Current Issues
East Ayrshire Council should actively promote and support the use of all of the enforcement measures contained in the ‘Anti-Social Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004’.
MOTION TO COUNCIL BY CLLR SALLY COGLEY
SECONDED BY CLLR GRAHAM BOYD
Presented to Full Council by Sally Cogley
The script below is a summary, for the full presentation please watch the EA council meeting YouTube video – linked below.
Following a number of walkabouts within my communities, attendance at the usual community meetings, conversations with constituents and, being ‘in tune’ with what is going on, it has become increasingly evident to me that anti-social behaviour is increasingly destructive. It seems that a small but significant cohort of disengaged, antisocial people, from across the age ranges are having a disproportionate and negative impact on our communities.
Community members are increasingly frustrated by both the Police and East Ayrshire’s failure to act in any meaningful way.
The Act contains a number of measures that we could use, including ASBO’s, Dispersal Orders, plus the requirement to have a stated Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy. This is a strategy that is prepared jointly by East Ayrshire and the Chief Constable. This would outline, what we (EAC) can do and what the police can do and what you – the constituents can expect from us.
I fear for many of our young people who grow up without positive role models and without a concept of right or wrong, young people who have little understanding of boundaries and no understanding that certain actions (and indeed inactions) have consequences. We are letting down such youngsters, who, having seen and been involved in antisocial behaviour with zero consequences until the age of 16 have no learned behaviour, and, the so-called support, at that age then, suddenly disappears.
We can all see a massive disenchantment with both local and national government by members of the public and the consequential rise in popularity of extreme political parties.
When change occurs incrementally, we accommodate it, and we normalise it. This is exactly what has happened in relation to ASB. What seems to have become ‘normal’ behaviour today would not have been so 20 years ago. Indeed, during my presentation to full council last week, I rhetorically asked…… ‘How have we got here?’ I recently listened to Gareth Southgate’s Dimbleby Lecture in which he spoke about the value of positive role models – I urge all of you to listen to this enlightened piece of broadcasting.
It serves no purpose to dwell on why we (like many other local authorities) have not used all of the available powers under this act. I (seconded by Cllr Graham Boyd) caused a lively discussion on 15/5 with the introduction of this motion. The outcome was recognition by Full Council that what we are doing isn’t working, perpetuating the status quo simply is not an option, we must change what we are doing. This motion to Council was unopposed and endorsed with full support.
As elected members it is incumbent upon us to act in a meaningful manner that will make change. We have the tools to do so- we must show leadership and use the tools that the government has given us.
Sjc 19/05/25
