Issue - meetings

To receive the report of the Director, Public Health, Protection and Community Services, the Group Director, Prosperity, Development and Frontline Services and the Director, Legal Services, which informs the Cabinet of the outcomes of the public consultation exercise and seeks authority to extend the two Public Spaces Protection Orders relating to dog controls in Rhondda Cynon Taf (the Dog Control PSPO’s).

The Director, Public Health, Protection and Community Services informed the Cabinet of the outcomes of the public consultation exercise and sought authority to extend the two Public Spaces Protection Orders relating to dog controls in Rhondda Cynon Taf (the Dog Control PSPO’s).

Prior to introducing the report, the Director wished to place on record his thanks to the Director, Legal Services and the Corporate Policy and Consultation Manager for their work in relation to the PSPO’s in the previous months.

The Director explained that despite the introduction of the Dog Control PSPO’s in October 2017, there remained a minority of dog owners who did not clean up after their dogs or keep them under control. As such, the Director considered it vital that the orders, which would ordinarily expire on 30th September 2020, be renewed for a further 3 year period in order to maintain the significant benefits the orders have had in relation to dog fouling and ensure appropriate powers remain in place to deal with the minority who continue to flout the laws.

The Director referred to the Appendix, which detailed the outcomes of the four week public consultation exercise and was pleased to inform Members of the overwhelming support for the Council’s approach to tackling dog fouling, the continuance of the PSPO’s for a further three year period and the retention of the maximum fine. The Director explained that many respondents felt that dog fouling remained a problem in RCT but acknowledged that there had been improvements following the introduction of the PSPO’s.

The Director noted that Llanharry and Pontyclun Community Councils had requested that the PSPO be extended to sites within their responsibilities and that Members may wish to vary the PSPO to reflect their requests. The Director spoke of the marketing and awareness campaign, which was undertaken when the PSPO’s were introduced in 2017 and asked Members to consider undertaking a similar exercise.

The Service Director, Democratic Services and Communication provided Members with the comments of the Public Service Delivery, Communities and Prosperity Scrutiny Committee, which had the opportunity to pre-scrutinise the proposals at its meeting on 23^rd September 2020. The Service Director informed the Cabinet that the Scrutiny Members were in favour of the continuation of the PSPO’s and recognised the positive impact they had made.

The Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, Well-being & Cultural Services spoke positive of the continuation of the PSPO’s, commenting that the targeted intervention had been a success in recent years to deal with dog fouling and improving the cleanliness of the streets.

The Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure & Heritage Services thanked the officer for the report and Scrutiny for their observations and comments. The Cabinet Member acknowledged that the consultation was managed differently but was pleased with the level of engagement. The Cabinet Member welcomed the extension for a further a three year period and was pleased to note that over 90% of residents were supportive of the proposals.

The Deputy Leader spoke positive of the consultation process,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11