The Assistant Director Neighbourhoods and Customer Services will submit a report (Document “U”) which outlines the proposals and seeks approval to implement variations and to extend or discharge the existing Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO’s) Public Space Protection Order for Bradford District relating to antisocial behaviour arising from misuse of vehicles.

Recommended –

The Committee approves:

(1)       To extend the proposed Public Space Protection Order against the     anti-social use of vehicles across the district

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

(Michael Churley - 01274 432816)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “U”) which outlined the proposals and sought approval to implement variations and to extend or discharge the existing Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO’s) Public Space Protection Order for Bradford District relating to antisocial behaviour arising from misuse of vehicles.

Approval was sought to extend the district-wide Public Space Protection Order (PSPO’s) that provided Police and Council Wardens power to tackle anti-social drivers.

In March 2014, the Government enacted new powers contained in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (later referred to as ‘the Act’) relating to tackling anti-social behaviour including the making by local authorities of PSPOs which could prohibit certain types of antisocial behaviour and make breaches of such subject to fixed penalties and prosecution before the Magistrates Court subject to a fine not exceeding £1000.00.

This was a Council lead initiative and authorisation was given to West Yorkshire Police, with delegated powers to enforce any breaches of PSPO.  Signage notifying the public was placed in each Council ward in the district including key arterial routes.

The proposal was to extend the PSPO for a further three years to build on the measures taken thus far and a consultation of members of the public had taken place during March 2022.

The key findings from the consultation were highlighted in the report, Members were advised that around 1600 responses were submitted and 95% of respondents supported the extension of the Public Space Protection Order.

A Member was keen to see the number of responses received in their constituent and requested demographic breakdown of the survey.

In the ensuing debate, Members raised a number of points, including issue with motorists’ parking on pavements and stressed that no consideration was given to pedestrians, in particular wheelchairs users and pedestrians with pushchairs. Members further stressed that parking on pavements was not acceptable and that motorists should be made aware of dangerous parking.

Notwithstanding a Member’s request if the problem of pavement parking could be included in the PSPO, the Committee was advised that national legislation with regards to pavement parking was expected to be announced in the near future, therefore the Public Space Protection Order would not include pavement parking.

Members also raised concerns with regards to businesses selling vehicles on a public highway which caused congestion parking. The Safer Communities Co-ordinator advised the Committee selling cars on street was being interpreted as ‘street-trading’ and if a member of public had concerns of a business selling vehicles on a road, they could ask the Council to take enforcement action.

In response to a Member’s question, officers informed the Committee that wardens were currently being trained to take enforcement action for nuisance parking. Wardens were fitted with body cameras to help reporting vehicles in breach. Members stressed that pavement parking was a huge problem, in particular outside schools, this posed a real danger.

Resolved –

The Committee approves:

(1)       To extend the proposed Public Space Protection Order   against the anti-social use of vehicles across the district

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

ACTION: Strategic Director Place