The Assistant Director Neighbourhoods and Customer Services will submit a report (Document “B”) which provides a summary of the responses from the statutory consultation on the proposed Public Space Protection Order for Ilkley Riverside Parks area and submission of the proposed Order for this Committee’s approval.

Recommended –

The Committee approves:

(1)       The proposed PSPO and boundary as outlined at Appendix C

            and D.

(2)       The Strategic Director, Place, be authorised to take all necessary        actions to implement and make the PSPO operational.

(Michael Churley - 01274 432816)

Previous reference: Minute 57 (2020/21)

The Assistant Director Neighbourhoods and Customer Services submitted a report (Document “B”) which provided a summary of the responses from the statutory consultation on the proposed Public Space Protection Order for Ilkley Riverside Parks area and submission of the proposed Order for this Committee’s approval.

He reminded members that the reason for the consultation was the increased incidence of anti-social behaviour in the Riverside area and advised that the consultation had received a very good response with a high number of respondents being in favour of the proposed PSPO.

Some respondents expressed concern about the proposed PSPO, stating that they did not want to prevent visitors coming to enjoy the attractions of Ilkley.

It was also noted that, although the proposed PSPO included a prohibition on overnight camping, the park’s bye-laws already prevented it. It was proposed to keep the prohibition within the PSPO to ensure it mirrored the bye-laws.

Members were also advised that approval of the PSPO would be subject to a final review by the City Solicitor.

A Member asked a series of the questions about the proposal, including:-

·         Who would enforce the PSPO ?

·         Was there an alternative to issuing fines ?

·         Could the bridge be made safer in order to prevent people jumping from it into the river ?

In response, he was advised that the area was patrolled by the Police as well as wardens and youth workers and that fines would only be issued as a last resort, if advice and warnings had no effect. He was also advised that the bridge was over 100 years old and would require very careful handling for changes to be made. The basic safety issue with jumping into the river was the shallowness of the water in which a person would be jumping.

A members also queried what the penalty of breaching park bye-laws would be as overnight camping could now potentially carry a considerable fine. He was advised that the bye-laws had previously been very difficult to enforce and that, although not a major issue, overnight camping was recommended to remain in the PSPO in order to make it as clear as possible to people that it was prohibited. It was stressed that the order would be equally applicable to everyone and was not intended to discriminate against any particular community. The member expressed some concern that the prohibition of camping could potentially adversely affect the traveller community more than any other. Other Members noted that there were other avenues to work with the traveller community and that this prohibition was intended to deal with unwanted leisure campers.

A local councillor attended the meeting and thanked the Assistant Director, his team and the Police for all the work undertaken in getting the PSPO to this stage. He considered it a necessary device to deal with the ongoing anti-social behaviour that had been experienced for a number of years. He also considered the issue of enforcement to be important, especially as a number of those carrying out the anti-social behaviour were under 18s. He understood the concerns about including camping in the PSPO but stated that the problems of littering and raw sewage left behind after unauthorised camping in the park were dreadful. He urged the Committee to approve the PSPO.

Members discussed the PSPO further, stating that it was important to have as many tools in place as possible to protect the amenity of the majority of the park users and noting that it would be reviewed at least every three years.

Resolved –

(1)       That, subject to final review by the City Solicitor, the proposed PSPO and boundary as outlined at Appendix C and D to Document “B” be approved.

(2)       The Strategic Director, Place, be authorised to take all necessary        actions to implement and make the PSPO operational.

ACTION: Assistant Director, Neighbourhoods and Customer Services