Agenda item

The Forum is requested to comment on the following Gating Order:

• Leasowe Garth, Hunslet, Leeds

With the agreement of the Forum, the Chair changed the order of the Agenda to take the item on Gating Orders first. The Crime Reduction Coordinator presented to the Forum a report on the proposed Gating Order for Leasowe Garth, Hunslet, Leeds. The report had previously been presented to the Chair for consideration in between meetings however there had been concerns that the crime statistics for the area had not been included in the report and there also appeared to be issues which could be resolved without the use of a Gating Order. Members were provided with a background to the area and the reasons for the Gating Order. The following issues were discussed:

• The introduction of the gate would be fairly straight forward as it was easy for officers to identify who would be entitled to have access keys.
• It was anticipated that the residents would use the new social area created under the Order.
• The alternative routes proposed did not mean a significant detour to for those without access to the path.
• In relation to youths congregating around the nearby off-licence work had been undertaken to deal with the crime and disorder resulting from this. Test purchases had taken place at the premises and the shop owner had been warned by the police in respect of this matter. Despite this and other measures taken the youths continue to congregate in this area.
• There had been two objections to the application however the Crime Reduction Officer was of the understanding that these were only minor objections.
• The path was not a route used to access other areas but was used as a rear access to the premises.
• Members questioned the ownership of the land and the requirement to have a Gating Order where the path was privately owned. Officers were aware that whilst the ownership of the land did not fall with the local authority they were responsible for the maintenance of the path and it was also included on the List of Streets.
• The information provided to Members that the main problem in the are was from 13:00 hours to 01: 00 hours. Officers advised Members that in Leeds consideration was given to whether time limited Gating Orders would be suitable however it was generally believed that a non-time restricted order was more appropriate.
• Members noted that the crime statistics for the area had improved over the last year due to increased policing levels however this level would not be maintained.
• There was no barrier to accessing the alternative routes.

Members thanked the Officer for providing more information on the application and agreed to support for the application for a Gating Order for Leasowe Garth. The Officer informed the Forum that there were a number of Gating Orders that were in the process of being reviewed and a report would be provided at the next meeting of the Forum. Whilst there were issues relating to the funding of Gating Orders within the Department there were continuing applications and expressions of interest for gating orders where funding had been identified from other sources such as ALMOs and the local Area Management Boards.

RESOLVED: That the Gating Order for Leasowe Garth be supported and that a report Gating Orders Review be brought to the next meeting of the Forum.