Meeting with Judy Latimer, Paul Southcombe, Councillor Sally Haydon, Councillor Briars-Delve, Nicola Horne (Environmental Health Manager)

13 June 2023

 

We (Paul and I) outlined what happened to us on February 7 2023. Council reps were sympathetic and said that that kind of treatment would not continue.

Paul said that an in-house investigation was all well and good, but a public enquiry was needed to make public all the wrongs that have been wrought by the council in the past in connection with the PSPO.

He also said that those people who have been fined should be reimbursed, and an apology given to all those fined or mistreated by council enforcers.

During the above conversation, Ms Horne said that the body cameras were not used beyond the first meeting with us on the field. The wardens turned them off after a short time.

Ms Horne volunteered to initiate an official complaint for me against the council regarding our treatment.

Ms Haydon also said she would follow up on my complaints against Ms Smith and Mr Bingley, lest they go astray.

Ms Haydon stated that the PSPO would continue for another three years.

I asked when the consultation would be held. I was told it was imminent.

When I asked whether the council would listen to different views, they said ‘yes’. But I again asked Ms Haydon why there was a consultation if she could assure us now that the PSPO would continue. She said that certain aspects of the PSPO may be changed, for example, having dogs in cemeteries.

I asked whether if enough people contested the PSPO, would there be a change of policy. They replied that they would have to look at it.

( I need to confirm if this assertion that the PSPO would continue without a wholesale review of its content and implications is in fact legal).

Ms Haydon stated that people should find another area for dog walking if there was a prohibition on off-lead dogs. She herself went to Plymbridge Woods. – This ‘displacement effect’ is specifically discouraged in the document Guidance to Local Councils on setting up a PSPO.

Several times I addressed the disproportionality of the PSPO, as it benefits a tiny percentage of the population of the city: those who play organised sports. Simultaneously, it bans dog owners from using the fields, and we are the majority users of the park space.

This was countered with: we have to consider people who are frightened of dogs and might be scared if a dog runs at them; we have to think about what happens if people let their dogs run rampant during a football match.

Paul countered: and what do you do if people don’t like children running around the park?

I said that a blanket ban on dogs on sports pitches was no more appropriate than imposing a 10 mph speed limit across the city because certain individuals might run a red light. Silence.

The three council representatives said they were thinking how to enforce the PSPO without using current tactics, particularly when people refused to give their names.

No conclusion came about in terms of fundamental change of policy on dog control. 

However, I was assured that Ms Horne would initiate an official complaints procedure against the council for our and others’ mistreatment. Also, I was assured that my complaints against Mr Bingley and Ms Smith dating from March 31 23 and April 01 23 would be actioned.

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