Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from H Jackson and R Stone Co-opted Members.

Members are reminded of their personal responsibility to declare any personal and prejudicial interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992 relating to Council Tax, the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and the Members Code of Conduct

Note:

(a)  Members are reminded that they must identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest and

(b)  Where Members withdraw from a Meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chair when they leave

No Declarations of Interest were made.

To consider report of the Deputy Chief Executive

The Chair welcomed Councillor M Symonds Cabinet Member, Paul Lewis and Ryan Evans to the Meeting.

Paul Lewis then led the Committee through the ‘Anti-Social Behaviour / Crime and Disorder’ report and together with Ryan Evans and Councillor M Symonds responded in detail to the following questions raised on the report:

·        Paragraph 5.4 – Vehicle related ASB – Is this a specific job for the Police – Is it the responsibility for the Police to take up or is this going to change now

·        Public Car Parks – The problem of preventing groups gathering – Is there a need for locked gates, guards 24 hours a day or fencing

·        Paragraph 6.4 – Irresponsible dog owners – Is the problem of dog fouling the responsibility of Environmental Health Officers

·        Community Wardens – How many will there be – Who is going to finance this – Is it SPF Funding – Are there any other Authorities locally where this is working well

·        Paragraph 6.5 – Joint Enforcement Team – Explanation requested of the operation of this Team with the Police, what day and time of the day etc – Request for feedback to the Committee from these Team Meetings

·        The system of reporting – Frustration at the 101 system – Is the system working effectively

·        Paragraph 7.4 – Requests for CCTV in areas of Wards and the need to develop a system to install a Camera that is justified and agreed within the Local Authority set up

·        Capital spend on CCTV over the past few years – Is there a need for further Capital spend on this

·        What system is used by RSL’s

·        If there is a hot spot area could there be talks with the Police to install  Cameras

·        Perception of under reporting on anti-social behaviour – Is this the perception of the Community Safety Team – Can it be evidenced between anecdotal reports and reports

·        The use of Social Media Platforms – such as hash tag ASB incidents to flag up

·        What do the Officers see as the best route to improve public engagement when reporting

·        Vehicle related ASB and Council Car Parks hot spots – Do the Officers see a benefit of Automatic number plate recognition

·        Paragraph 6.4 – Community Wardens – Clarification sought on the timescale of application and if successful how long before the Wardens could be in place

·        CCTV – Opinion of some regarding this – How can the system be upgraded to tackle ASB – Is there evidence that ASB has reduced since CCTV has been put in place

·        ASB – Hard to say if improved post Covid

·        Number Plate recognition – Are all Council Car Parks covered by CCTV – Should be able to introduce number plate recognition and how would this information be collated

·        Car meets – Could they be policed and an area found for legitimate meets

·        Automated Support System to access reference numbers – Pop up chat box – Has this been considered – Could it be adopted alongside the 101  ...  view the full minutes text for item 384.

To consider the attached report

The Chair referred the Committee to the Forward Work Programme 2022/23 and advised of arrangements that were being made for the Workshop with the Police with a provisional date of 25 January 2023 at 4.00pm and that when confirmed invitations would be issued.

Questions were then raised regarding the representatives from the Police attending this Workshop and if all Members of the Council would be invited to also attend this Workshop.

The Chair advised that there were no referrals.

Did we address the recommendations in each report and how have we added value?

The Chair referred to the report that had been considered at the Meeting in relation to Anti-Social Behaviour/Crime and Disorder and the Workshop that was being arranged to consider this further.

Any outstanding actions?  Feedback from workshops / task and finish groups / enquiry days, etc.

The Chair referred to an e-mail circulated to the Committee by the Scrutiny Officer giving an update on outstanding actions.

A Member then referred to the cleansing of the Housing Waiting List and it would be helpful to receive a breakdown of figures and to what extend cleansing had been undertaken as Members did not know the current breakdown and for all Council Members to know these figures.

Another Member then referred to the update and requested a follow up and further details in relation to the Housing and Homelessness Session and the Renting Homes Act.

The Chair advised that there was no other business deemed urgent.