Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Tuesday, 20 September 2011

Dog Fouling & Animal Welfare-Scrutiny Review

In response to the historically high amount of contact made by residents to councillors regarding the amount of dog waste left on public pavements and in public parks in the Borough, Cabinet considered the findings of a Select Committee review suggesting improvements that could be introduced to combat this problem; as well as looking into the performance of the Council's Animal Welfare Service following the introduction of legislation that had impacted on the delivery of its services.

The Council receives approximately 350 complaints a year about dogs fouling in public places. Currently there are 200 dedicated dog bins located in popular dog walking areas which are provided to reduce the amount of dog waste left on public footpaths and play areas. Legislation is in place to assist the Council to deal with irresponsible dog owners who do not remove the mess made by their pet. Under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 authorised Council Officers can issue a £50 Fixed Penalty Notice to anyone that is seen to allow their dog to foul in a public place and not clean up after it. Failure to pay the fixed penalty could result in prosecution that may lead to the offender being fined up to £1,000.

Cabinet supported the introduction of further measures to reduce the problem of dog fouling, with particular attention being paid to tackling the problem in areas such as on and around school grounds and children's play areas, as well as improving the detection and speed of response to locations affected by dog fouling. A pilot scheme is also to be introduced that will use biodegradable pavement painted stencils to serve as a reminder to dog owners to act responsibly. The Select Committee worked with Crooksbarn and St Mark's Elm Tree Primary Schools as part of the process of highlighting the harmful effects of this problem and is committed to the Council working more with schools in the future regarding responsible dog ownership education packages.

It was noted that the Council's Environmental Health Service receive approximately 2,000 animal welfare requests each year regarding dogs. Historically the North East has been the busiest area in the UK for animal welfare issues with the highest investigation and prosecution work load for the country. Stockton Council operates differently to many other local authorities because it has its own Animal Welfare Department. The level of work undertaken by the department has hugely increased as a result of the adoption of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 which transferred all responsibility for stray dogs from the police to local authorities. Cabinet supported the proposal to lobby local MP's to campaign for the introduction of compulsory dog registration and micro chipping of dogs.

A copy of the full scrutiny report can be obtained from www.stockton.gov.uk/yourcouncil/scrutinfo/selectcomm/environment/

Neighbourhood Policing, Neighbourhood Watch and CCTV-Scrutiny Review

Cabinet was also presented with a review undertaken by members into the above services; which considered how each of these functions contributed towards community safety in the Borough. The review found that whilst the levels of crime in the Borough had been falling, the fear of crime amongst residents remained, and in some case was increasing, and so an investigation into this aspect of community safety also formed part of the Committee's work.

Neighbourhood Policing was found to have had an overall positive effect with local teams embedded in the community and relationships with local organisations having been established in a number of cases. Police Community Safety Officers could be seen to be making a valuable contribution towards community safety in the Borough. However, the Committee found that in some aspects there was room for improvement, particularly regarding the need for steps to be taken to increase community involvement and awareness, especially with regard to the contact number for local teams.

In addition it was found that there remained some confusion for residents regarding the various community safety teams that exist in Stockton and how and when to contact them, especially with regard to the Police non-emergency numbers, and the Council's Neighbourhood Enforcement Service. It was proposed that there was an opportunity for an investigation to take place regarding the feasibility of undertaking joint training between Cleveland Police and the Council in order to improve the capacity of call handlers so that resident concerns were recorded and passed on as a matter of course, or that calls could be transferred to the appropriate service where this is possible. At present, many residents appeared to be contacting, or were told that they were contacting, the 'wrong' organisation, and the onus was passed back to the original caller to contact the correct organisation.

Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) is one of the largest volunteer initiatives in the United Kingdom and relies on the work of interested and committed local residents who come together to form schemes that can range in size from a few houses to schemes that cover whole estates. These schemes are normally led by a co-ordinator who is often supported by a committee of members. Their purpose is to:

• 'Cut crime and the opportunities for crime and anti-social behaviour
• Provide reassurance to local residents and reduce the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour
• Encourage neighbourliness and closer communities
• Improve the quality of life for local residents and tenants.'

In Stockton Borough there are just under 1500 individual Neighbourhood Watch schemes with a membership of approximately 28,000. The schemes are supported by the work of a Police Liaison Officer who acts as a link with the police and provides intelligence liaison.

In Stockton Borough there are just under 1500 individual Neighbourhood Watch schemes with a membership of approximately 28,000. The schemes are supported by the work of a Police Liaison Officer who acts as a link with the police and provides intelligence liaison.

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras were widely used throughout the country as a tool for the prevention and detection of crime. In Stockton, the main CCTV network is operated by the Council, and is controlled from the Security and Surveillance Centre. As of August 2008, there were a total of 310 cameras connected to the Centre. These cameras cover public spaces such as Stockton, Billingham and Thornaby Town Centres, and private sites including Cowpen Road Depot, whilst others cover a mixture of both. Three 'mobile' cameras are also available, and these can be installed in locations for a temporary period of time, typically through being attached to lampposts. Two of the cameras are made available to ward councillors upon request, and the deployment of these is funded through the Council's delegated Small Environmental Improvements Budgets. The police have operational control over the third mobile camera. In Stockton, during 2007/2008, images captured by the Council's CCTV network had been of assistance in leading to 467 arrests, with a similar number projected for 2008/2009.

Important numbers for members of the public wishing to contact the above services are as follows:

• Cleveland Police (non-emergency calls)- 01642 302930/326326;
• Council's Neighbourhood Enforcement Service- 01642 528439;
• Neighbourhood Watch enquiries - 01642 302341 ( Ron Baker , Police District Liaison Officer).

A copy of the full scrutiny report can be obtained from www.stockton.gov.uk/resources/council/scrutinyres/housingfinal/nesreport.pdf

The third of the scrutiny reviews considered by Cabinet concerned Tees Active, the independent non profit leisure trust which managed the Council's public leisure centres since 2004.

The following centres were managed by Tees Active:

• Billingham Forum - The Forum includes a pool, solarium, sauna, sports hall, squash courts, ice rink, indoor bowling and Activ8 Gym. The ice rink is of regional significance and is one of only 3 in over a 100 mile radius.
• Castlegate Quay Watersports Centre - this is a purpose built sailing and paddling centre. Activities include sailing, kayaking, canoeing, power boating and bell boating.
• Splash - this contains a 25m pool with wave machine and water features, and an Activ8 gym.
• Thornaby Pavilion - this is a large dry sports centre and includes one of the largest sports halls in the region. Facilities are available for squash, a solarium, and an Activ8 gym. TAL now operate Thornaby Indoor Bowls Club, which is also situated in the Pavilion building.
• Thornaby Pool - this is a family orientated 25m pool, and is extensively used by local schools.

It was noted that the number of swim visits to these facilities had increased by an average of 3.1% over three years compared to a national average of 2.1%;
Between March 2004 and March 2008, ice visits had also increased by 54%;
and Activ8 Gym visits had increased from 90,515 in 2003-04, to 131,379 in 2007-08. The total number of visits to TAL facilities in 2007-08 stood at 1,564,967, with approximately 16% of the Borough's population holding TAL membership, although the majority of users were non-members. The introduction of free swimming from 1st April 2009 for a two year period in any of the Council's pools for people over 60 and under 16, was also expected to lead to a significant increase in the number of visitors.

Regeneration Strategy & the Economic Climate

Cabinet also considered progress made against the Regeneration Strategy for Stockton 2007-2012. The strategy focused on the regeneration priorities for the Borough and presented its key ambitions over the short, medium and longer term. The report highlighted where focus had changed to reflect current needs and changing priorities brought about by the current economic climate; and members noted the action being taken to address the difficulties caused as a result.

The report concentrated on several areas of regeneration, which included: Economic Climate; Tees Valley City Region; Economic Reviews; Framework for Regeneration; Tackling Worklessness; Building Schools for the Future (BSF); Primary Capital; Momentum: Pathways to Healthcare.

The BSF programmes plans for two new Academies, were noted. If approved after statutory consultation, these Academies would add another dimension to the quality and choice of schools available. It was intended that one Academy would specialise in Digital Creativity, ICT and Media and the other in Health and Wellbeing, Sport and Science. These areas of expertise would produce a highly skilled workforce and strong enterprise network throughout the Borough to support the growth of the businesses of tomorrow. The transformation of primary schools via the Primary Capital Programme, whereby the Council would receive an additional £40 million over 14 years to replace or remodel at least 50% primary school buildings, was also noted. Further funding would be allocated for this programme from other educational grants, internal funding were possible, and external partners.

The proposals for regeneration within the Momentum programme included: a state of the art hospital facility replacing the two current locations in Stockton and Hartlepool; a range of integrated health centres in strategically accessible locations bringing together doctors practices alongside a range of devolved health provision into the community (previously only available in central hospitals); new academy with a health specialism sponsored by Durham University's medical faculty; University proposals for a Health Innovation Excellence Centre for research specialising in disability and social services; extra care facilities integrated into regeneration locations currently operating in Hardwick to be followed by an integrated approach in Billingham supported by £30m PFI credits and enhancing the town centre proposals.

Cabinet noted both positive and negative economic changes that had taken place in the engineering/manufacturing/chemical industries and the service/retail sector. Support available for businesses included:

• Businesses can access Government's 'Solutions for Business' one-stop shop which will provide assistance with accessing finance, innovation, research and development, training and skills, overseas trade, and tips on running a greener business. As part of this initiative, the new Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) was launched in March 2009 to deliver efficiency and energy savings.
• A bid to launch more than 300 start-up businesses in the North East has been given almost £600,000 via Single Programme and ERDF contributions, to extend the Prince's Trust, and the Enterprising Young People Initiative;
• A Retention and Restructure Conference organised by nebusiness.co.uk and Newcastle business advisers Weightman Associates, will be held on 21st May at Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club;
• North East companies will benefit from £724,000 from the European Union. The 'Graduates for Business' programme (managed by Entrust and delivered in partnership with the University of Teesside) will assist SMEs access high level graduate knowledge and expertise;
• Government will be bringing forward regulations to enable businesses to defer payment of 60% of the increase in their 2009-10 business rate bills until 2010-11 and 2011-12, this will benefit approx 3,800 ratepayers in Borough area. Any new costs for local government associated with this change will be funded by the Government;

With regard to the support available for people affected by the economic down turn, £2.4m regional funding was available for 'Innovation Vouchers' to encourage collaboration between SMEs and academic and engineering institutions, to purchase support services and improve their competitiveness and efficiency. One North East had also continued their 'Real Help for Businesses and People Now' media campaign through the launch of a new website www.realhelpnortheast.co.uk - an on-line entry point to signpost people and businesses to the help available in the North East.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) had also launched a high-quality, tailored, money guidance service entitled 'Money Made Clear' to give people the tools, knowledge and confidence to make the most of their money, both now and in the future. The service was being piloted in the North East and North West of England for a year.

Finally, Cabinet considered the following reports that contributed to the Council's Local Development Framework:-

• Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment;
• Open Space, Recreation and Landscaping Supplementary Planning Document (SPD);
• Submission Version Core Strategy and Revised Habitats Regulations Assessment.

The first Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) had been published on 20th October 2008. SHLAA was the key component of the evidence base to support the delivery of sufficient land for housing to meet the community's need for more homes. The assessment was required by national planning policy, set out in Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing (PPS3).

The national SHLAA Practice Guidance stated that the Assessment, once completed, should be regularly kept up-to-date (at least annually). Therefore, the 2008 SHLAA was now in the process of being reviewed and updated to produce the 2009 SHLAA.

Cabinet was provided with a schedule of sites with the internal stakeholder assessment, the schedule of sites discounted as being unlikely to yield 10 dwellings or more and the schedule of sites with designations to which zero housing potential has been ascribed. It was intended to consult externally on the assessment over the five-week period Friday 8th May to Friday 12th June 2009.

The Open Space, Recreation and Landscaping SPD would be designed to provide certainty to developers and improve the Council's negotiation of the planning obligation contributions required for open space, sport and recreation facilities. This was to be achieved through the application of standards for provision set out in the document. Standards had been determined for the quantity, quality and proximity of open space, sport and recreation facilities. The next stage of the process was to undertake consultation on the document for a period of six weeks. Comments received would be used to modify the document where appropriate. It was anticipated that the consultation would be undertaken during April and May 2009. Once comments had been considered and amendments made, the document would return to Cabinet to be considered for adoption.

It was explained that the Core Strategy DPD was the key document in the new Local Development Framework (LDF) and would provide strategic planning policies for the Borough. The next stage in the process was for the Core Strategy to be submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination. Cabinet was presented with the Submission Version of the Core Strategy with proposed changes highlighted, a separate schedule of all comments made to the Publication Draft and how they had been dealt with and the Habitat Regulations Assessment. The Habitat Regulations Assessment had also been amended since publication to acknowledge comments submitted by Natural England and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. It was explained that once the proposed changes had been agreed, the Publication Draft Core Strategy and a Schedule of Proposed Changes would be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in May 2009 and dates for the independent examination would be arranged.

Full copies of each of the above LDF reports can be viewed at http://www.egenda.stockton.gov.uk/aksstockton/users/public/admin/kab12.pl?cmte=CAB&meet=53&arc=71