Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Community on the delegations necessary to give effect to the new Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act.

Supported the delegations associated with the new powers created by the Act and with the creation and maintenance of policies and procedures. Executive Councillors, Senior Officers and Overview and Scrutiny requested to look at how enforcement will be undertaken in conjunction with the police and to devise a draft scheme of thresholds for application to the Community Trigger.

The Cabinet considered a report by the Head of Community (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the implications for the Council of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. The Act meant that enforcement would be streamlined and it gave the Council more control over its enforcement activities. With the exception of the Community Trigger, which was a duty, all the provisions of the Act constituted powers so the Council only had to use them if they were appropriate.

Executive Councillors were advised that Public Space Protection Orders and Dog Control Orders would expire if they were not reviewed and re-evidenced, thereby creating additional workloads. Members drew attention to the absence of available data on the likely benefits of the Act and on its objectives.

Comment was made that the Act could cause resources to be diverted to activities that had less benefit for the public and that the Community Trigger could be used in ways for which it was not intended and it could also have unintended consequences. Various ways of managing its use were discussed.

RESOLVED

a)  that the delegations to Officers, after liaison with Executive Councillors and Consultees, and to Enforcing Officers for dealing with the new powers contained in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, as set out in Section 6.1 of the report now submitted, be approved;

b)  that the delegations to Officers for dealing with the creation and maintenance of policies and procedures relating to the new powers contained in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, as set out in Section 6.1 of the report now submitted, be approved, and

c)  that Executive Councillors, Senior Officers and Overview and Scrutiny be requested to look at how enforcement under the Act should be undertaken in conjunction with the Police and to devise a draft scheme of thresholds for application to the Community Trigger and to report back on their findings.

To consider a report by the Head of Community Services on the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

(Executive Councillor T D Sanderson attended the meeting for discussion on this item.)

The Panel gave consideration to a report by the Head of Community Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) seeking authority for Officers to use new powers contained in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to tackle anti-social behaviour. As previous legislation had been repealed, the Council currently had no powers in this area.

The Panel commented that the introduction of the new Act was likely to create interest amongst the public in using the new powers, thereby placing greater demands on the Council. This could be exacerbated by the fact that the “test” of anti-social behaviour had been lowered, meaning that a larger range of activities could be classed as such. Furthermore, the Crown Prosecution Service would be able to refer cases directly to Councils to carry out enforcement. While the level of demand placed on the Council was not yet known, the Panel highlighted that, for these reasons, the service might need more resources.

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be informed that the Panel supports the delegation of the new powers to Officers to tackle anti-social behavior.