Agenda and minutes

Overview and Scrutiny Committee (meeting as the Crime and Disorder Committee) - Wednesday 9th March 2016 7.30 pm

Venue: Council Chamber, Maldon District Council Offices, Princes Road, Maldon. View directions

Contact: Committee Services 

Items
No. Item

1014.

Chairman's notices

Minutes:

The Chairman drew attention to the list of notices published on the back of the agenda.

 

The Chairman welcomed Spencer Clarke, Community Safety Partnership Manager, and Inspector Andy Sawyer of Essex Police to the meeting. 

1015.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

There were none.

1016.

Minutes of the last meeting pdf icon PDF 28 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the special meeting of the Committee held on 18 November 2015, (copy enclosed).

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

(i)              that the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 18 November 2015 be received.

 

Minute 607 – Essex Police Review

Councillor S J Savage commented that bullet point six on page 3 of the Minutes should refer to “…a large number of mental health issues…”.

 

RESOLVED

 

(ii)            that, subject to the above amendment, the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 18 November 2015 be confirmed.

1017.

Public Participation

To receive the views of members of the public on items of business to be considered by the Committee (please see below):

 

1.               A period of ten minutes will be set aside.

2.               An individual may speak for no more than two minutes on a specific agenda item, the time slots to be allocated on a “first come first served” basis.

3.               Participation may take the form of a statement, or alternatively a question to be addressed to the Chairman.  There will be no discussion on questions put unless it is formally moved.  In line with the current scheme applied to other Committees, the questions must:

·                 not be defamatory, frivolous, vexatious or offensive;

·                 not be the same or substantially the same as another question to the same meeting or anything so put in the last six months;

·                 not involve the disclosure of confidential or exempt information.

4.               Anyone wishing to speak must notify the Committee Clerk between 7.00pm and 7.20pm prior to the start of the meeting.

 

Minutes:

None received.

1018.

Disclosure of Interest

To disclose the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, other Pecuniary Interests or Non-Pecuniary Interests relating to items of business on the agenda having regard to paragraphs 6-8 inclusive of the Code of Conduct for Members.

 

(Members are reminded that they are also required to disclose any such interests as soon as they become aware should the need arise throughout the meeting).

 

Minutes:

Councillor S J Savage declared a non-pecuniary interest as he was a substitute Member on the Police and Crime Panel.

 

Councillor M S Heard declared in the interests of openness and transparency that he was employed by Essex Police in a civilian role.

 

Councillor Mrs P A Channer, CC declared a non-pecuniary interest as she was the Council’s representative on the Police and Crime Panel, and also as she was an Essex County Council (ECC) Member. 

1019.

Maldon District Community Safety Partnership Update pdf icon PDF 70 KB

To receive a presentation from the Community Safety Manager and consider the report of the Director of Customers and Community (copy enclosed).

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Customers and Community asking Members to note the progress of activities undertaken by the Maldon Community Safety Partnership and to also note the proposed priorities for 2016 / 17 and received a presentation from the Community Safety Partnership Manager.

 

Appendix 1 to the report outlined the statutory duties aligned to the Community Safety Partnership.  Following completion of the strategic assessment of crime, health and data perceptions from the last year, officers recommended that the priorities outlined in the report be adopted.  Action plans for each of the priorities were attached as Appendices 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 to the report. 

 

Attached as Appendix 7 to the report was a copy of the most recent Essex Police strategic management performance data.

 

The presentation and report provided an update on a number of areas, in particular the following:

·                 Statutory Duties: The Officer outlined a number of areas relating to the statutory functions of the Maldon Community Safety Partnership (CSP) as outlined in Appendix 1 to the report. 

·                 Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Update: Members noted that the current PCC, Mr Nick Alston, indicated that he would not be standing for re-election.  The process for appointing a new commissioner was commencing soon with the election taking place on 5 May 2016.

·                 Victim-Offender-Location: These sub groups continued to meet on a regular basis and working streams for each group were effectively impacting on various areas of community safety.

·                 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014: Members were reminded of the new Essex Police response to anti-social behaviour and how this involved each case being assessed on the new THRIVE call assessment model.  This ensured that each report is risk assessed for threat, risk and harm before allocation for a response or to a partner agency (i.e. a noise complaint would be referred to Maldon District Council). 

 

A number of questions were raised and the following information provided in response:

 

·                 Reducing Crime, the Fear of Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour: Councillor M S Heard asked for clarification on how the figures relating to the reduction in the fear of crime were measured.  The Community Safety Partnership Manager confirmed that information is collected in the form of surveys at community events, via the website and county tracker surveys.  Topics are looked at in detail and assessed. 

·                 Community Speed Watch: Concern was raised that there were still many volunteers across the District willing to be trained however the resource for training was not forthcoming.  The Community Safety Partnership Manager responded that this was a priority for the team and would be moved forward.

·                 Community Safety Events: Councillor Mrs P A Channer, CC asked for clarification on how the success of an event is measured.  The Community Safety Partnership Manager clarified that each project is evaluated to suit the nature of the event, whether it be by surveys, social media or direct communication with school pupils and teachers.

·                 Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO’s): The Community  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1019.

1020.

Any other items of scrutiny that Members wish to bring forward

Minutes:

Councillor S J Savage proposed that a piece of scrutiny work be put to a future meeting of the Committee in respect of the Local Development Plan (LDP).  The Chairman responded that as the LDP was still an on-going process and not finalised then it would not be appropriate to consider it at this time.  Councillor Savage therefore withdrew his proposition.