Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence and details of any Councillor nominated to attend this meeting in place of a member of this Committee.

There were no apologies for absence.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests, and any Party Whip.

There were no declarations of interest nor of any party whip.

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Panel held on Wednesday 29th October 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider an update on the work of the North Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership in the Borough of Redditch.

(Report attached)

Officers presented a briefing note updating Members on the work of the North Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership (NWCSP) in the last 12 months.  During the presentation of this report the following key points were highlighted for Members’ consideration:

·         A review of Community Safety Partnership arrangements in Worcestershire was being undertaken.  The aim of the review was to determine whether responsibilities and lines of accountability were clear. 

·         The review would also provide an opportunity to assess how resilient partners were and the potential for the partnership to adapt in a changing legislative environment.

·         The contents of the NWCSP plan had been updated at the latest meeting of the Partnership Board that day and a copy of the new plan would be circulated for the consideration of relevant partners.

·         In previous years the NWCSP had to apply to the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for grant funding.  However, partnerships in Worcestershire were working with the Office of the PCC to develop a new commissioning model which would influence future funding settlements.

·         An initial presentation from the Office of the PCC to the partnership board had addressed the approach that they would be adopting to commissioning which would focus on the evidence basis for funding projects.

·         A number of multi-occupied block security schemes had been delivered in various locations such as Winyates district centre.  Officers were aiming to deliver further security schemes in Auxerre House and in the three storey flats in Batchley in due course.

·         The alley-gates that had been installed on Unicorn Hill had helped to deter anti-social behaviour as intended and had been welcomed by local businesses.

·         The Redditch Roadway Arts project had had a number of successful outcomes.  The works undertaken for this project needed to be delivered in appropriate weather conditions and therefore the work was mainly seasonal.

·         A number of specialist watch systems exist in the Borough such as Pub Watch and Shop Watch and through the Business and Rural Crime plan other systems such as Farm Watch and Horse Watch, to protect horses and expensive equine equipment, were being explored with the aim of working with specific communities to help to reduce crime.

·         There had been significant interest amongst staff in participating in Introduction to Crime Prevention Training.  As these sessions had been oversubscribed the Community Safety team was aiming to deliver further sessions in 2016.

·         There continued to be under reporting of hate crimes.  In some cases this was because people were not always aware that an incident was a hate crime though in other cases victims did not feel comfortable reporting hate crimes. 

·         Funding had been provided for events to be run as part of Hate Crime Awareness Week.  Elected Members and partners would be invited to attend an event at Hindlip Hall as part of this event and transport would be provided to enable invitees to attend.

·         The Worcestershire Safe Places Scheme, involving provision of safe locations, such as the Town Hall, to vulnerable and distressed people, had already been introduced  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.