Agenda item

This report sets out the activities and progress on work areas within Councillor Hicks’s Portfolio which fall within the remit of this Committee. This information is provided in relation to the Portfolio Holder being held to account.

Discussion:

Members received an overview of progress on the areas within the terms of reference of this Committee and covered by the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact as set out below:

·        CCTV

·        Community Officers

·        Community Safety Partnership, including tackling drugs, alcohol abuse and domestic abuse

·        Emergency Planning

·        Enforcement (executive functions only)

·        Environmental Health

·        Trading Standards

·        Travellers

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact, Councillor Hicks, responded to Member’s questions and comments as follows:

• CCTV – A member referred to an incident in Balmoral Road on Saturday 13 December and sought clarification as to whether this had been captured on the Council’s CCTV cameras. The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact was unable to respond to this specific request but assured the Committee that the CCTV service was highly regarded and operated in partnership with Maidstone, Swale and Gravesham. He confirmed that both the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable had visited the CCTV Control Room and had been impressed with the services provided. The service had also been the recipient of a number of awards.

Referring to the CCTV Partnership, whilst noting that the CCTV Service covered a wider area than Medway, a Member requested that information be supplied to Members specifically relating to criminal activities and Anti Social Behaviour in Medway identified by the CCTV Service and whether these statistics were on the increase. He also referred to the existence of CCTV warning signs in Leybourne and asked whether Medway had considered erecting similar signs to make people feel safer.  The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact confirmed that he would arrange for this information to be supplied direct to the Member concerned.

Another Member asked for information as to how many CCTV cameras were out of action at any one time. In response, the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact advised that all CCTV cameras required maintenance and repair but very few were out of action. He referred to an incident at The Vineries in Gillingham where one CCTV camera had been vandalised and advised that subject to obtaining evidence, vandalism of CCTV cameras would result in prosecution.

• Food Safety – In response to a question as to the regularity of food safety inspections and, whether Officers actively looked for evidence of bush meat, the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact confirmed that the Food Safety Team regularly inspected food premises, provided advice and if necessary served notices. He confirmed that should the proprietor not comply with the notices, Officers had the powers to close the premises. He confirmed that whilst Officers were aware of the issue of bush meat, none had yet been found in Medway.

• Trading Standards – In response to comment from a Member about the lack of Trading Standard prosecutions, the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact advised that Committee that there had been a number of instances of traders selling illegal cigarettes that had recently been investigated by HM Customs and Excise.

A member then sought clarification as to the position in Medway on the sale of legal highs. The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact confirmed that there were 4 - 5 premises within Medway licensed to sell legal highs and he confirmed that all of these premises were regularly inspected.

• Emergency Plan – In response to a question as to where the Emergency Plan is publicised, the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact advised that this was available on the Council’s Website.

• Dog Control Orders – In response to information as to the issue of Dog Control Orders, thePortfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact confirmed that the Council served notices and prosecuted irresponsible dog owners.

Another Member sought information as to who was responsible for the cost of chipping stray dogs. It was confirmed that this was undertaken by the Dogs Trust at no cost to the Council or the dog owner.

• A Member requested that information be supplied as to why Medway’s parking penalty income had increased and whether officers were set targets to increase Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) issue.

• Travellers – A Member requested whether the Council was looking to provide another Traveller Site within Medway. The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact confirmed that the whole of Kent and Medway had underused authorised traveller encampments  as it was the case that not all travellers wished to live on a permanent site. He suggested that if any Member had a site in their Ward that they considered suitable for a Traveller Site, he would welcome this information being provided.

A Member expressed concern regarding the recent illegal camp of Travellers on the Strood Market Car Park. She stated that not only did the Travellers take up valuable car parking spaces but this has also resulted in loss of trade for the market traders. In response, the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact agreed that this had been unfortunate but advised that there was a legal process to be followed in removing illegal camps of Travellers and that this took a set period of time to complete.

• Whether the Council prosecutes landlords who rent out sub-standard properties – Whilst not within his portfolio, thePortfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact confirmed that the Council has recently prosecuted a landlord of a sub-standard property and that the Court imposed a high penalty. Unfortunately, the fine would go to the Court and was not paid to the Council.

• Domestic Abuse – In response to the question as to whether sufficient action was being carried out regarding the effect that domestic abuse has on children, the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact advised the Committee that he took the issue of Domestic Abuse very seriously as he used to undertake work for Kent Women’s Aid. He referred to the existence of two Women’s Refuges in Medway and advised that a legal team was available at the One Stop Shop at the Sunlight Centre in Gillingham to provide advice to victims of domestic abuse. It was intended that this service would be extended to cover Rochester and Strood in the near future.

He also reminded the Committee that under the scrutiny of the Community Safety Partnership, he had advised that the Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator would be undertaking a presentation to all Members in early 2015.

In addition there was a Domestic Abuse Forum that met regularly.

Decisions:

The Committee thanked Councillor Hicks for attending the meeting and answering Member’s questions and it was noted that:

a)     CCTV statistics and information on CCTV signage will be provided direct to Councillor Osborne;

b)     It be noted that there were plans for the One Stop Shop for Domestic Abuse advice, currently provided at the Sunlight Centre in Gillingham to be extended to Rochester and Strood in the near future.