Agenda item

(a) That the Neighbourhood Enforcement Team carry out statutory public consultation to introduce Dog Control Orders in order to tackle the following prescribed offences under Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005:

(i)  Failure to remove dog faeces (Borough wide Order);

(ii)  Failure to keep a dog on a lead in specified locations;

(iii)Failure to put and keep a dog on a lead when directed by an  Authorised Officer (Borough wide Order);

(iv)  Permitting a dog to enter land from which dogs are excluded;

(v)  Limit the number of dogs under control of any person in a designated area (Borough wide Order).

 (b)That the following be added as paragraph 85a, Part 3 to the Scheme of Officer Delegations for Assistant Director of Public Protection:

  Authority to amend and/or extend existing Dog Control Orders in consultation with the relevant Commissioner.

(c)  That the current level of fine for dog fouling of £50 be increased to £80 (this is the maximum permitted fine under The Environmental Offences (Fixed Penalties)(Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2006) and that officers look into the possibility of lobbying for an increase to the maximum permitted fine for dog fouling. 

The Cabinet considered a report which sought approval for implementation of a range of Dog Control Orders to balance the interests of dog owners against those of the wider population; improve the look of the town, ensure people were not harassed by nuisance or dangerous dogs and to enable effective enforcement. The Director for Community and Wellbeing advised Cabinet that the Orders would be subject to a Borough wide consultation process.

A Commissioner asked if it would be possible to lobby government to increase the maximum fine permitted or retrieve the costs of clearing dog fouling. It was agreed that the Head of Neighbourhood Enforcement would look into what action could be taken regarding this. Cabinet noted that enforcement was very difficult as owners actually needed to be caught in the act. There was a lot of ongoing work to try to highlight the issue but the problem was due to a small number of irresponsible dog owners.

Resolved –

(a) That the Neighbourhood Enforcement Team carry out statutory public consultation to introduce Dog Control Orders in order to tackle the following prescribed offences under Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005:

(i)  Failure to remove dog faeces (Borough wide Order);

(ii)  Failure to keep a dog on a lead in specified locations;

(iii)Failure to put and keep a dog on a lead when directed by an  Authorised Officer (Borough wide Order);

(iv)  Permitting a dog to enter land from which dogs are excluded;

(v)  Limit the number of dogs under control of any person in a designated area (Borough wide Order).

 (b)That the following be added as paragraph 85a, Part 3 to the Scheme of Officer Delegations for Assistant Director of Public Protection:

  Authority to amend and/or extend existing Dog Control Orders in consultation with the relevant Commissioner.

(c)  That the current level of fine for dog fouling of £50 be increased to £80 (this is the maximum permitted fine under The Environmental Offences (Fixed Penalties)(Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2006) and that officers look into the possibility of lobbying for an increase to the maximum permitted fine for dog fouling.