Agenda item

4.1

The Chief Licensing Officer and Head of Licensing submitted a report (a) containing details of a review of the Woodhouse Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) which had been implemented in respect of the area known as Market Square, Woodhouse, following approval at a meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 8^th February, 2011 and (b) on a request by the Sheffield South East Safer Neighbourhood Area (SNA) for the extension of the DPPO into Tannery Park in Woodhouse.

4.2

Present at the meeting were Inspector Jason Booth (Sheffield South East SNA), Richard Oxley (South East Community Assembly Safer Neighbourhood Officer), Councillor Ray Satur (Councillor for the Woodhouse Ward and Chair of the South East Community Assembly), Tracey Ford (Sheffield Drug and Alcohol Action Team), Howard Constable (Woodhouse Forum), Alan Charlesworth (Woodhouse Tenants’ and Residents’ Association and Friends of Tannery Park), Graham Postello (Woodhouse Community Forum and Badger Neighbourhood Watch), Claire Bower (Licensing Officer), Kavita Ladva (Solicitor to the Sub-Committee) and John Turner (Democratic Services).

4.3

Claire Bower presented the report to the Sub-Committee.

4.4

Inspector Jason Booth gave a presentation on the review of the Woodhouse DPPO, which had commenced on 1^st April, 2011.  He reported on the need for a DPPO in Woodhouse and provided an analysis in terms of why South Yorkshire Police had applied for the implementation of the Order initially, indicating that within the DPPO, Market Square had the greatest concentration of all alcohol-related anti-social behaviour (ASB). Incidents of ASB across the proposed DPPO area had increased despite significant falls in ASB across the City, ASB within the proposed Order area exceeded both 2007 and 2008 totals for the first 10 months of 2010 and alcohol was a factor in almost 25% of all incidents.

4.5

Inspector Booth reported on the action taken to respond to the problems in the Woodhouse area following the implementation of the Order, which had included taking a totally integrated partnership approach, undertaking consultation with the local community and involving local community groups, the South East Community Assembly, local Ward Councillors, the local Member of Parliament and local businesses and local licensed premises. He made specific reference to the involvement of the Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT), whose excellent work in the area had complemented the work of the other partners in dealing with the issues as part of the Order.

4.6

Tracey Ford, DAAT, reported briefly on the role of the Team in supporting the Order, referring to targeted work, which included carrying out substance sessions with local GPs, partnership working with St. Anne’s Hostel and undertaking monitoring work and providing advice as part of a dedicated Partnership Substance Misuse Group.

4.7

Inspector Booth reported on the assessment and evaluation of the Order, indicating that since its implementation on 1^st April, 2011, the Police had used powers under the Order a total of 55 times (49 occasions in 2011 and six occasions in 2012), leaflets had been produced signposting drinkers and drug users into support and any incidents of displacement had been monitored.  In terms of displacement, he referred to specific problems in Tannery Park, where there had been 18 incidents during the past 12 months, with eight incidents being alcohol-related.  The consultation carried out with residents and local businesses in September 2011 had indicated that 70% of residents and 88% of local businesses had noticed a reduction in street drinking, 72% of residents and 100% of businesses considered the problem to be with the over 18s and 98% of residents and 100% of businesses were in support of the continuation of the Order.  In terms of the consultation undertaken in September 2012, all 32 of the businesses consulted indicated that they would support the continuation of the Order, 27 local businesses had noticed a difference in street drinking/alcohol-related ASB in Woodhouse and 14 businesses had experienced an improvement in trading since the Order had come into force.  In addition to this, two new businesses had opened up since the Order had been implemented, and continued to trade successfully.  Inspector Booth added that the continuation of the Order was supported by the three Woodhouse Ward Councillors, the Woodhouse and District Community Forum, Badger Tenants’ and Residents’ Association and the Friends of Tannery Park.

4.8

In terms of the next steps, Inspector Booth stated that the Police and partner agencies would build on the excellent work undertaken during the first 18 months of the operation of the Order, ensure effective policing of the zone, continue the effective partnership working with the partner agencies and the local community, continue to maintain the planters in Market Square in order to make the area look attractive, continue supporting and working with St. Anne’s Hostel, continue with the ongoing monitoring work in terms of the effectiveness of the Order and, subject to the decision of the Sub-Committee, commence planning in connection with the proposal to extend the Order to Tannery Park.

4.9

In response to questions from Members of, and the Solicitor to, the Sub-Committee, Inspector Booth stated that he did not anticipate any further displacement in terms of street drinking if the Order was extended to include Tannery Park as the Park was very close to the centre of Woodhouse and people were not likely to travel any further to find somewhere to drink.  It was added that, despite the existence of the Order, people would still drink in public places, but more and more drinkers were being forced away from the centre of Woodhouse, thereby reducing the level of effect on the public.  The Police had not carried out any arrests for non-compliance with the Order since it was implemented, although some arrests had been made for other public order offences.  The vast majority of people had handed their drink over when they had been asked to by the Police and, whilst there had been particular problems with two individuals in the area, following assistance from partner agencies, these problems had subsided.  The Police had dealt with eight alcohol-related incidents in Tannery Park during the last few months, mainly during the Summer.  The Police, residents and local community groups, particularly the Friends of Tannery Park, had requested the extension of the Order to include Tannery Park.  The offenders dealt with by the Police in Tannery Park were mainly people who were new to the area, and not necessarily known to the Police.  Inspector Booth had met with the GP consortia to discuss the issue and affects of alcohol consumption in the area, and had been involved in the work of the South East Community Assembly Partner Panel in connection with health issues in the area.  He expected the excellent partnership work with all the various agencies, including the GP consortia, to grow if the extension to the Order was granted.  The residents of Tannery flats had been consulted through the Woodhouse Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, as part of the first review of the implementation of the Order, and had been very supportive of the Order.  It was accepted that there was a need to consult with those residents living beyond Tannery Park if approval was given for such consultation on the proposed extension to the Order at this meeting.  If the extension to the Order was granted, the Police did not envisage any further displacements as it was not likely that people would drink anywhere other than in the Park.

4.10

RESOLVED: That the public and press and attendees involved in the hearing be excluded from the meeting before further discussion takes place on the grounds that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, if those persons were present, there would be a disclosure to them of exempt information described in paragraph 5 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

4.11

The Solicitor to the Sub-Committee reported orally, giving legal advice on various aspects of the request.

4.12

At this stage in the proceedings, the meeting was re-opened to the public and press and attendees.

4.13

RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee:-

(a)       notes the information now reported, as part of the presentation, on the review of the Woodhouse Designated Public Place Order, which had been implemented with effect from 1^st April, 2011;

(b)       approves the continuation of the Order and requests that a further review on the operation of the Order be undertaken in three years’ time;

(c) agrees that consultation be undertaken with relevant individuals, groups and organisations on the extension of the Order into Tannery Park, as requested; and

(d)       requests that the costs of undertaking the consultation in respect of the extension of the Order be shared by the South East Community Assembly and the Sheffield South East Safer Neighbourhood Area.