Issue - meetings

The Committee considered the report presented by the Business Manager – Public Protection, which informed the Committee of the incidents of fire related nuisance at Vicar Water Country Park. The report also sought approval to begin a consultation process on the use of Public Spaces Protection Orders to control the use of materials within the Park to reduce risk of further damage.

The Chairman suggested that a designated BBQ area be built into the park, something he hoped would be addressed through the consultation.

The local ward Member commented that the proposals were welcomed as Clipstone had suffered recently with anti-social behaviour.  Vicar Water had been awarded the Green Flag and the Rumbles project had offered a valued service to the community providing food parcels during the pandemic.

The Business Manager – Public Protection confirmed that the proposed consultation process would run for four weeks.  The listed groups and agencies in the report would be contacted, the public would be consulted through the Council’s website.  The Park Ranger would also speak to visitors at the park to obtain their views.  A report providing the consultation findings would be submitted to the March 2021 meeting of the Committee.

AGREED             (unanimously) that:

(a)                the proposal to consult on the possibility of introducing                                    a Public Space Protection Order at Vicar Water Country Park                    be supported;

(b)                the terms of the PSPO as being ‘a person or persons are                                     prohibited from the following activities being: the lighting of                            fires; barbecues; Chinese lanterns, fireworks; or using any                              article/object which causes a naked flame and which poses a                      risk of fire’, be agreed;

(c)                the list of consultees as set out in paragraph 4.3 of the report be agreed; and

(d)                a further report setting out the results of the consultation be                            brought back to the Leisure & Environment Committee.