Issue - meetings

(Report of the Director of Place and Sustainability. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for the Environment). The report seeks approval to make Dog Control Orders in the Borough.

Cabinet considered a report, presented by the Cabinet Member for Communities, which set out the results of consultation with respect to the introduction of Dog Control Orders (DCO) and that sought approval to make DCOs within all applicable areas within the borough.

It was noted that there had been extensive consultation with residents with regard to the introduction of DCOs and that work was also being carried out with organisations such as Wood Green Animal Shelter to raise awareness of the new restrictions. Cabinet was advised that there would be a two week period after the introduction of DCOs during which penalties would not be issued and advice would be given to members of the public during this period regarding the new restrictions.

RESOLVED:

1. That approval be given to the making of Dog Control Orders, applicable to all land within the London Borough of Haringey, which was open to the air and to which the public were entitled or permitted to have access (with or without payment) as follows:

Ø      Dog on Leads Order – dogs to be kept on a lead on roads, in car parks and cemeteries and in parks and open spaces of less that half a hectare

Ø      Dogs on Leads by Direction Order – these make it a requirement to place a dog on a lead when instructed to do so by an authorised officer

Ø      Fouling of Land by Dogs Order – these make it an offence to fail to clean up after a dog

Ø      Dogs (Specified Maximum) Order – these limit to six the number of dogs that can be walked by an individual person

2. That the making of the following Dog Control Order, relating to the specific areas set out below, be approved:

Ø      Dog Exclusion Order – dogs to be excluded from children’s playgrounds at all times and excluded from marked sports pitches when pitches are in use. (Details are set out in paragraph 5.6 of the report).

Other Options Considered

Originally a pilot scheme was considered to introduce DCO’s in five parks within the borough with dogs being completely excluded from Russell Park. Based on discussions and feedback from stakeholders it was felt that in order to be effective the scheme should be widened to cover the whole borough. In addition it was considered that the control should be extended to other land uses such as highways and land controlled by Homes for Haringey.

Reasons for Decision

Residents, Friends of Parks and Safer Neighbourhood Teams have raised with officers their concerns over dogs that appear to be out of control and how intimidating this can be. The need for responsible dog owners to exercise their dogs must be balanced with the need for residents to be able to enjoy public spaces that are free of dog fouling and where dogs are kept under control by their owners.