Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Nora Ball and Iris Smith.  

To confirm as a correct record the enclosed minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 9 November 2009. 

RESOLVED – The minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 9 November 2009 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Information requested at the last meeting regarding a potential hotspot for alcohol misuse would be forwarded to the ward Councillors for Chorley North East and Chorley North West.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of your membership of another public body or one to which you have been appointed by the Council then you only need to declare it if you intend to speak.

If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

No declarations of interest were declared.

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask a question(s) on an item on the agenda will be asked to put their question(s) to the Committee.  Each member of the public will be allowed to ask one supplementary question within his/her allocated 3 minutes. 

No members of the public requested to ask a question at the meeting.

To consider and receive the enclosed summary of the Government Information Sheet, previously sent to Members electronically.  The summary has been prepared by Paul Lowe, Merged Crime and Disorder Reduction Manager.   

The Merged Crime and Disorder Reduction Manager presented a summary of the Government Information Sheet, previously sent to Members.  The document was an overview of Crime and Disorder Reduction partnerships.

South Ribble and Chorley Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships were currently piloting a merger of the two partnerships, the Safer Chorley and South Ribble Partnership, which commenced in July 2008 for a 20-month period.

In response to a query relating to the total budget, officers explained that in addition to the budget responsible authorities commit to the delivery of the crime and disorder agenda and the Chorley and South Ribble Pilot merged CDRP benefited from several grant funding pots.  Whilst it was not possible to undertake a cost analysis of the information sharing aspect of the partnership, the benefits were significant. 

The merged Responsible Authorities Group included Chorley Council, South Ribble Council, Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire Police Authority, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and NHS Central Lancashire. 

Members queried the involvement of the Probation Service and noted that from April 2010 this would be a responsible authority.  The Probation Service was an existing member of the Partnership and was already involved in the development of strategies and implementation of initiatives.  The reoffending rates for Chorley were queried. 

RESOLVED –

1.            The summary of the information sheet be noted.

2.            Details of the budget and how this had been allocated for the merged partnership across Chorley and South Ribble would be forwarded to Committee members. 

3.            The reoffending rates for Chorley would also be forwarded to Committee members. 

To consider and receive the enclosed draft protocol outlining the aims, objectives and roles for the scrutiny of crime and disorder. 

The Head of Democratic Services presented a draft protocol outlining the aims, objectives and roles for the scrutiny of crime and disorder. 

As the function was newly implemented, most Councils were adopting protocols setting out the expectations of the Committee and the partnership to ensure that relations were positively maintained. 

Members highlighted that crime and disorder scrutiny was not a complaints process for Members or officers, the purpose was to scrutinise the partnership not individual crime issues.  There would be the opportunity for members of the public to ask questions in the usual way at each meeting. 

The meeting could be used for Councillor Call for Action but only after issues had been pursued elsewhere.  Councillor Call for Action as a process could be used across all council services if required although to date there appeared to be little evidence that this was being used in this way. 

The protocol could be revised at any time, by agreement between all the interested parties, to enable continual improvement of the scrutiny process.

RESOLVED

1.            That the protocol be adopted subject to two amendments:

Paragraph 12: This will not however, include confidential information that might impinge upon actual operations undertaken by all partners or individuals, unless an individual gives consent for such information to be released.

Paragraph 15: Individual crime and disorder issues in Members’ wards will generally be best tackled at an operational level with community safety partners.

To receive and consider the enclosed report of the Corporate Director (Neighbourhoods).  

The Merged Crime and Disorder Reduction Manager reported that each year the CDRP had to produce a strategic assessment which had to be reviewed on an annual basis. 

The strategic assessment was evidence based and incorporated actions and initiatives.  The report had been considered by the Responsible Authorities Group at their last meeting. 

There were peaks of crime at certain times of the year and there was a need for members of the public to report crime to enable it to be measured.  Domestic violence could be a hidden crime. 

Members queried those measures and targets that had a red status. 

It was noted that 1.5 Reduce crime in Chorley.  Target 3% by March 2011 had been removed from the corporate strategy. 

Although 1.3 Reduce criminal damage. Target, downward trend. Baseline 1,458 (07/08) was set at red this was due to a month on month comparison.  There was a real need for partnership work on this and reductions were being achieved. 

6.2 Provision of specialist services and interventions - Maintain Specialist Domestic Violence Court status: funding had not been secured for the post of Independent Domestic Violence Advocates for 2010/11.  If funding was not secured this service could be lost.  There was potential to have an indicator for instances of repeat domestic violence next year. 

6.2 Provision of specialist services and interventions – Increase available places by 1.  Currently there are refuge places for 3 families.  There was no funding available to increase the provision, a meeting was scheduled to discuss the potential to increase provision. 

Member noted that there were six mini matacs within Chorley in areas with a disproportionate amount of crime and disorder issues.  The mini matacs were intelligence led.  South Ribble had recently introduced 1 mini matac. 

Promote the Safer Chorley and South Ribble Partnership.  An improved mechanism was requested for the communication of work undertaken by the partnership, both to the public and to Members, perhaps via PACT meetings.  It was AGREED that a quarterly report be submitted to Members via “intheknow”.  Advance notice of campaigns, where appropriate, was also requested via “intheknow”. 

It was suggested that a single branding scheme would be helpful for the public to identify with the partnership.  The Council’s communications team could be involved in developing this. 

Actions 2009-2011 1.6 Increase the number of available Speed Indicator Device (SpID) sites available in each Borough.  It was suggested that the Neighbourhood officers took on the responsibility for organising volunteers to staff SpIDs.  LCC had the responsibility for training staff and putting the SpIDs up.  Members noted the Council could review the potential for funding to SpIDs as part of the scrutiny of the budget for next year.  It was AGREED that clarification be provided on where responsibility lay for monitoring SpIDS at the next meeting. 

Reduce anti-social behaviour.  Advice and training had been provided to Housing Associations relating to Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions (ASBIs).  The use of these did save time in the long run, but Housing Associations  ...  view the full minutes text for item 103a

Chief Superintendent Williams reported that the partnership was progressing well and a business improvement plan had been created. 

The most positive aspect of the partnership had been the sharing of good practice and efficiencies achieved through collaborative working.  It would be helpful if the funding arrangements were less prescriptive.

It was noted that the Police would be treating Buckshaw Village as one policing area. 

A review of the partnership would be undertaken in the New Year to see how the merged partnership was achieving.  There had certainly been a reduction in management costs and an increase in performance.  Funding had also been secured which would not have been available to a sole CDRP. 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted. 

Chief Superintendent Williams explained that the crime figures for Chorley were relatively low and therefore could be seriously affected by a crime spree undertaken by one individual.  There had been an increase in the figures relating to burglary in October.  The figures were reported as a comparison to the same month the previous year. 

It was AGREED that further information be provided on the figures for serious acquisitive crime, burglary dwelling and serious violent crime at the next meeting as these show an increase.

Members discussed how scrutiny can go forward on crime and disorder and a report is requested to the next meeting outlining options, including whether joint scrutiny will be appropriate and the potential for Member Learning sessions with other crime and disorder partners being invited to contribute.

Councillor Joyce Snape left the meeting at 8.20pm.

RESOLVED

1.            That the report be noted and information requested be presented to the next meeting.

2.            That a report be presented to the next meeting on future scrutiny of crime and disorder, including whether it could be undertaken jointly with South Ribble, potentially through Member learning sessions and work with other partners within the partnership. 

To consider the Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan and the Council’s Forward Plan for the four month period 1 December 2009 to 31 March 2010 (documents enclosed).

The Committee considered the Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan and the Council’s Forward Plan for the four month period 1 December 2009 to 31 March 2010. 

RESOLVED - The work programme and Forward Plan be noted.