Agenda item

Consideration was given to a report which Members had requested regarding possible variations to the Public Spaces Protection Order in respect of Dog Controls.

The Council’s Environmental Health Team Manager, David Beardmore introduced the report stating that Members had concerns about the number of dogs that could be taken into specific locations.  Members’ attention was drawn to paragraph 2.6 which outlined various locations that had been part of a consultation exercise.  Residents were happy for the six-dog control to continue.  Members had previously felt that six was a high number.

One in four households in the borough had at least one dog with very few having a considerable number – four percent had 3 dogs and only 280 families had four or more dogs.

Complaints received to the Council (approximately twenty per year) were not about high numbers of dogs but about interactions with somebody with one, maybe two dogs. Quite often the interaction was one dog to one dog.

Members’ attention was drawn to paragraph three of the report which outlined the options to be considered.  There was no evidence that reducing the number of dogs would reduce the number of complaints received.  If Members wished to change the numbers of dogs or the locations this would need to go out to public consultation.

Councillor Hutton stated that some dog societies had felt that four dogs was the maximum that should be under the control of one person and asked David Beardmore if he had any views on whether it should be four or six dogs.  David Beardmore stated that there was evidence in the larger urban areas where there was greater footfall, for example in London parks, much smaller numbers had been set but it would not make a lot of difference across the Borough.

Councillor Gill Williams asked if commercial businesses who were allowed to use parks and public spaces, were insured.  David Beardmore stated that commercial dog walkers did not need to be licenced by the Council and therefore there was no obligation for them to be insured.  However, they may have whatever insurance they felt was appropriate to protect themselves. 

Councillor Jill Waring supported the recommendations.  As they had been in force for six years with no problems there was no reason why they needed to change.  Councillor Sweeney agreed, stating that he had never had this kind of issue brought to his attention by residents.  Councillor Northcott also agreed, stating that there had been no specific evidence to suggest that the rule would not apply.

Councillor Gill Williams proposed that the variation be changed from six dogs to a maximum of four dogs to be walked by one person in all Council owned parks and open spaces.  Councillor John Williams seconded the proposal, stating that walking towards someone with six dogs could be quite intimidating.

The proposal was voted upon:  6 for and 7 against.  Therefore the original recommendation was voted upon: 7 for and 6 against.

Resolved:     (i)         That the report be received

(ii)        That it be agreed that no further changes or variations to the existing PSPO are necessary