Councillors have agreed to now explore whether a public protection order is needed to tackle anti-social behaviour in Solihull town centre after a rare show of cross party unity.

The issue was discussed at the latest full council meeting after a motion was brought forward by the Conservative group.

The motion requested Cllr Wazma Qais, the cabinet member for communities, to undertake an assessment whether the statutory tests for the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) are met.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council implemented its first PSPO last summer in Chelmsley Wood in response to anti-social behaviour there, while a second was implemented earlier this year to tackle illegal street racing near Birmingham Airport.

A first breach of an order results in a warning, followed by the issuing of a fixed penalty notice of £100 for further breaches.

Introducing the motion Cllr Heather Delaney said Solihull remained one of the safest boroughs in the West Midlands with crime levels "well below many neighbouring areas".

Cllr Delaney said the incidents of anti-social behaviour involved a small number of people but could have a "disproportionate affect" on how safe people feel.

"This motion is not about talking Solihull down or suggesting we have a crime problem – we do not," the councillor said.

"However we should not ignore the concerns residents and businesses raise with us about anti-social behaviour."

It emerged discussions had taken place with the Green Party and Liberal Democrats for an amendment to also look at youth engagement and what opportunities the authority could provide for young people in the town centre.

Cllr Max McLoughlin, leader of the Green Group on the authority, said: "We know partly what is driving this.

"Its the gathering of dozens, sometimes hundreds of young people arranged in minutes on social media arriving (in the town centre) with nothing planned and nowhere to be.

"That's why the amendments are what matters on this."

Liberal Democrat councillor James Bradley said: "I welcome the possible implementation of a PSPO because it will help protect the town centre and keep it as a space everyone can enjoy.

"We have had these large gatherings recently, primarily young people, coincidently not surprisingly in school holidays.

"I don't think it is young people are coming out with the intention of engaging in anti-social behaviour, it's really a lack of outlets for engaging with their friends socially."

Councillors unanimously approved the amended motion at the meeting held at the Civic Suite on July 7.