Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods, submitted to the Executive Board on 3^rd November 2010.

The Board considered the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods, first submitted to the Executive Board on 3^rd November 2010.

In attendance at the meeting, and responding to Members’ queries and comments, were:-

-  Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods.

-  Stacey Campbell, Team Leader, Health and Environmental Action Service.

In brief summary, the main points of discussion were:-

·  Whether the limit on the number of dogs which could be walked by one person should be six, in line with DEFRA guidelines, or restricted to four.

Members regarded that six doges was too high a figure, even for professional dog walkers, and were mindful that in the survey carried out by the Council, 68% of respondents felt that four or less dogs was the maximum number which one person could safely control and clean up after.

Officers made reference to the DEFRA guidelines, which was no more than six dogs.  It was regarded that the size and response to the survey, allied to the fact that most complaints received referred to a greater number of dogs than six, did not provide sufficient justification for ignoring the DEFRA guidelines.  The situation was open to review after, say, six months in operation.

·  The list of playgrounds appended to the report where Orders would apply.  Members stated that this was not a comprehensive list, and also queried the arrangements in open spaces where the children’s playgrounds were not fenced off.

It was explained that the list comprised the playgrounds controlled by the Parks and Countryside Division.  In the case of unfenced children’s playgrounds, special attention would be paid to the wording of the signs to make it clear exactly which areas were covered by the Orders.  The dogs on leads by direction of an authorised officer provisions would also assist in terms of enforcing the Orders.

The Chair requested that all 99 Councillors be circulated the list of playgrounds proposed to be the subject of the Orders, so that any possible omissions could be identified.

·  The numbers of staff who would be enforcing the new Orders – currently eighty staff were authorised and fully trained to issue fixed penalty tickets, and ten more existing staff would be trained, bringing the total to ninety.  The new Orders would be in operation early in the New Year.

The Chair indicated that the Board wished to receive an update report in due course, when the new Orders had been in operation for, say, six months, including details of all enforcement action taken and how effective this had been.

In summing up, the Chair congratulated Stacey Campbell and her team regarding this initiative and the work done to date.  Following on from the Board’s previous Inquiry into this matter, he regarded that the action now being taken was a good example of a Scrutiny Board working in partnership with the Executive to achieve a positive outcome.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the report, and the decisions of the Executive Board taken on 3^rd November 2010, be received and noted.

b)  That this Board recommends that the number of dogs which can be walked by one person should be reduced from six to four.

c)  That this Board monitor the situation and receive an update report when the new Dog Control Orders have been in operation for 6 months, to include details of all enforcement action taken under these Orders, and how effective they were deemed to have been, prior to a report being presented to the Executive Board on this matter.