Agenda item

            The Assistant Director informed the Committee that the Clean Neighbourhoods Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, which had come into effect in April, 2012, provided councils with additional powers to deal with, amongst other things, dogs related issues. The Council had, subsequently, introduced two of four Dog Control Orders, prohibiting dog fouling and limiting to four the number of dogs which a person could be in control of at any time. Following feedback from a City-wide consultation exercise in 2012, the implementation of the two remaining orders, namely, making it an offence to allow dogs off their lead in designated areas and excluding dogs from designated areas, had been delayed, to allow for further consultation and a wider analysis of users’ needs.

            She reported that the additional consultation had highlighted a requirement for facilities to be made available in parks to allow for dogs to be exercised off-lead. As a result, a pilot exercise had been operating for over two years within the Grove Playing Fields, which had provided an enclosure specifically for that purpose. She pointed out that the continued consultation process around the pilot initiative had provided Council officers with a greater understanding of the issues which needed to be addressed. As part of that process, she was seeking permission for officers to work up a consultation and engagement framework, including a communications plan to assist Council officers to consult with dog owners and park users to seek an appropriate option for each park.

            The officer reported that, through research, three options had been identified as operationally feasible. 

1.     the Introduction of dog enclosures in various parks across the city. These enclosures would be similar to the enclosure that had been piloted in Grove Park and would be most suitable for parks that had large sections dedicated to sports pitches, playgrounds and community vegetable gardens. The fenced enclosure would leave no doubt or confusion with regards to where dogs should be allowed off leads in that particular park;

2.     “Off lead Areas” in various parks across the city – these areas would have adequate signage in order to clearly demarcate the area that dogs were allowed to run free. This option would be best suited to larger parks with no football pitches where natural features, for example: hedges, tree lines, rivers or fence lines and pathways could be used as boundaries; and

3.     time zoning system – a system that would permit dogs to be off their lead in the entire park but only at certain times of the day. This system would be best suited to small parks and open spaces where it would be difficult to erect a dog enclosure or operate off lead zones.

            It was noted that in all dog off lead options the controls for dog fouling would apply.

            The Committee:

·        noted that work was progressing to establish dog off lead facilities in Parks and Open Spaces;

·        agreed to support an engagement process through the Area Working Groups to determine local area needs;

·        agreed that a consultation and engagement exercise would be conducted across each area facilitated; and

·        granted permission for officers to work up a consultation and engagement framework which would include a communications plan, to assist Council officers consulting with dog owners and park users to seek an appropriate option for each park.