That the Assistant Director of Community and Customer Services be requested to commission a consultation exercise with the public, partners and the voluntary sector to assess opinion with regards to what further action the Council (and partners where appropriate) should take in response to the issues of:

·       introducing bylaws or Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) to address the problem of rough sleeping on the seafront and town centres;

·       providing support to, and safeguarding, individuals with a genuine rough sleeping / street homelessness need; and

·       the use of motor homes as permanent accommodation in residential areas/public highways.

To explore options to address the concerns of Members raised at the meeting.

Alternative options were discussed at the meeting and set out in the submitted report.

This decision will come into force and may be implemented on Tuesday, 6 December 2016 unless the call-in procedure is triggered (as set out in the Standing Orders in relation to Overview and Scrutiny).

The submitted report set out potential sanctions available to address concerns in connection with the increase in the number of rough sleepers, beggars, street drinking and people parking motor homes in residential areas (such as bylaws, Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) and Traffic Regulation Orders).  Fran Hughes, Assistant Director of Community and Customer Services, Dave Parsons, Antisocial Behaviour Manager and Vicky Booty, Community Safety Partnership Lead Manager attended the meeting and presented the submitted report, provided an overview of the work already being undertaken by the Council and Safer Communities Partnership and responded to questions.

Chief Inspector Costin, Inspector Dawe and Sergeant Desborough attended the meeting and outlined the work and operations being carried out by the Police to address issues in connection with rough sleepers, beggars and antisocial behaviour and responded to questions.  Inspector Dawe stated that the Police already had sufficient legal powers to deal with the issues raised under current legislation and that bylaws or PSPOs would not solve the problems of rough sleeping, begging and antisocial behaviour unless suitable wrap around support is available to assist the individuals to change their lifestyles.

Steve Bullman (from WBW Solicitors) and Karen Jemmett also made oral representations at the meeting. 

The Mayor considered the recommendation of the Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Operations Team) made on 23 November 2016 and his decision is set out above.

None