CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL

 

NOTICE OF AN EXTRAORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING – 11 MARCH 2004

 

Dear Councillor,

 

On the request of Councillors Benstead, Bradnack, Downham, Todd-Jones and Wright, the Right Worshipful the Mayor has called an extraordinary meeting of the Cambridge City Council which will be held in the Council Chamber of the Guildhall on Thursday, 11 March 2004 at 6.00pm and I hereby summon you to attend.

 

Dated 3 March 2004

 

                                               Yours faithfully

 

   R Hammond

                                              Chief Executive

 

1       APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

2       PETITION – DESIGNATED PUBLIC PLACES ORDER

 

Two versions of a petition (with slightly different wording) have been received with a combined total of over 500 signatures of residents of the City stating the following:

 

“We, the undersigned request that the City Council make a designated public places order to apply to the areas identified by the police, so that they have the discretionary powers to arrest and detain people who cause a nuisance to others by consuming alcohol in public.  We understand that this will not affect ordinary law-abiding people who wish to enjoy a drink in the open.”

 

“We, the undersigned request that the City Council make a designated public places order to apply to the areas listed (attached) so that the Police have the discretionary powers to arrest and detain people who cause a nuisance to others by consuming alcohol in public.  We understand that this will not affect ordinary law-abiding people who wish to enjoy a drink in the open.”

 

Any member of the Council and/or not more than four residents may present the petition(s).  On being called by the Mayor, the person(s) presenting the petition(s) may speak for a total of no more than five minutes.

 

Members of the Council may question the person(s) presenting for five minutes, which can be extended to ten minutes at the discretion of the Mayor.

 

3       NOTICE OF MOTION

         (Councillors Benstead, Bradnack, Downham, Todd-Jones and Wright)

 

         In the light of the experience of 92 English local authorities which have used Designated Public Places Orders to deal with drinking and associated anti-social behaviour in public places, and of the advice given to members and officers of Cambridge City Council on 4th Feb 2004 by the Local Government Minister on this issue, this Council resolves to accept the offer of government assistance to pursue the use of Designated Public Places Order powers to meet the needs of the city of Cambridge

 

To achieve this, the Council further resolves:

 

"1.  To rescind its decision of 19 November 2003 not to pursue the option of designated public places orders for Cambridge;

 

2.  To establish an ad hoc committee of members to exercise the Council's powers in respect of DPPOs

 

3.  To consult urgently with Home Office officials on the best way to use  DPPO powers to meet Cambridge’s needs, and to request that, in the light of Home Office advice, officers prepare a report to the ad-hoc committee identifying public places which are suitable for designation, along with evidence to support designation, and any relevant financial implications”

 

 

 

THE NEXT MEETING OF THE COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED FOR 6pm THURSDAY 20 MAY 2004

 

 

Information for the public

 

You can ask questions on an issue included on the agenda, or on an issue which is within the Council’s powers. If you wish to ask a question related to an agenda item contact the committee officer (listed below under ‘contact’) before the meeting starts.  If you wish to ask a question on a matter not included on this agenda, please contact the committee officer by 10.00am the working day before the meeting.  Further details concerning the right to speak at committee can be obtained from the committee section.

 

Contact: Gary Clift, Head of Committee Services  on 01223 - 457011