Issue - meetings

The report of the Director – Neighbourhoods is attached.

It was RESOLVED that the Public Space Protection Order (General ASB) as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved, to take effect from 9 December 2025.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety, Councillor Inglis, presented the report of the Director – Neighbourhoods, seeking approval to amend and renew the Council’s Public Space Protecting Order PSPO (General ASB).

Councillor Inglis stated that the original PSPO had been approved in 2017 and renewed twice. It was not intended as a heavy-handed prosecution means, but as an additional enforcement tool, to encourage persons to cease or leave an area under specific criteria, as detailed in paragraph 4.1 of the report. It had been very effective in doing that since its introduction, and it was noted that no fixed penalties had been issued. A review ensured that the Order remained current to new legislation, with dynamic measures focusing on the most prevalent problems affecting areas, as detailed in Appendix 3 to the report, with no changes proposed to those areas. The current controls were listed in paragraph 4.3, and it was recommended that three of those controls were removed, as they were now covered in new legislation or had been assessed as low risk by crime data, and he thanked the Neighbourhood Policing Inspector and his team for their continued engagement. Councillor Inglis confirmed that a public consultation had taken place, with 110 responses and 50 written comments received, and they were summarised in Appendix 2, with overwhelming support for the proposed renewal. He felt that a PSPO was an effective deterrent to specific ASB problems and he considered this was a valid and proportionate Order to remain in place, with an evidence based review, and it was noted that the implementation costs would be negligible and kept within existing budgets.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Brennan agreed that this had been very effective and noted how well Police and Rushcliffe’s officers had worked together to ensure that it had the right impact. She felt that it was appropriate to undertake regular reviews as legislation changed, to ensure that all measures were proportionate and she noted the strong public support.   

It was RESOLVED that the Public Space Protection Order (General ASB) as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved, to take effect from 9 December 2025.