Lead Member - Councillor Richard Marshall - Portfolio Holder for Highways and Regulatory Services

Report of Mark Barrow, Executive Director of Place

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

·       Accepted the position as set out in the report and agrees that the Council extends, with variations, the Shrewsbury Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (No.1) 2017, as set out in Appendix A (“the Order”), with an effective commencement date of 1 August 2023.

·       For the purpose of discharging the Order instructed the Executive Director: Place to publish and cause to be erected notices in accordance with Regulations made under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

·       Delegated authority to the Executive Director: Place to engage with West Mercia Police and to agree a new Memorandum of Understanding to specify enforcement responsibilities and any other requirements under the Order (as extended) and, where necessary, to amend or create any further Memoranda of Understanding at any time during the period that the Order (as extended) is in force.

·       Delegated authority to the Executive Director: Place and any other Executive Director holding responsibility for functions relevant to the Order (as extended) to engage with any other organisation, not being part of Shropshire Council, where officers of that organisation have been authorised by Shropshire Council to undertake enforcement responsibilities under the Order (as extended), and to define those enforcement responsibilities and any other requirements within an agreed Memorandum of Understanding and, where necessary, to amend or create any further Memoranda of Understanding at any time during the period that the Order (as extended) is in force.

The Portfolio Holder for Growth, Regeneration and Housing introduced the report which sought approval for a renewal from 1 August 2023 of the Shrewsbury Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order for three years with variations to give extra powers to the Police and to the Council to address specific anti-social behaviours.

Concern was raised that the definition of anti-social behaviour could be misinterpreted as behaviour which was deemed ‘outside of the norm’, which could affect those with neurodivergences. It was clarified that personnel would be trained and would use their discretion in line with legislation and that this mechanism to combat anti-social behaviour was not aimed at specifical individuals.

Members noted that there was an ongoing partnership with the Detached Youth Work team in order to address issues such as anti-social behaviour and alcohol and drug consumption. Members were encouraged to report any such incidents to licencing and the police.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

·         Accepted the position as set out in the report and agrees that the Council extends, with variations, the Shrewsbury Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (No.1) 2017, as set out in Appendix A (“the Order”), with an effective commencement date of 1 August 2023.

·         For the purpose of discharging the Order instructed the Executive Director: Place to publish and cause to be erected notices in accordance with Regulations made under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

·         Delegated authority to the Executive Director: Place to engage with West Mercia Police and to agree a new Memorandum of Understanding to specify enforcement responsibilities and any other requirements under the Order (as extended) and, where necessary, to amend or create any further Memoranda of Understanding at any time during the period that the Order (as extended) is in force.

·         Delegated authority to the Executive Director: Place and any other Executive Director holding responsibility for functions relevant to the Order (as extended) to engage with any other organisation, not being part of Shropshire Council, where officers of that organisation have been authorised by Shropshire Council to undertake enforcement responsibilities under the Order (as extended), and to define those enforcement responsibilities and any other requirements within an agreed Memorandum of Understanding and, where necessary, to amend or create any further Memoranda of Understanding at any time during the period that the Order (as extended) is in force.