Agenda and draft minutes

Overview and Scrutiny Committee (meeting as the Crime and Disorder Committee) - Thursday 29th November 2018 7.30 pm

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

Contact: Committee Services 

Items
No. Item

665.

Adjournment of meeting

Minutes:

The Chairman opened the meeting and advised that there would be a short adjournment.

 

RESOLVED that the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (meeting as the Crime and Disorder Committee) be adjourned at 7:30pm.

666.

Resumption of Business

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the meeting continues in open session at 7:35pm.

667.

Chairman's notices

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:

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

 

The Chairman welcomed Chief Inspector Gerry Parker to the meeting.

 

Public Participation:

Members were advised of the arrangements for public participation as set out on the agenda.

 

In accordance with the Council’s Public Participation Scheme the following Members of the public addressed the Committee.

 

·                    Mrs Wendy Stamp of 62 Maldon Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, raised two questions the first regarding how the levels of policing were going to increase to meet the demands of increases in population and the second relating to Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) sent to the police by the public and the systems in place to deal with these.

 

·                    Mr David Milne of Thistle Hall, Mope Lane, Wickham Bishops, advised Members of recent burglaries which had occurred in Mope Lane and questioned why CCTV evidence sent to the Police had not been followed up in his opinion.  He also asked how residents could request to take over control of the Lane.

 

At this point the Chairman advised that he had received a letter from Mr Michael Pudney which he had passed onto the Chief Inspector.

668.

Apologies for Absence and Substitution Notice

Minutes:

An apology for absence was received from Councillor I E Dobson and in accordance with notice duly given Councillor R Pratt was attending as a substitute for Councillor Dobson.

 

At this point and in response to a question, the Chairman advised that the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) would be holding a Members’ briefing prior to the January meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  The Director of Service Delivery also provided further detail regarding a public meeting to be held by the PFCC.

669.

Minutes of the last meeting pdf icon PDF 106 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 14 March 2018 (copy enclosed).

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

(i)              that the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 14 March 2018 be received.

 

Minute No. 903 – Chief Inspector’s Performance Report

It was noted that bullet point on Urban Street Gangs should refer to ‘4P’s plans’ and not 4pPlans.

 

Minute 904 – Maldon District Community Safety Partnership Update

An update was requested as to when the renewal of CCTV cameras would be taking place.

 

Minute 905 – Essex Police Rural Crime Strategy

It was noted that the Appendix referred to in the Minutes was not attached and the Chairman advised that this would be rectified.

 

RESOLVED

 

(ii)            that subject to the above amendment, the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 14 March 2018 be confirmed.

670.

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 R Pratt disclosed a non-pecuniary interest as a Member of Essex County Council and any items of business pertinent to that Authority.

671.

Maldon District Community Safety Partnership Update pdf icon PDF 131 KB

To consider the report of the Director of Service Delivery (copy enclosed).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received the report of the Director of Service Delivery detailing progress of activities undertaken by the Maldon Community Safety Partnership (CSP) since the last meeting held on 14 March 2018.  The report also highlighted the strategic priorities which were being proposed by the partnership for 2018 / 19.

 

It was noted that five key priorities had been identified and were set out in the report.  Members’ particular attention was drawn to the priority ‘tackling rural crime and strengthening communities’ which was applicable to the Maldon District in light of the crime trends seen in the past few years.

 

The most recent Essex Police performance summary (to October 2018) was attached as Appendix 1 to the report. 

 

The Community Safety Partnership Manager presented the report and provided Members with update on a number of areas relating to the Partnership set out in the report.  In addition to the report the following information was provided:

·                 Prevent Agenda – A meeting of the recently refreshed Independent Advisory Group had taken place on 26 November and at this meeting a presentation on the Prevent agenda was given and well received.

 

·                 Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) Update – Members were advised that the next Maldon PFCC public meeting would now be held on 9 January 2019 and Members would be advised of the detail regarding this once it had been confirmed.

Members noted that following a successful bid, £664,000 had been allowed to Essex over the next eighteen months to address youth violence.

 

·                 Community Safety Hubs – It was noted that the community policing team would be moving to offices at Chelmsford City Council in March 2019.

 

Members’ noted the continued good work done by the CSP and the liaison it had with Essex Police and other statutory partners.

 

In response to a number of questions raised by Members they were provided with the following additional information:

·                 the Director of Service Delivery advised that he would seek clarification regarding the distribution of council tax precepts on new homes build and ensure that a response was provided.

 

·                 Work to procure CCTV cameras was a joint initiative with Chelmsford City Council.  There had been some delay, but tender documents were expected to be released prior to Christmas with installation within quarter four.

 

·                 Chief Inspector Parker reported how demand on the Police had significantly increased over the last 12 months with no increase in resources.  He highlighted work on a new piece of work around restorative justice and community cautions and outcomes which had a significant part to play in relation to solved rates.  It was noted that the solved rates reported had changed since the date reported.

 

RESOLVED that current progress and the success of initiatives undertaken by the Community Safety Partnership to date, be noted.

672.

Update on Police Performance

To receive a verbal update from Chief Inspector Gerry Parker.

Minutes:

Chief Inspector (CI) Gerry Parker, District Commander addressed the Committee and provided Members with a detailed update, highlighting the following areas and reporting on the close work between the Police and its partners:

·                    Overall Crime – It was noted although there had been an increase in recordable crime for the District it was still one of the lowest levels in Essex.  Members were advised that when reviewing the figures provided they should be mindful that although some large percentage increases were reported these often equated to a small increase in actual numbers.  The Police were working with Neighbourhood Watch schemes in the area to strengthen this and it was noted that the Active Citizen cohort was increasing.

 

·                    Resources – Members were reminded that the Police Station at the Council Offices was manned 24 hours a day 365 days a year.  CI Parker reported that he had allocated four Officers as rural Officers to the Rural team and he outlined the work of this team.

 

·                    Current crime – It was noted although there had been an increase in recordable crime for the District it was still one of the lowest levels in Essex.  CI Parker highlighted a couple of specific cases where arrests had led to the prevention of further crimes occurring.

 

·                    Domestic abuse was a key contributor to the increase in common assault figures recorded.  It was noted that domestic abuse crimes were a priority for the force and Officers in the District were now equipped with body worn video.

 

·                    Stalking and Harassment volumes had significantly been affected following a rule change to the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2018.

 

·                    Dwelling burglaries were being targeted through targeted patrols, high visibility, use of social media etc.

 

·                    Anti-Social Behaviour – The Police were working closely with the Community Protection Team and CI Parker reported that eight community protection warnings had recently been served.  Covert patrols in key areas of the District had been undertaken and recent operations had had a significant impact on drugs and supply in the District.

 

·                    Public Engagement – Members were provided with a list of public engagements undertaken during the last few months and it was noted how these were an opportunity for residents to engage with the Police across various locations. 

 

Councillor P G L Elliott joined the meeting during this item of business.

 

In response to the questions raised by the public at the start of the meeting, CI Parker advised that:

 

·                    in respect of the question regarding the growth to the population of Burnham-on-Crouch and the strategy to ensure the level of policing met this this was a question for the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) around precept funding, demand and how that reserve was allocated.  CI Parker requested that the resident raise the question to the PFCC at the forthcoming public meeting.

 

·                    the Police received a large amount of CCTV from Burnham-on-Crouch residents and businesses and it was not possible to response to every person and advise what had been done regarding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 672.

673.

Changes to the Constitution of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel for Essex pdf icon PDF 99 KB

To consider the report of the Director of Service Delivery (copy enclosed).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Service Delivery, seeking Members agreement of the revised arrangements for the Police, Fire and Crime Panel on behalf of Maldon District Council (attached as Appendix 1 to the report).

 

It was noted that in October 2017 the Police and Crime Commissioner assumed responsibility for the fire service and his role was changed to Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.  At the same time the Police and Crime Panel became the Police, Fire and Crime Panel.  As a result of these changes it was necessary to update the ‘panel arrangements’ and seek agreement of them by all 15 local authorities in the Essex Police area.  Members were advised that the ‘panel arrangements’ had also been updated to reflect the experience of operating the panel over the first six years to existence.

 

The Chairman advised Members that this should be a recommendation to the Council.  This was duly noted.

 

In response to a question, the Director of Service Delivery advised that there would a senior representative from the Fire Service attending the Member briefing scheduled with the PFCC in January 2019.

 

RECOMMENDED

 

(i)              That the Arrangements for the Police, Fire and Crime Panel be agreed with effect from 1 February 2019;

 

(ii)            That Members note the rules of procedure will be adopted by the Police, Fire and Crime Panel and did not form part of the Panel Arrangements.