Issue - meetings

To update the Board regarding Dog Control Orders.

Mark Evison, Park Manager, introduced the report as circulated. The following additional comments arose from the discussion with the Board:

·        The Board asked what the chances of success were likely to be were the Palace to pursue a new Dog Control Order (DCO) to enact the three proposed dog-on-lead areas within the Park, and it was reported that this could not be accurately predicted.

·        It was suggested that there may be a number of other parks dissatisfied with the generic Borough-wide DCO, and there may therefore be a benefit in waiting for the Borough to undertake a wider review of DCOs, and seek to implement any changes at this time. Concern was expressed, however, that there was no indicated date as to when such a review might be carried out.

·        It was suggested that the Board should write to the Council to formally state its disappointment that the previous proposal had not been taken on board, and indicate that it wished for the previous proposal made in respect of dog-on-lead areas within Alexandra Park to be looked into within the next 12 months, either as part of a wider review or on a stand-alone basis.

·        It was noted that the rose garden was looking very good; Mark Evison advised that this was a legacy project for the 150^th anniversary of the park, and that an interpretation sign would be produced later in the year.

RESOLVED

i)             That the Board note the current situation in relation to Dog Control Orders; and

ii)            That the Board write to the Council to indicate that it wished for the previous proposal made in respect of dog-on-lead areas within Alexandra Park to be looked into within the next 12 months, either as part of a wider review or on a stand-alone basis.