Decision Maker: Director of Improvement Adults, Health and Wellbeing
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Section 59 of the Anti-social Behaviour Crime
& Policing Act 2014, provides that a local authority may make a
public spaces protection order if satisfied on reasonable grounds
that two conditions are met:
The first condition is that—
(a) activities carried on in a public place within the
authority’s area have had a detrimental effect on the quality
of life of those in the locality, or
(b) it is likely that activities will be carried on in a public
place within that area and that they will have such an
effect.
The second condition is that the effect, or likely effect, of the
activities—
(a) is, or is likely to be, of a persistent or continuing
nature,
(b) is, or is likely to be, such as to make the activities
unreasonable, and
(c) justifies the restrictions imposed by the notice.
The alleyways to the rear of both Don Street and Brooke Street
within the Town Ward, have for a number of years been facilitating
continual anti-social behaviour including alcohol and drug misuse
where drug paraphernalia is being discarded. The area is also a
magnet for use by sex workers, nuisance youths and adults, and has
regular instances of criminal damage, fly tipping and reports of
burglaries and attempted burglaries. Due to its proximity to the
local Homeless hostel, these locations also serve as a congregation
area for those tenants, again causing harassment, alarm and
distress to local residents due to behaviours witnessed.
This has had a fundamental effect on the wellbeing of the local
residents which has resulted in a decline in the community spirit,
ultimately effecting their quality of life.
Residents report that they feel intimidated, fearful and appalled
when using the alleyways prior to the Covid19 pandemic and voiced
these concerns via the local Ward Councillors, reported to both the
Communities Area team and the Environmental Enforcement team and
also to South Yorkshire Police.
Due to this the alleyways are an area where residents avoid, no
longer being a social environment where neighbours would converse
whilst placing their bins out or indeed where
they can feel safe and take pride in anymore.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and with residents
spending more time at home, these feelings of concern have
continued and indeed escalated, with those perpetrators responsible
for these types of behaviours noticeably attributing to the further
decline of the alleyways, through continuing to visit the area even
during National lockdown periods.
The area itself is affected due to its geographical location which
is set back from any other residential areas and could be described
as an island. There are only 3 residential streets within this
boundry those being Don Street, Brooke Street and Parkinson Street.
Both Don and Brooke back onto each other with Parkinson being
removed from the other two bar being linked at a junction.
As a result of the set back design of the isolated estate so close
to the Town Centre, it is an ideal location for drink, drug, sex
work abuse as well as fly tipping.
The residents of the area have been reluctant to report incidences
due to, in their view, the slim likelihood of perpetrators being
caught and in particular during the Covid 19 pandemic when they
have known services have been stretched. The restriction of access
to this alleyway would remedy these problems almost immediately.
The alleygates would not only help in reducing crime and
anti-social behaviour but also reduce further costs to the Local
Authority and South Yorkshire Police. Although Doncaster Council
Officers and their partners South Yorkshire Police have continued
to conduct regular covert and high visibility patrols to help
alleviate the problems, which arise in the area, issuing fixed
penalty notices and clearance orders, the longer-term restriction
of access to the alleyways would remedy these
problems almost immediately.
The installation of alley gates at this location will also help to
greatly reduce the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour for
local residents; in turn, this will raise the community confidence
of those residents who live within the area the alley gates will
cover. This will in particular support improved wellbeing outcomes
for the several elderly and vulnerable residents who have suffered
in recent years due to the steady decline in the local area, with
it no longer looking or feeling like the community they have lived
in for many years. It will instil a refreshed level of confidence
in services and help reduce the overall fear of safety currently
witnessed.
As part of the Public Space Protection Order Consultation required,
residents were asked for their views and concerns in relation to
the implementation of this scheme, and through this process
significant support for this proposal has been found.
The funding for the alleygate installation is being met from
existing Council budgets which have already been earmarked to cover
the costs required. It is fair to say there would potentially be
minor costs down the line linked to broken locks however; this
would be managed from existing Community Safety budgets. Community
Safety colleagues have also confirmed that if there is a fault with
the gates within 3 years of installation, this is covered through
the Contractor’s guarantee. If the damage to the gates is
excessive due to vehicle damage as an example, then the insurance
claim process would be followed. Ultimately, if all
those elements will not cover the cost to repair or replace damaged
dates, then arrangements would be made to have them removed.
See attached Officer Decision Record for further details.
To make a Public Space Protection Order in the
terms set out in Appendix 1. This will involve the installation of
5 alley gates in total at the rear of both Don Street and Brooke
Street,
Wheatley, Doncaster to prevent ASB, environmental crime and
criminality in the area and to create a safe environment for the
residents.
The conditions for the Public Space Protection Order for the gates
are set out in the attached Officer Decision Record.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND
REJECTED
Option 1
To approve the Public Space Protection Order for 5 x sets of gates
and fencing to reduce ASB and criminality in the area, increasing
resident’s safety and improve their wellbeing.
Option 2
Not to install alley gates which would result in a continuation of
ASB and other criminal behaviour within the alley resulting in the
continued decline of the area and the discontentment of the local
residents.
Publication date: 13/10/2021
Date of decision: 11/08/2021
Accompanying Documents: