Decisions

The Council's delegated budgets scheme allocates budgets of £15,000 to each Ward covered for the financial year 2018/2019. The funding for this scheme can be spent on supplementing funding public services, for the benefit of the local community.

Councillors Clapham and Maycock of Bispham Ward have requested £3,403 as funding to the Community and Environmental Services Department for all gullies to be cleaned in Bispham Ward.

Councillors Hutton and L Taylor of Clifton Ward have requested £3,180 as funding to the Illuminations Department for the purchase and installation of 2 large lit Christmas Trees.

Councillors Ryan and Mrs Wright of Greenlands Ward have requested £625 as funding to the Community and Environmental Services Department for bollards to be installed on Devonshire Road outside nos. 253 to 257 to prevent driving and parking on the pavement.

Councillors Elmes and Singleton of Marton Ward have requested:

(i)£1,590 as funding to the Illuminations Department for the purchase and installation of a large lit Christmas Tree.

(ii)£530 as part funding together with Hawes Side Ward and Tyldesley Ward to the Illuminations Department for the purchase and installation of a large lit Christmas Tree.

Councillors Campbell and Kirkland of Park Ward have requested £3,190 as funding to the Illuminations Department for the purchase and installation of a large lit Christmas Tree to include new infrastructure for the site.

Councillors Cox and Humphreys of Squires Gate Ward have requested:

(i)£995 as funding to the Parks Department for the purchase and installation of 2 large self-watering planters for Highfield Road.

(ii)£750 as funding to the Parks Department for the purchase and installation of a metal picnic table for Louis Horrocks Park.

Councillors I Coleman and Smith of Talbot Ward have requested £1,595 as part funding together with Brunswick Ward to the Illuminations Department for the purchase and installation of a large lit Christmas Tree to include new infrastructure for the site.

The Leader of the Council agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To authorise the requests, as submitted.

To outline the proposed options for the legal model for Blackpool and Lancashire’s Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) to inform decision making in order to progress with the development and implementation of the Regional Adoption Agency (RAA).

To agree for a Local Authority hosted model and that Lancashire County Council will host the Regional Adoption Agency on behalf of Blackpool Council and Lancashire County Council.

The Council's delegated budgets scheme allocates budgets of £15,000 to each Ward covered for the financial year 2018/2019. The funding for this scheme can be spent on supplementing funding public services, for the benefit of the local community.

Councillors Blackburn and G Coleman of Brunswick Ward have requested £1,595 as part funding together with Talbot Ward to the Illuminations Department for the purchase and installation of a large lit Christmas Tree to include new infrastructure for the site.

The Deputy Leader of the Council agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To authorise the request, as submitted.

The Head of Licensing Service deals with a number of requests for licences under the Licensing Act, the Gambling Act and other pieces of legislations. Details of the licences, applied for and granted are outlined in the report.

The Head of Licensing Service agreed to grant the licences as set out in the attached Appendices.

To consider the proposed Blackpool Borough Council (Dog Control and Dog Fouling) Public Space Protection Order 2018, which has been formulated following a comprehensive public consultation exercise, which included the following proposals:

• Dogs on leads – increasing the current number of dogs on leads areas to include Fishers Field, Promenade Middle Walk, Cabin Walk, Starr Gate Tram Circle and South Promenade Grass Embankment;
• Dog exclusion areas – in addition to the current exclusion, to include marked-out sports pitches at all times whether in use or not;
• Number of dogs walked – limit the maximum number of dogs exercised by one person to four, with only two off a lead at any one time;
• Means to pick-up – that a dog walker/owner must be able to provide the means to pick up their dog’s faeces at the request of an authorised officer;
• Dogs on leads by request – to continue with current powers that exist;
• Microchipping – to disallow non-microchipped dogs from being exercised off-lead in any public space, with a fixed penalty notice of £100 for non- compliance.

A question was also included in relation to the minimum age a child or young person should be able to walk a dog.

To consider whether to continue dialogue with interested parties, as a result of positive discussions and commitment from all sides to make Blackpool a more dog friendly town. (See 5.19).

The Cabinet Member agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To approve the Public Space Protection Order Dog Control and Dog Fouling 2018 at Appendix ‘A’ for a period of three years starting from 1st December 2018.

2. To delegate to the Head of Legal Services to seal and advertise the Order.

3. In relation to the specific proposals:

•          Dogs on Leads – increasing current number of dogs on leads areas to include:

-           Fishers Field – to agree not to include. (See 5.18.2)

-           Promenade Middle Walk – to agree as it is classed as a service road;

-           Cabin Walk (Cliff top foot walk from Uncle Tom’s Cabin to Little Bispham)– to agree not to include and instead to be designated Dogs on Lead by request;

-           Starr Gate tram circle – to agree as result of proximity to tram track;

-           South Promenade Grass Embankment– to agree as adjacent to tram track.

•          Dog Exclusion areas – to agree not to change current dog exclusion areas and not include marked out sports pitches, which will remain dog exclusion areas when in use. (See 5.18.2)

•          Number of Dogs Walked – to agree not to progress this proposal. (See 5.18.1)

•          Means to Pick-Up – to agree that an authorised officer will have the powers to challenge dog walkers as to whether they have a means to pick-up their dogs faeces, or not.  The aim is for this to be intelligence led from individuals, Dog Interest Group or Friends of Parks.  (See 5.17.5)

•          Dogs on Leads by request – to agree to continue with the existing order, which allows authorised officers to request a dog be put on a lead. (See 5.17.4)

•          Microchipping – to agree not to progress with this proposal. (See 5.18.3)

To not implement any restriction regarding the age of which a child or young person should be permitted to walk a dog, while noting that this may be revisited in the future (See 5.18.4).

4. To not implement any restriction regarding the age of which a child or young person should be permitted to walk a dog, while noting that this may be revisited in the future (See 5.18.4).

5. To agree to form a group that meets regularly, which includes representatives of the Dog Interest Group and other interested parties, with the following key areas of work to consider:

•          To review grazing land within the Borough to see if any areas can be opened up for use by dog walkers;

•          To work with the Dog Wardens in order to consider greater education in terms of managing and owning a dog;

•          To consider a campaign and ways to promote Blackpool as a dog friendly resort;

•          To support the Council in helping to identify irresponsible dog owners, to facilitate the enforcement and encouraging a wider audience to provide intelligence.

•          To review current provision and facilities related to dog walking and potential enhancements that can be considered, e.g. Signage/bins.