but, as the route was considered to be a safer route to school used during the day, Officers had been requested to examine lesser restrictions. Residents and prescribed bodies had been reconsulted and crime figures reviewed. It was reported that three objections had been received to the proposal from residents.

An email received from a resident of Chantry Close in which he expressed his support for the proposal to confirm the gating order had been circulated to Members.

Members were reminded that the snicket did not meet all of the legislative requirements needed for the making of a Gating Order in that a reasonably convenient alternative route was not available. It was reported that the making of an order did risk the order being challenged owing to all the requirements not being met.

Members questioned the alternative walking route distances for residents, details of the timer, magnetic locking system and keypad for the proposed gate. Officers confirmed that, if the Gating Order went ahead, the PIN code would be shared with those people whose properties adjoined or were adjacent to the affected snicket.

Officers confirmed that the Gating Order would be for a 3 month trial period with information gathered during that period being reported back. This would ensure that, at the end of this period, Members could ascertain whether incidences of crime and anti-social behaviour in the area had reduced and the affects of the gating on residents.

Members requested that, if the trial gating should be approved, the PIN code should be shared with elderly and disabled residents in the immediate vicinity and that the keypad should be easy to operate.

Consideration was given to the following options:

Option A : Confirm the making of a Gating Order, as instructed by the Executive Member decision on 29 October 2007, to restrict public use of the snicket at night.

Option B : Do not approve the proposed Gating Order.