Agenda and minutes

Growth and Prosperity Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Reviews) - Thursday 4 February 2010 10.00 am

Venue: COUNCIL HOUSE, PLYMOUTH, (NEXT TO THE CIVIC CENTRE)

Contact: Helen Rickman, Democratic Support Officer  Email: helen.rickman@plymouth.gov

Items
No. Item

1.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest in accordance with the code of conduct.

2.

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.

3.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 68 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2009.

Minutes:

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2009 be approved as an accurate record.

4.

REVIEW OF PLYMOUTH SKATEBOARDING BY-LAW pdf icon PDF 10 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Inspector Russell Sharpe from Devon and Cornwall Police, Councillor Wigens Portfolio Holder for Transport and the Head of Network Management attended the final Skateboarding By Law Task and Finish Group meeting in order to provide the Panel with their opinions upon the skateboarding by law, possible solutions to the problem caused by skateboarding and the cost of possible deterrent measures.

 

Inspector Russell Sharpe informed Members that –

 

(i)

the current skateboarding by law was very difficult to enforce as it referred to ‘nuisance’ which was hard to establish, if the by law was changed to a complete ban skateboarders would be criminalised;

 

(ii)

having spoken to young people who skated in the area, officers were informed that the skaters wanted a skate park nearby;

 

(iii)

in his opinion, skateboarders liked to be seen performing their tricks and stunts;

 

(iv)

the police would enforce a skateboarding by law however Members were of the opinion that it would be beneficial for an alternative skating venue to be sought;

 

(v)

the Crown Prosecution Service felt it was the responsibility of the Council to prosecute skateboarders breaking the skateboarding by law ; Plymouth City Council representatives considered it would cost between £70 and £100 for each prosecution;

 

(vi)

a mobile skate park may be more appropriate as city centre land was of high value;

 

(vii)

it was difficult for the police to enforce the skateboarding by law 24/7 as police resources would be focused towards higher priority crime;

 

Councillor Wigens, Cabinet Member for Transport informed Members that –

 

(viii)

he was interested to hear evidence collected by the Task and Finish Group;

 

(ix)

he was unaware of anywhere in the city centre where a skate park could be incorporated;

 

(x)

he did not want to curtail a reasonable activity that was spoilt for the majority by a few individuals;

 

(xi)

he agreed that signage needed to be adapted to remind skateboarders of their actions

 

The Head of Network Management informed Members that –

 

(xii)

the estimated cost of deterrent measures to city centre furniture and paving  were expensive as health and safety measures had to be carried out;

 

(xiii)

AMEY would be tasked to do the work if this was agreed.

 

(xiv)

it was important for shared space to be incorporated for any future designs to the city;

 

 

Having heard from the Police and the Portfolio Holder for Transport, and also having taken into account evidence from the first two panel meetings, Members agreed that it was very clear from all the evidence that skateboarding was not conducive to this area, because of the numbers of the public crossing the area to reach different destinations.

 

The Panel noted the fact that there had been a minimum number of formal complaints to the authority and the Police, but that there was a significant undercurrent of informal complaints about the activity not being suitable and causing anxiety to members of the public; this was confirmed by the results of the survey commissioned by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

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.