Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 2023 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

Please note that, in accordance with the Members' Code of Conduct, when declaring interests members must disclose the existence and nature of the interest, and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) or personal and/or pecuniary.

No declarations of interest were received.

Ben Jackson, Public Protection, Anti-Social Behaviour and Licensing Services Manager

a.    presented a report to:

                      i.        brief Policy Scrutiny Committee on the process and consideration given to date, to extend an existing  Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) at  Lucy Tower, Broadgate and Lincoln Central Multi-Storey Carparks

                    ii.        seek the views of the Policy Scrutiny Committee on proposals regarding the extension of the existing PSPO prior to consideration by the Executive

b.    advised that the current PSPO that covered Lucy Tower, Broadgate and Lincoln Central Multi-Storey Carparks prohibited the following behaviours within the designated areas (Appendix A):

1.    No person in the restricted area shall engage in any of the following activities:

a.    Ingesting, inhaling, injecting, smoking or otherwise using and intoxicating substance unless for an exempted use;

b.    Any activity likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any other person;

c.    Congregating in a group of two or more persons so as to cause and obstruction or give reasonable grounds for annoyance to any person;

d.    Loitering without a permitted purpose; or Anti-social behaviour, including but not limited to public urination or defecation, or any other unacceptable or offensive behaviour

c.    explained that a PSPO had a maximum duration of three years therefore it was advisable to review the order after 3 years to determine whether it should be subject to extension or variation

d.    summarised the consultation that had taken place with both public and partner agencies and explained that the five responses received called for the existing PSPO to remain in place

e.    referred to paragraph 6 of the report and detailed the evidence that had been gathered from Lincolnshire Police, the CCTV team and the Car Parking team

f.     proposed that the existing PSPO be renewed without any further variations for a further 3 years

g.    referred to paragraph 9 and 10 of the report and advised how the PSPO would be implemented and enforced

h.    invited Committees views on the proposal

Question: Commented that some of the behaviour outlined in the PSPO was already a criminal offence and asked what was the difference between having a PSPO in place and not having one in place.

Response: Originally the problem was with rough sleepers congregating at the car parks and causing anti-social behaviour. Officers enforcing the PSPO could advise rough sleepers that they were in breach of the PSPO if they were congregating without good reason and ask them to leave. The approach would be to liaise with the Council’s Rough Sleeper Team and provide support rather than prosecution.

Question: Could all three PSPO’s in the City be reviewed at the same time to save resources?

Response: The three PSPO’s were implemented at different times and were reviewed from when they were implemented. There would not be a cost saving as each PSPO would require seperate consultation.

Question: Was there clear signage in place at the car parks regarding the PSPO?

Response: Yes, there was clear signage in place.

Question: Who could enforce the PSPO?  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Councillor Chapman, joined proceedings at this stage

The Chair of Policy Scrutiny Committee advised that she had raised concern over the pressures that would be placed on medical services in Lincoln due to the proposed asylum seeker accommodation at Scampton. This would be added to the Health Scrutiny Work Programme for future discussions.

She further updated members of the business that had been discussed at the Health Scrutiny meetings held on 14^th June and 19^th July 2023, these were:

·         Consultation on Paediatric Services at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston

·         East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust – Performance

·         NHS Joint Forward Plan

·         GP Provision in Lincolnshire

·         NHS Dental Services in Lincolnshire

·         Water Fluoridation

·         Outcome of Consultation on Local Mental Health Rehabilitation Services (Ashley House in Grantham)

·         Update on Adult Mental Health Services in Lincolnshire

·         Lincolnshire Acute Service Review – Urgent & Emergency Care and Acute Medicine Implementation Update

·         Paediatric Service at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston – Proposed Response of the Committee to the Consultation

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Democratic Services Officer:

a.    presented the report ‘Policy Scrutiny Work Programme 2023-24 and Executive Work Programme Update’

b.    presented the Executive Work Programme August 2023 – July 2024

c.    requested councillors to submit what items they wished to scrutinise from the Executive Work Programme and policies of interest

d.    invited members questions and comments.

Councillor Mara raised concerns about the Armed Forces Covenant and action plan and expressed that it could be used more widely. He requested that the Policy be brought to committed to be considered.

Becky Scott, Legal Services Manager advised that the Armed Forces Covenant could be brought to committee, if there was scope to influence it. She advised that she would liaise with the relevant Officer to find out if this was suitable to be reviewed. 

Councillor Calum Watt asked for clarification on the Housing Pipeline Approach which was scheduled on the Executive Forward Plan for 16October 2023 and asked if this could come to Policy Scrutiny Committee if appropriate.

Becky Scott, Legal Services Manager responded that she would liaise with the Lead Officer for the Housing Pipeline Approach to find out more details and schedule it in to the Policy Scrutiny Work Programme if appropriate.

Councillor Calum Watt, referred to the Executive Forward Plan and asked if the report on the Transfer of Selected Museum Artifacts to Lincolnshire County Council could be scheduled into the Policy Scrutiny Work Programme for 3 October 2023.

The Democratic Services Officer, would liaise with the Lead Officer and schedule into the work programme if appropriate.

RESOLVED that:

1.    the work Policy Scrutiny work programme be noted.

2.    the Executive work programme be noted.