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The Cabinet gave
consideration to a report of the Cabinet Member for Health /
Director of Public Health and Communities which sought approval to
commence a public consultation on the renewal of a town centre
Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to prohibit the following:
 
-      
Driving or using a car in an antisocial manner;
-      
Obstructing the highway or loitering;
-      
Begging on the street in a way that is likely to cause intimidation
or harassment;
-      
Using a bicycle, scooter or other wheeled vehicles in a way that
may cause nuisance, alarm or distress;
-      
Commercial and charity collections and soliciting for money in the
street
 
A town centre PSPO was
already in place and it included the prohibition of drinking
alcohol on the street. The current PSPO had been approved in 2017
to address a number of behaviours which the Council felt needed
controlling. The current PSPO had been varied and extended in 2021
and it would come to an end in July 2024.
 
A boroughwide PSPO,
which was currently at consultation stage, prohibited drinking
alcohol on the street.  Consequently,
the proposed town centre PSPO did not need to include this
prohibition.
 
The Community Safety
and Engagement Officers were in attendance to present the report
and to answer the questions of the Cabinet Members.
 
Resolved:
1.   
That the commencement of a public consultation for a period of two
weeks for the proposed extension and variation to the Rochdale town
centre Public Space Protection Order, as per draft order in
appendix 1, section 2 of the report be approved;
2.   
That it be noted that a further report would be brought to Cabinet
following the outcome of the public consultation and a full
Equality Impact Assessment to help to inform the final
decision. 
 
Reason for
decision:
Tackling anti-social
behaviour within Rochdale town centre is a key priority of the
Council’s Community Safety team. The recommendation to extend
the current PSPO will ensure Greater Manchester Police and Rochdale
Borough Council officers retain additional powers to ensure
repercussions for those who are found to be in breach.
 
Alternatives
considered and rejected:
Members could decide
to discharge the PSPO in its entirety and let it lapse on the 22nd
July 2024.
Members could agree to
commencing the process to decide whether the existing PSPO should
be extended, with the changes proposed, subject to the necessary
consultation, EIA and legal thresholds being met.
 
It be noted that the
Chair of the Communities, Regeneration and Environment Overview and
Scrutiny Committee agreed to the waiver of the call-in period for
this decision to allow commencement of the consultation period as
soon as possible.