Agenda and minutes

The Chairman drew attention to the list of notices published on the back of the agenda and asked Members to bear in mind the corporate goals.

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

Apologies had been received from Councillors R P F Dewick, M W Helm and N R Pudney and, in accordance with notice duly given, Councillors Miss A M Beale, Mrs M E Thompson and Rev. A E J Shrimpton respectively were substituting.  An apology for absence had also been received from Councillor E L Bamford.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 9 March 2016 (copy enclosed).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 9 March 2016, be approved and confirmed.

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.

Mrs Wendy Stamp of Burnham-on-Crouch addressed the Committee in relation to Agenda Item 6 – Consultation on the Police and Crime Plan 2016-2020.

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).

Councillor Mrs P A Channer CC declared a non-pecuniary interest as she was a Member of Essex County Council which had links with the Police & Crime Commissioner.

Councillor M S Heard declared in the interests of openness and transparency that he was employed by Essex Police in a civilian role and that any comments or observations he made would be solely from public records.

The Chairman requested that the order of the meeting be altered to hear Agenda Item 7 before Agenda Item 6 and this was agreed.

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

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 since the last meeting held on 9 March 2016 and also to note the proposed priorities and action plan for 2016/17 and the success of the initiatives undertaken by the partnership to date.

Members were also asked to note the questions and answers arising from the meeting of the Parish Clerks Forum on 5 July as detailed within Appendix 2 of the report.

Members also received a presentation by the Community Safety Partnership Manager.

Attached as Appendix 1 to the report was a copy of the Essex Police Performance Summary to August 2016.

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). 

·                 Community Safety Priorities: The Officer outlined the areas of priority which were protecting and supporting vulnerable people and victims of crime, reduction in the harm caused by alcohol and drug misuse, promoting road safety and challenging irresponsible driving, reducing crime, the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour and reducing re-offending.

·                 Wider Strategy: the Officer advised Members of the wider strategy which included the Maldon District Council Corporate Plan which in turn crossed over onto other groups, plans and strategies.

·                 Police Crime Commissioner (PCC) Plan 2016 - 2020: The Officer drew Members’ attention to this section of his report which highlighted the current crime statistics for Maldon, including the two ongoing homicide investigations in the District.  He also drew attention to work on prevention that was being done in conjunction with a Government grant.

·                 Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB): The Officer drew attention to the Quarter 2 period for which figures were available and highlighted a new Youth ASB Group which aimed to engage primary and secondary age children who were at risk.  A Criminal Behaviour Order had been issued for a high risk perpetrator.

·                 Crucial Crew 2016: The Officer drew attention to various projects including Crucial Crew and the Burnham Graffiti Art Project which had proved to be popular and engaged young people.  The High Sheriff Lorna Rolfe JP had enjoyed a successful visit to Crucial Crew,

·                 What’s New?: The Officer highlighted various new initiatives within the District.

Following the presentation, the Chairman drew Members’ attention to a quantity of Crimestoppers Cards specifically aimed at Drug Prevention and supplied to the authority by The Community Partnership which would be distributed throughout the District by the Rangers.

Questions were raised and the following information provided in response:

·                 Youth ASB Group: The Community Safety Partnership Manager advised that the majority of the 26 youth ASBs was children of secondary school age, but there were some primary school children in that group. 

·                 Section 17: - Plans for areas of concealment  The Community Safety Partnership Manager advised that Section 17 had been mentioned to highlight  ...  view the full minutes text for item 637.

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

The Community Safety Partnership Manager introduced the report and advised Members that it was the same report that had gone to the Community Services Committee on 11 October 2016.  He highlighted the priorities of the partnership and new priorities within the plan.

The new Police and Crime Commissioner had started a six week consultation which had been launched on 24 August 2016.  The comments and valuable feedback made at the initial launch had been taken on board and would be presented to a panel in late October/early November 2016 with a view to publication in late November 2016.  The Community Safety Partnership Manager drew Members’ attention to the plan attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

The Community Safety Partnership Manager concluded that there would be a much clearer focus for the District, particularly around road safety, which was a big concern in the rural areas.  Members would be given the opportunity to scrutinise the work at the Overview and Scrutiny (Crime and Disorder) Meetings which took place bi-annually.

The Chairman reminded Members that this had come before the Community Services Committee on 11 October 2016 and that the suggested consultation response had been amended slightly.

The Director of Customers and Community read out the amended consultation response:

“The Council believes that the proposed plan complements some of the existing priorities of Maldon Community Safety Partnership and it addresses both emerging threats and the concerns of the public particularly in relation to police visibility. The Council would like to see a separate priority dedicated to reversing the trend in sexual abuse across our communities.  The plan is very ambitious around the recruitment of special constables and whilst this is greatly welcomed to provide more local focus in rural areas progress must be fed back on a regular basis because expectations will be high.  Failure to deliver on the police visibility agenda will create a wider void between the public and police on satisfaction and the ability to perform and detect crime in rural areas’.

The Chairman invited the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner to give a response regarding the figures.

The Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner advised that the landscape of crime had changed considerably over a short period and the draft plan represented the concerns of local people, particularly in relation to visible local policing and anti-social behaviour.

Various questions were raised and responded to:

·                 Rural crime had increased and partners in the Safer Essex Rural Crime Strategy had identified risks around crime that are being responded to.  There was a significant problem with the theft of Land Rover Defenders.  The Police shared concerns about thefts and burglaries in the rural Dengie area. 

·                 Whilst it was difficult to be visible all the time in rural areas, the recent development in community safety hubs would take priorities from local crime and disorder strategies and prioritise that area.  Hard work would be put in to ensure increased police visibility.

·                 The solved rates for crime in the Maldon district are  ...  view the full minutes text for item 638.

There was none.

The Chairman thanked the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Jane Gardner, Inspector Andy Sawyer and Spencer Clarke for attending the meeting.