Issue - meetings

This report sets out the Community Safety Plan 2013-2016 for approval as part of the Council’s policy framework.

Discussion:

This report provided information on the operation of the Community Safety Partnership in 2012–2013, and sought approval to the proposed Community Safety Plan 2013–2016 for approval as part of the Council’s policy framework.

The draft Plan had been considered by the Regeneration, Community and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 11 April 2013 and Cabinet on 16 April 2013, as set out in paragraphs 6 and 7 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) screening form had been completed on the draft plan, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report, which showed that a full DIA was not required.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact, Councillor O’Brien, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services, Councillor Mason, proposed the recommendation set out in the report.

Decision:

The Council approved the Community Safety Plan 2013/2016, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report and the Action Plan as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

Background:

This report provided details of the Community Safety Plan 2013/2016. The Plan was required under section 6 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 which placed obligations on Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships, also known as Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs), to produce a Community Safety Plan to formulate and implement a strategy to reduce crime and disorder, combat substance misuse, and reduce re-offending. The Community Safety Plan formed a part of the Council’s Policy Framework.

The report provided information on the operation of the partnership in 2012–2013 and the proposed Community Safety Plan 2013–2016, which was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

Members were advised that following a strategic assessment and discussions with partners the previous priorities had been streamlined down to five for the coming year:

·        Tackle drug and alcohol abuse 

·        Tackle ASB and enviro-crime

·        Reduce re-offending

·        Tackle domestic abuse

·        Reduce the Number of People Killed or Seriously Injured in Road Traffic Collisions.

Key performance against these priorities was set out within the 2013 - 2016 Community Safety Plan Action Plan, which was attached at Appendix 2 to the report.

The Regeneration, Community and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered this report on 11 April 2013 and its comments were set out in an addendum report. During the discussion of this item the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact referred to thenew Rochester Fire Station and Road Safety Centre, which had been identified by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for inclusion within the Plan. It was agreed that these should be referenced within the background section of the Plan.

It was noted that a Diversity Impact Assessment screening form was attached at Appendix 3 to the report, which showed that a full Diversity Impact Assessment was not required.

Reasons:

The Community Safety Plan discharges the council’s statutory requirement to produce a plan for community safety.

The Community Safety Plan forms part of the Policy Framework and the Constitution requires the Cabinet to finalise its proposals for the Council to consider having taken into account any proposals from Overview and Scrutiny.

This report provides information on the operation of the partnership in 2012-13 and the proposed Community Safety Plan 2013-16. 

Discussion:

The Head of Safer Communities introduced the report and informed Members that the community safety landscape was still in a state of flux following the elections of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). The strategic assessment findings would be reported for scrutiny to this Committee on an annual basis and the Committee would then be able to make an informed decision about whether the plan would need to be referred to Cabinet and Council.

He reminded Members that the legislation controlling Community Safety Partnerships (CSP’s) had changed and there was more flexibility for them to determine the appropriate timeframes to be covered by their plan..  He also highlighted the priorities within the draft Community Safety Plan 2013-16, as outlined in the report.

Members discussed the plan and raised a number of points including:

·        The reduction in the number of fixed penalty notices (FPN) for littering offences, and more work being needed to bring those to justice who chose to ignore the law, especially with regards to fly tipping

·        With regards to domestic abuse, there were concerns around the difficulty in assisting offenders to attend courses, which can cost in excess of £300. Further work should be done with local partners to see how courses can be funded for those who cannot afford it. A further briefing note on support for those who have committed domestic violence crimes was requested.

·        Whether the Council had been in contact with the new PCC to see if there could be collaboration with Medway Council to look at alcohol and drug issues, as £500,000 had been earmarked to look at those issues.

·        Request that a report that had been carried out on Drug and Alcohol Services be shared with Members.

·        In terms of road safety the plan would be enhanced with the addition of the new road safety centre, which will be built with the new Rochester fire station.

·        The way police resources are currently used should be considered.  In some wards there are vehicles parked on pavements, which could lead to accidents, as pedestrians had to walk round the vehicles into the road.  This would be a low priority for police officers to deal with but could be something PCSOs could action if they were given the appropriate powers.

·        The need for further work with regards to addressing anti-social behaviour and in particular noisy neighbours, especially supporting the victims who have to suffer for long periods of time before anything is done.

·        There was a problem in Medway currently with dog fouling and behaviour, which needed to be looked at.

In response to the points raised by Members, the Head of Safer Communities welcomed the comments in relation to the issuing of FPNs for littering and fly tipping and explained that a combination of education and enforcement would be used to combat these problems. In addition, there were a number of options that officers could look into with regards to excluding dogs from certain spaces and dogs being required to be kept on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 999