Agenda and minutes

Licensing Committee - Tuesday 15 March 2011 10.00 am, NEW

Venue: Council House, Plymouth (next to the Civic Centre)

Contact: Helen Rickman, Democratic Support Officer  E-mail:  helen.rickman@plymouth.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

27.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this Agenda.

Minutes:

The following declaration of interests were made by Councillors in accordance with the Code of Conduct in relation to an item under discussion at this meeting –

 

Name

Subject

Reason

Interest

Councillor Mrs Bowyer

Minute 30 – Application for the Designated Public Places Order to control street drinking in Freedom Fields Park and Tothill Park.

Her daughter owns a business in the area.

Prejudicial

Councillor Rennie

As above

He had already responded to the application.

Personal

 

28.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 87 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2011 (Licensing Committee Miscellaneous).

Minutes:

Agreed that the minutes of the 22 February 2011 Licensing Committee (Miscellaneous) were approved as a correct record.

 

Under this item Councillors requested an update on minute 20, Chair’s Urgent Business, from 22 February 2011 Licensing Committee (Miscellaneous). The Democratic Support Officer informed the Committee that an update would be provided to the Chair.

 

29.

CHAIR'S URGENT BUSINESS

To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

Minutes:

There were no items of Chair’s urgent business however under this item Councillor Delbridge was appointed as Chair and Councillor Browne was appointed as Vice Chair for the consideration of minute 30.

 

30.

APPLICATION FOR THE DESIGNATED PUBLIC PLACE ORDER (DPPO) TO CONTROL DRINKING IN FREEDOM FIELDS PARK AND TOTHILL PARK. pdf icon PDF 85 KB

The Director for Community Services will provide the Committee with a report on the application for the Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) to control drinking in Freedom Fields Park and Tothill Park.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Dave Hughes - Senior Environmental Health Officer, Martin Worthington – Devon and Cornwall Police and Jacqui Hunt – Devon and Cornwall Police provided the Committee with an update on the application for the Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) to control drinking in Freedom Fields Park and Tothill Park.

 

Members were informed that –

 

(a)

consultation for the DPPO was launched on 6 January 2011; an information pack was delivered to local residents, interested parties and other community groups that operated in the area;

 

(b)

113 responses were received which help to formulate part of the report submitted to the Committee for their consideration;

 

(c)

the Police had logged 16 calls directly related to drinking in Freedom Fields Park; of those 16 calls, four related to young people whereas 12 related to the core group of street drinkers that frequented the park;

 

(d)

local residents felt intimidated by the street drinkers and tended to avoid the park;

 

In response to questions raised it was reported that –

 

(e)

2000 packs were delivered to local residents, groups and interested parties and 113 responses were received; this was considered a significant response in terms of the consultation policy;

 

(f)

Police officers were unable to arrest the street drinkers as they sat drinking in the park as they were not committing an offence;

 

(g)

the DPPO would not have the power to stop individuals drinking in the park; it would however allow early intervention from Police officers if anti social behaviour occurred;

 

(h)

it was difficult for Police officers to arrest individuals for urinating in the park as they had to prove it;

 

(i)

the Police were looking to try and improve surveillance in the park, the cost and benefits needed analysing;

 

(j)

there were concerns about underage and vulnerable individuals joining the street drinking group

 

(k)

the police did not have the power to ban alcohol in the park ;

 

(l)

there was a possibility that the street drinkers could disperse to Astor Park however it was considered that the individuals would not move someone too remote as they would not be able to buy alcohol

 

(m)

Police officers regularly patrol Freedom Fields park;

 

(n)

PCSOs would have the same powers as Police officers when removing alcohol from individuals;

 

The Committee agreed –

 

(1)

that there was sufficient evidence to show that a nuisance or annoyance or disorder was caused to members of the public or a section of the public in Freedom Fields Park which was associated with the consumption of alcohol;

 

(2)

that there was sufficient evidence to show that a nuisance or annoyance or disorder was caused to members of the public or a section of the public in Tothill Park which was associated with the consumption of alcohol and that there was likely to be a displacement of street drinking as the DPPO has been granted to cover Freedom Fields Park;

 

(3)

(a)

 to the creation of a DPPO for Freedom Fields Park for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

31.

EXEMPT BUSINESS

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it (they) involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s)of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Minutes:

There were no items of exempt business.