Issue - meetings

Public Space Protection Order- consultation on banning the amplification of busking in Abbey Churchyard, Abbey Green and Kingston Parade.  A presentation will be given on the outcome of the public consultation which took place earlier this year and the Council’s approach with respect to amplified busking.

The presentation slides are attached.

A member of the public Brian Webber made a statement on ‘Public Space Protection Orders’ (The text of the statement is amended to these minutes). Mr Webber spoke about the issues of busking around the Abbey

Please note that items 12 and 13 were taken together so this minute is the repeated at item 13.

Cathryn Humphries, Team Manager Licensing and Environmental Protection gave a presentation on items 12 and 13 (The presentation slides are attached to the agenda papers for this meeting). The slides covered the following:

·  Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 – the new powers

·  What’s new about this Act?

·  Closure Orders

·  Community Protection Notices

·  Public Space Protection Orders

·  Public Space Protection Order – proposal to ban amplification of busking in Bath

·  Public Space Protection Order – consultation on banning amplification from busking

·  Public Space Protection Order – the consultation

·  Area of proposed PSPO

·  Consultation Workshop

·  Main consultation results

·  Busker complaints 2014-15

·  The current situation

·  The way forward

Panel members made the following points and asked the following questions:

Councillor Turner asked who could issue a community protection warning letter, the officer explained that a Council officer or PCSO could do this.

Councillor Hale commented that a half-way house in dealing with the issue of the amplification of busking is no good and it has to be a yes or no on a ban. He stated that he is a voluntary steward at the Abbey and some of the noise from buskers is atrocious. He explained that this level of noise is unacceptable as some people use the Abbey as a place of refuge and it is totally wrong that individuals can affect the whole Abbey environment.

Councillor Romero stated that she welcomed the actions taken up to now which have been proportionate.