Decision details

The Assistant Chief Executive - Local Engagement, in consultation with the Executive Member for Corporate Services

i)               approved the 2026 Unauthorised Camping (Wild/Fly Camping), Fires & BBQs Public Spaces Protection Order (‘the Order’) as set out at Appendix A;

ii)              authorises the Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Democratic to make the Order by affixing the Council Seal to the Order and

iii)             authorise Officers to publicise the Order once made, in accordance with legal requirements.

To provide a clear and continuing legal framework for the effective control of unauthorised camping, fires and BBQs in the restricted areas along the North Yorkshire coast.

The proposed PSPO is part of a holistic approach that offers support to anyone who is homeless through existing procedures working with housing options and the rough sleeping teams which will continue to be applied. As such issuing an Fixed Penalty Notice when a person is clearly homeless would not be in the public interest and officers and partners will continue to attempt to engage with anyone rough sleeping/considered homeless.

Having the PSPO in place does not restrict the Council’s ability to use Part 55 Possession Proceedings within the specific PSPO areas or any other land that the Council owns in respect of unauthorised encampment. Part 55 is used to gain possession of council land if a person refuses to leave having been given formal notice. Possession proceedings will be undertaken in accord with the Council’s Unauthorised Encampment Policy and the associated procedures as part of the holist approach mentioned above.

The PSPO facilitates a swift resolution and potential penalty if an unauthorised encampment and associated equipment covered by the PSPO is not removed once instructed by an authorised officer of North Yorkshire Council or a Police Officer.