Content

8.1

The Head of Communities introduced this item
which set out the current position regarding anti-social
behaviour (ASB) in the city centre and seeks approval of a draft
Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) and approval to consult the
public and other stakeholders on the introduction of the
PSPO.
 

8.2

RESOLVED:
That the Communities, Parks and
Leisure Policy Committee:-
 
1.    
Approves the proposed draft Public Spaces Protection
Order (PSPO) for the purposes of carrying out public and
stakeholder consultation on the introduction of a PSPO in Sheffield
City Centre.

2.    
Approve carrying out public and stakeholder
consultation on the introduction of a PSPO in Sheffield City Centre
and on the draft PSPO.

8.3

Reasons for
Decision

8.3.1

The
evidence demonstrates a need to change the existing approach to
controlling anti-social behaviour in the City Centre. The
introduction of a PSPO would give the Council and SYP Officers
additional powers to adopt a new approach. The introduction of a
PSPO alongside an enforcement framework that focuses on harm
reduction could have positive outcomes for some of the City’s
most vulnerable residents. The Government’s Statutory
Guidance recommends that councils engage in an open and public
consultation to give the users of the public space the opportunity
to comment on whether the proposed restriction or restrictions of a
PSPO are appropriate, proportionate or
needed at all. The Council should also ensure that specific groups
likely to have a particular interest are consulted. A further
report will be produced in due course with recommendations about
whether or not to make a PSPO based on
the outcomes of the consultation.
 

8.4

Alternatives Considered and
Rejected

8.4.1

Not
to consider a PSPO and continue with the current response to ASB in
the city centre - This is the ‘do nothing’
option.
 
The
current approach is to target the most entrenched individuals,
initially to engage and support and if unsuccessful to seek legal
orders. This approach is limited to those identified and recognised
as complex or entrenched and does not allow for immediate
intervention or enforcement action on unknown persons. The current
approach does not allow for wider prevention work.
 
A PSPO
would support the identification of individuals requiring essential
support or safeguarding. Additionally for those individuals against
whom legal action is being sought, for example, a CBO or
injunctions, the mapped PSPO zone could form part of the exclusions
or restrictions of those orders.
 
The
evidence provided in section 1.3 demonstrates that the ASB issues
identified are persistent and have a detrimental effect on the
quality of life of those in the locality. An alternative approach
is needed to affect a reduction in the level of ASB and therefore
the do nothing option has been
discounted.