Agenda item

 

(a)  Question from Mr. C. J. Nowak to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones:-

 

“I have recently been assured by a DMBC official that the Public Space Protection Order for the town centre is still in effect and being upheld when required by PCSO's, town centre ambassadors, neighbourhood enforcement officers and the police.

 

This being the case why do I see the same people begging, on a daily basis, on St. Sepulchre Gate, High Street, Baxtergate and the market place car park?”

 

(b)  Question from Mr. N Carbutt, on behalf of the Fire Brigade Union, to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones:-

 

“South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue have released a draft Integrated Risk Management Plan in which their preferred proposal to remove 84 firefighting posts is outlined. How and when has the fire Authority consulted with this Council and does this Council intend to respond formally?”

 

(c)   Question from Mr. M. Nicholls to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones:-

 

“SYFR have indicated a potential 4 million pound funding shortfall and propose to cut 84 firefighters from the current establishment of 594. Should this issue be referred to Doncaster scrutiny board for further examination of the issues and the effects on Doncaster's Communities?”

(A)      Question from Mr. C. J. Nowak to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones:-

 

“I have recently been assured by a DMBC official that the Public Space Protection Order for the Town Centre is still in effect and being upheld when required by PCSOs, Town Centre ambassadors, Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers and the Police.

 

This being the case, why do I see the same people begging, on a daily basis, on St. Sepulchre Gate, High Street, Baxtergate and the market place car park?”

 

The Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, gave the following reply:-

 

“Thank you for your question Mr. Nowak.  Firstly, I can confirm that the Public Space Protection Order is in force and active.

 

On the point about seeing the same people begging, I can advise that the Public Space Protection Order for Doncaster Town Centre is only one part of a comprehensive plan of activity to support people with complex lives.  This includes preventing and tackling homelessness and rough sleeping, drug and alcohol misuse, mental ill-health, offending and anti-social behaviour, and begging.

 

Since November 2017, the Public Space Protection Order and our complex lives work, have supported and encouraged many people to break the cycle of begging, drug and alcohol misuse and anti-social behaviour.

 

It is important to remind everyone that the Public Space Protection Order was introduced following a very strong level of public and business support for all of the prohibitions we consulted upon, but also, there was a very clear message that we should provide support for those who are vulnerable and locked into dangerous and damaging lifestyles.

 

This we have done and our innovative complex lives work now has 100 people that are receiving support.  These are people who were previously rough sleeping in and around the Town Centre.

 

So, I want to be absolutely clear here that this Council is fully committed to supporting people who are in this unfortunate position, and much of the focus of the way this Public Space Protection Order is being managed is geared towards connecting people to accommodation and support services.

 

To do that we have to remove the barriers that begging in particular creates.  So it is not our aim to criminalise misfortune.

 

We know that in the current policy and funding climate across the UK, we are seeing rises in homelessness and rough sleeping and the issues that surround it, like begging and problematic drug use.  This is forecast to rise further, and of course we are all concerned about the ongoing impact of Universal Credit on this.

 

Therefore, it is our ongoing multi-agency effort, involving the Police, teams across the Council, St Leger Homes, drug and alcohol and mental health services and others, to continue this work as more people find themselves in this unacceptable situation.

 

But we are also clear that some of the people who are causing these issues are not so needy and are preying on people’s good will, and damaging the prospects of our Town Centre and people’s enjoyment of it.

 

Our management of the Public Space Protection Order takes account of this and we can and do enforce.  Currently, there are 25 people subject to higher level enforcement that places restrictions on their behaviour in the Town Centre.

 

I’m sure you will agree that it would be better if we were not in a position where we have to implement these actions, but without a dramatic national policy change, this every day challenge is going to be with us for the medium term at least.

 

Finally, we also need the continued support of businesses and Town Centre users to play a part in supporting what we are trying to achieve; this is everybody’s business.  Thank you.”

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.10, Mr. Nowak asked the Mayor, the following supplementary question:-

 

“Thank you for your response Mayor Jones.  Today, before I came here, I walked around the Town Centre and again, I see the same people sitting in the same positions on St. Sepulchre Gate, High Street and Baxtergate begging.  These are people who are there nearly every day of the week and I cannot understand why they are allowed to be there, but they do.  Today, there were PCSOs on cycles that cycled passed them and did not approach them or did not speak to them, etc. 

 

The businesses that you ask, in your final paragraph, ‘the continued support of businesses and Town Centre users’; I was speaking on Monday to the owner of Vision Value opticians, next to the Co-op bank on St. Sepulchre Gate, and he was telling me how the issues of begging and the people who he was seeing on St. Sepulchre Gate were having a detrimental effect on his business, and he would love to see and speak to yourself, or any of your Councillors, to express his views on this and I told him that I would mention that.  But, as I say, I cannot understand and I have got photographic evidence why these people are allowed on a daily basis, to do what they do?”

 

In response, the Mayor gave the following reply:-

 

“As I have said, we are actively involved with our Complex Lives Team, which is multi-agency, to deal with these problems and we will continue to do so.  But, I would add as we sit here, Police numbers in 2010 to 2019, we have got 90 less PCSOs from 2010 to 2019, we have got 32 less.   We have actually pulled our resources from the Authority in order to deliver this and it is the way we are achieving this through the Complex Lives Teams.  But, until we get better standards and Universal Credit is sorted out, we are not putting people in this onerous position.  Our predictions are that this will be there for the medium term.  We will continue to do what we need to do in order to make our place the right place for people to live, work and enjoy, and our businesses thrive.  So, our Teams will continue on with the work.  Thank you Mr. Nowak.”

 

(B)    Question from Mr. N. Carbutt, on behalf of the Fire Brigade Union, to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones:-

 

“South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue have released a draft Integrated Risk Management Plan in which their preferred proposal to remove 84 firefighting posts is outlined. How and when has the fire Authority consulted with this Council and does this Council intend to respond formally?”

 

(C)    Question from Mr. M. Nicholls to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones:-

 

“SYFR have indicated a potential 4 million pound funding shortfall and propose to cut 84 firefighters from the current establishment of 594. Should this issue be referred to Doncaster Scrutiny Board for further examination of the issues and the effects on Doncaster's Communities?”

 

“Thank you for your questions, Mr. Carbutt and Mr. Nicholls.  As both questions do relate to the draft Integrated Risk Management Plan, I will give one overall response to you both.

 

This Council has seen little consultation with regards to the draft Integrated Risk Management Plan in which their preferred proposal is to remove 84 firefighting posts across South Yorkshire. I received a letter from the Chair of the Fire Authority, which basically put the options as either a reduction in firefighters, or face the closure of Fire Stations.

 

The Motion that will be put to Council today at item 12, will be sent to South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, in response to the proposed plan. The public consultation on the Integrated Risk Management Plan is open until 3rd August.  I strongly encourage Councillors, groups and members of the public, to get involved to put your concerns across in opposition of these savage cuts that could potentially put Doncaster people and property in serious danger.

 

We request that the Fire Authority continues to re-examine its expenditure of its reserves to protect the Fire Service, in full consultation with the Fire Brigades Union, the public and others.

 

I have no problem with referring it to Overview and Scrutiny for further examination of the issues and the effects on Doncaster's Communities, so they can advise on it accordingly, and feed their findings back to the Fire Authority before any decision is made.

 

All public sector services have faced draconian cuts since 2010, and I am sure the FBU have and continue to lobby Central Government as we all do, but to date, the Government only seem to react in crisis.

 

My message to the new Prime Minister is all public sector services are in crisis and he needs to redress the cuts imposed by successive Governments.  Doncaster needs not only increased funding, but also knowledge of what funding we can expect for years to come in order to plan for the long term.

 

This is no way to run a country; this country deserves better and the residents of Doncaster deserve better.  Just to remind my Council, two of our South Yorkshire Councils, Doncaster and Barnsley, are two of the worst hit in the country in respect of funding per person from Government.  So much for all being in this together.”

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.10, Mr. Carbutt asked the Mayor, the following supplementary question:-

 

“Mayor, thank you for your response.  I welcome the opportunity for Scrutiny to further examine the issues contained in the Motion.  Are the Council and Councillors aware that there is £23.8m in reserve that the Fire Authority has at its disposal.  And that’s on an operating budget of £50m.  I am a firefighter at Thorne and it’s a relatively low activity station in terms of fire calls and secondary fires.  But, within that area, we have major motorway networks.  We have a COMAH site, which is a gas national power line, of significant importance.  We have prisons, we have immigration centres.  We are on the border of an international airport and frankly, to put firefighters in a position where they are attending as first call to an incident of that nature, with 4 person crews, we believe is frankly dangerous.  We would really welcome the opportunity to put this in to Scrutiny.  We would like you to examine the reserve strategy and would significantly like you to examine the under spends that the service has made that have been committed to reserves since 2010.  And also the Safer, Stronger community reserve.  Thank you for your time.”

 

The Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, gave the following reply:-

 

“I am happy for Overview and Scrutiny to examine all those 3 areas. Thank you.”

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.10, Mr. Nicholls asked the Mayor, the following supplementary question:-

 

“My name is Matt Nicholls. I am a firefighter and have been a firefighter for 17 years with SYFRA.  It’s quite simple, my supplementary question is, will this Council commit to do everything in its power to ensure every option is explored to stop the cuts, which will undoubtedly put our residents of Doncaster at risk and will undoubtedly put a greater risk of firefighters at risk. I have got 3 young children and they have got every right to see me come home from work.  These cuts will take away the safety aspect of every fire engine in South Yorkshire.  Every major incident that we have, you don’t see fire engines active at the time of operations.  You will see them parked down the road, because it’s about personnel on the ground.  One in five fire engines will be missing if these cuts go through.  One in five, because for every five fire engines, there are five less people.  The options that have been given to you are; cut firefighters or cut stations.  Well, it is hidden; they are cutting the stations anyway, by default.  I would ask the Council to support us, in every way possible. Thank you.”

 

In response, the Mayor gave the following reply:-

 

“That support will be forthcoming once Overview and Scrutiny look at it all in detail and ascertain the pros and cons of all that.  And yes, I do appreciate none of us want to put anyone at risk.  Thank you.”