The consultations, which complied with best practice guidelines, engaged the open spaces forum, City News, the Evening Argus, the Citizen Panel, local television news and used posters, leaflets and council’s website.

It was felt that the scheme should broadly reflect public opinion and the results of the consultations informed the design of the new rules. The public feedback on the status of the city’s historic squares demonstrated that residents wanted to keep these spaces as dog exclusion areas.

The scheme was resolved and implemented by full Council last year. The amended, consolidated and simplified rules on keeping dogs under control came into force on 1 January 2009, replacing older, less transparent, inconsistent byelaws, as required and recommended by Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act 2005.

Experience informs us that this subject attracts very strongly held and opposing views. Changes to amend the dog control orders are not simple and would require another careful public consultation process and all that that will involve in terms of demands upon resources and management through the decision making process to full Council.

Before we would embark on such a process we would request strong evidence that there is a clear community view for a change. Even then, this would be likely to be very controversial as were the last consultations.

If you have any queries regarding my response please do not hesitate to contact me so I can resolve any outstanding issues.

Yours sincerely,

Roy Pickard

Environmental Health Manager

Environmental Health & licensing

Bartholomew House

Bartholomew Square

Brighton

BN1 6UD