Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence and details of any Councillor (or co-optee substitute) nominated to attend this meeting in place of a member of this panel.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillor Wanda King.

There were no named substitutes.

Apologies for absence were also received on behalf of the following partners and interested parties;

 J Bridge (Magistrates Court), K Hazeldine (Redditch Anti-Harrassment Partnership) and Insp I Joseph (West Mercia Police).

To invite Councillors to declare any interest they may have in items on the agenda and any Party Whip.

There were no declarations of interest of any Party Whip.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 8th March 2010.

(Minutes attached).

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 8th March 2010 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To note the contents of the Panel’s Actions List.

Members considered the Panel’s Action List and noted that all of the actions that had been requested at the previous meeting of the Panel had been completed.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

To consider and approve the contents of the draft protocol for the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Panel, subject to any amendments considered appropriate.

(Report attached)

The Committee considered the amended draft protocol for the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Panel.

Members noted that further amendments might be required once the future of the Government Office for the West Midlands (GOWM) was known.

RESOLVED that

the protocol be approved.

To receive information from representatives of the Partnership regarding the work of the Redditch Community Safety Partnership.

(Report attached and oral report to follow).

Officers provided answers to a number of questions as follows:

1)                 What are the current “hot issues” for community safety in Redditch?

The current issues for Redditch identified by the annual Strategic Assessment were alcohol related crime and disorder, anti social behaviour and environmental issues such as graffiti, litter and dog fouling.  These issues were also raised at PACT (Partners and Communities Together) meetings and the Council’s Roadshows.  The Place Survey and the Worcestershire Viewpoint Survey had highlighted that there were negative perceptions of the levels of crime and anti social behaviour in Redditch.

2)                 To what extent has the Redditch Community Safety Partnership prioritised these “hot issues”?

All the issues highlighted in answer to question 1) above had been identified and prioritised through the Strategic Assessment and Action Planning process.  Monthly Tasking meetings had taken place and had identified ways to address the issues in partnership with other agencies.  Funding criteria for the Tasking Grant Scheme were directly linked to the partnership’s priority areas.

3)                 How successfully has and / or is the Redditch Community Safety Partnership addressing these “hot issues”?

The previous Local Area Agreement (LAA) had included specific funding for the reduction of crime.  Stretched targets of 17.5% had been achieved and Worcestershire County Council had received £1.2 million additional funding.  Redditch Community Safety Partnership’s share had amounted to £500,000.  The Partnership had also led on tasking and the employment of a Community Safety Analyst, which had later come to be recognised nationally as best practice.

4)                 Are the major issues facing Redditch and prioritised by the Redditch Community Safety Partnership different to other areas?

It had been found that the majority of the “hot issues” were the same countywide with only slight differences linked to the make up of the population.   However, it had been found that sexual offending was a particular issue for Redditch.

5)                 Please could you provide an overview of the work that is currently being delivered by the Redditch Community Safety Partnership?

As well as overseeing ongoing projects the Partnership is making progress with a programme of partnership development beginning with a review of the Tasking Group.  Work was ongoing with Worcestershire Safer Communities Board and other district Community Safety Partnerships to develop a countywide Communications and Marketing Strategy and Year Planner.  It was hoped that this would keep residents better informed and counteract their feelings of being unsafe.

It was noted that over time the Redditch Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Panel could help to communicate the positive work and achievements of the partnership to the public and other local stakeholders.  Officers were asked to report back to the Partnership that the Panel could potentially provide this type of assistance.

RESOLVED that

1)           Officers report back to the Community Safety Partnership the potential for the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Panel to help communicate the positive achievements of the Partnership to the public; and

2)           the report be noted.

To consider the contents of the minutes from the four most recent meetings of the Redditch Community Safety Partnership’s Strategic Board.

(Minutes attached and minutes to follow).

Members received, for information, the minutes of a number of meetings of the Strategic Board of the Redditch Community Safety Partnership.

RESOLVED that

the minutes be noted.

(During consideration of this item, Members discussed matters that might necessitate the disclosure of exempt information.  It was, therefore, agreed to exclude the press and public prior to any debate on the grounds that it included information relating to any action taken, or to be taken, in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime.)

(There is nothing exempt, however, in this record of the proceedings.)

To consider the contents of the Redditch Community Safety Plan.

(Report to follow).

 (During consideration of this item, Members discussed matters that might necessitate the disclosure of exempt information.  It was, therefore, agreed to exclude the press and public prior to any debate on the grounds that it included information relating to any action taken, or to be taken, in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime.)

To consider any referrals to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee direct, or arising from:

·              The Executive Committee;

·              The Overview and Scrutiny Committee; or

·              Other Sources.

-                The causes and consequences of violence against women and girls – referral from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(Presentation to follow).

Following a referral from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Officers delivered a presentation on the causes and consequences of violence against women and girls.  Members expressed confidence that the Police and Redditch Community Safety Partnership were taking appropriate action on the issues highlighted in the presentation.

Officers reported that a referral had been received some time ago from Councillor Juliet Brunner, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, asking members to consider a review of the fear and perceptions of crime and anti social behaviour.

RESOLVED that

1)                 no further action be taken on the referral from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and

2)                 Councillor Brunner be asked to confirm whether her referral is still and issue.

(During consideration of the first part of this item, Members discussed matters that might necessitate the disclosure of exempt information.  It was, therefore, agreed to exclude the press and public prior to any debate on the grounds that it included information relating to any action taken, or to be taken, in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime.)

(There is nothing exempt, however, in this record of the proceedings.)

(Officers to circulate a copy of the Community Safety Manager’s presentation to all members of the Panel.)

To consider the Panel’s current Work Programme and potential items for addition to the list.

(Report attached).

Members considered the Panel’s current Work Programme and suggested potential items for inclusion on the list.  This included the following matters:

1)                 Community Safety Partnership – assessment of funding streams; and

2)                 Policing White Paper – 21st October 2010 Panel meeting.

It may be necessary, in the opinion of the Chief Executive, to consider excluding the public from the meeting in relation to the following items of business on the grounds that exempt information is likely to be divulged. It may be necessary, therefore, to move the following resolution:

“that, under S.100 I of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following matter(s) on the grounds that it/they involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant paragraphs (to be specified) of Part 1 of Schedule 12 (A) of the said Act, as amended.”

RESOLVED that

Under S.100 I of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following matters on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 (A) of the said Act, as amended.

Community Safety Partnership – Strategic Board Minutes

Redditch Community Safety Plan