Agenda for Community Safety Forum on Monday, 12th December, 2011, 4.00pm
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Agenda and minutes
PDF 211 KBVenue: Council Chamber, Hove Town Hall
Contact: Penny Jennings, Democratic Services Officer
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Procedural Business
(b) Declarations of Interest by all Members present of any personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Members regard the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.
(c) Exclusion of Press and Public - To consider whether, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, or the nature of the proceedings, the press and public should be excluded from the meeting when any of the following items are under consideration.
NOTE: Any item appearing in Part 2 of the Agenda states in its heading either that it is confidential or the category under which the information disclosed in the report is exempt from disclosure and therefore not available to the public.
A list and description of the categories of exempt information is available for public inspection at Brighton and Hove Town Halls. Minutes: 24a Declaration of Substitutes
24.1 There were none.
24b Declarations of Interest
24.2 There were none.
24c Exclusion of the Press and Public
24.3 In accordance with section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (‘the Act’), the Community Safety Forum considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during an item of business on the grounds that it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press or public were present during that item, there would be disclosure to them of confidential information (as defined in section 100A(3) of the Act) or exempt information (as defined in section 100I of the Act).
24.4 RESOLVED - That the press and public be not excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item on the agenda. |
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Minutes of the Previous Meeting Minutes of the meeting held on 10 October 2011 (copy attached) Minutes: 25.1 Councillor Summers requested that the following amendment be made to paragraph 18.5 on Page 4 the minutes:
“Councillor Summers referred to the general trend in crime overall and expressed concern that, whilst this is obviously encouraging news, it did not necessarily address the real issue of fear of crime and, furthermore, it might be interpreted to mean that less policing resources were needed. She asked Chief Superintendent Bartlett if he would commit to maintaining the current effective levels of engagement with the community and not reducing them. Superintendent Bartlett responded that the police were committed to maintain their current levels of engagement.”
25.2 RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Community Safety Forum meeting held on 10 October 2011 be agreed and signed as a correct record subject to the amendment set out above. |
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Chair's Communications Including : Responding to Community Safety Concerns of the LGBT Community Minutes: Welcome to New Borough Commander, Fire Brigade
26.1 The Chair, Councillor Duncan welcomed the new Borough Fire Commander, Mr Mark Rist stating that he was also looking forward to his attendance at future meetings.
Responding to Concerns of the LGBT Community
26.2 The Chair referred to the concerns raised by Councillor MacCafferty at the previous meeting in respect of the need for a broad representative body which would provide a Forum for the LGBT community to convey their issues and concerns to the Police and others. He was pleased to be able to inform the Forum that such a body had been set up and was due to hold its first meeting on 14 December. All were welcome to attend.
White Ribbon Campaign
26.3 The Chair explained that this campaign, part of an international event had been launched on 25 November and that Gail Grey , Chair of Rise had been invited to speak at the launch event at the University of Sussex. The White Ribbon Campaign was the Uk branch of the global campaign to raise awareness of and to seek to ensure men took responsibility for reducing the level of violence against women.
26.4The Council had applied for White Ribbon status in concert with a number of partners including the Police. This campaign had provided the opportunity for the Council to re-examine and refresh its own strategies. |
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Public Questions (The closing date for receipt of public questions is 12 noon on 2 December 2011)
No public questions received by date of publication. Minutes: 27.1 There were none. |
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Community Safety Issues Raised by Members and Community Representatives Minutes: 28.1 Mr Edwards, Tarner Area Partnership referred to his concerns regarding the manner in which recent Tarner Area Partnership meetings had been conducted, in particular the elections held in July of that year.These elections appeared to have been held without reference either to the groups’ constiution or its terms of reference, he considered this was a seriuos ommission, in consequence he had made an official complaint but had yet to receive a response.
28.2 The Chair, Councillor Duncan noted the position stating that if Mr Edwards provided details of his complaint to the Clerk to the Forum she would seek to ascertain the current position.
28.3 RESOLVED – That the position be noted, |
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Important Findings From Crime Trends Analysis : Discussion Report of the Commissioner, Community Safety (copy attached) Minutes: 29.1 The Forum considered a report of the Commissioner of Community Safety describing recent activities and progress relating to priority areas in the Brighton and Hove Community Safety, Crime Reduction and Drugs Strategy 2011-14, referring to some recent activities and also providing statistical updates relating to the first seven months of 2011/12. Graphs showing monthly crime data going back to April 2007 were also provided in order to enable recent data to be considered in the context of both longer term trends and also seasonal crime cycles (where applicable)
29.3 Whilst welcoming the report, Councilllor Morgan expressed concern regarding the potential impact of proposed funding cuts, noting the that the budgets for all services were du-due to be agreed at Budget Council in March 2012. It was noted that the Forum would have the opportunity to feed into that process.
29.4 The Commissioner for Community Safety explained that future service delivery would need to be made savings would be required in order to address the significant continued reductions in grant funding from Central Government. The manner in which the Council worked with its partners to target key areas to in order to continue to deliver services was very important as was the necessity to explore alternative funding streams. Applications for Interreg funding had already been made
29.5 Councillor Morgan stated that notwithstanding the concerted work by all partners he still had concerns regarding what the potential term impact of reduced funding.
29.6 The Chair stated that it was possible that there were a number of issues which it would be appropriate for the Forum to discuss over the coming months. Any comments could be relayed direct to the Community Safety Team and could be fed into the Overview and Scrutiny meeting which was scheduled to take place in January 2012.
29.7 The Commissioner for Community Safety re-iterated that detailed discussions were under way as part of a thecontinuing evaluation to see assessment in order to see how
29.8 RESOLVED – (1) That the Community Safety Forum notes the information provided in the report having been invited to:
(i) Feedback on any developments from their community or organisation’s experience which may help the understanding and interpretation of the data and trends contained in the report; and to
(ii) Consider the potential for supporting crime reduction and community safety priorities within their own organization or local community. |
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National Community Safety Initiatives Which Impact Locally: Standing Item This standing item will provide an opportunity for relevant issues to be raised or updated upon.
(a) New approaches to dealing with violence against women and the work of the LGBT Advocate: background paper attached and presentations. Additional documents: Minutes: 30.1 The Forum considered a background paper of the Commissioner of Community Safety detailing new approaches to dealing with violence against women and an update on the work of the Rise LGBT Independent Domestic Violence Advocate.
30.2 Eleri Butler gave a detailed presentation setting out the new approaches to dealing with the issues associated with domestic violence against women and to the continued concerted and joined up approach which was being carried forward with other partners. The breadth and depth of interagency measures which were in place were outlined and Gail Grey Rise referred to the on-going work which was being undertaken.
30.3 Councillor Deane stated that the problem was a many faceted one, issues such a trafficking and teenage girls who became involved in the sex industry were also involved. Often victims of such crimes were unable or too frightened to report such crimes and it was often difficult to extrapolate such data from the available figures.
30.4 Sergeant Castleton stressed that this was an area where the Police were anxious to ensure that under reporting did not occur. Instances of such crimes were taken very seriously.
30.4 RESOLVED – That the content of the report and presentation be noted. |
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Local Issues:Standing Item This standing item will provide an opportunity for relevant issues to be raised or updated upon.
(a) Reducing alcohol related harm and the “White Night” event Debate;
(b) Soundscape Analysis Presentation by Matt Eastall: Environmental Improvement Team;
(c) Consultation on Traveller Strategy Presentation by lead officer, Housing Strategy and Delivery Team;
(d) Meeting the needs of the street population and dealing with street drinking Presentation by the Commissioner, Community Safety Minutes: 31a. “White Nights”
31.1 The Commissioner of Culture gave a presentation in respect of measures which would be taken in order to seek to reduce the potential for alcohol related harm arising from “White Night”. The event which was hugely popular co-incided with winter solstice and was intended to provide a diverse cultural offering of events late into the evening/early morning which provided an alternative to the alcohol driven offer associated with the city centre. “White Nights” had grown in popularity and attendance levels had increased year on year. The most recent event (the de-brief for which was still taking place), had been very successful overall. However, there were some “lessons to be learned”, particularly as there had been some drink related inccidents, largely as a result of some attendees bringing large quantities of alcohol with them which was then consumed during the course of the evening.
31.2 Several Members of the confirmed from their own experience that the event had been very good but there had been a few instances by a minority that had marred the event for some of the other attendees. Also, that there had been some pinch points where large numbers of people had congregated which had hampered dispersal.
31.3 The Commissioner of Culture confirmed that this had been noted and that the manner in which the event was held in future years would be different and the weekend on which it was held might also be changed.
31.4 RESOLVED – That the position be noted.
31b Soundscape Analysis
31.5 The Commissioner of Community Safety confirmed that this project was on-going and that the data collected to date was in the process of being analysed and would form the subject of a more detailed report or presentation to a future Forum meeting.
31.6 RESOLVED – That the position be noted.
31c Consultation on Traveller Strategy
31.7 Mr Staniford of the Housing Strategy Team gave a presentation detailing the structures which the Housing Strategy Team had put into place and the multi-agency approach which was being adopted in seeking to put together an appropriate and sensitive Traveller Strategy for the city. The strategy was to be consulted upon and would be launched within the next few days. The traveling community was diverse and composed of a several distinctive groups a number of issues had been identified and needed to be addressed, amongst them the need to address site availability and the need to seek to identify a suitable stable site, as well as the need to improve the health, safety and well being of the traveler community and the educational outcomes for their children.
31.8 Faith Mayzak referred to the need to adopt a sensitive approach particularly when dealing with traveller women, particularly if it was suspected they could be victims of domestic violence.
31.9 Councillor Robins stated that he had sat on the Scrutiny Panel seeking to address the Council’s Traveller Strategy, stating that he had a gypsy heritage himself, also stating that in his experience this was a strongly matriarchal society. The Chair, Councillor Duncan stressed the need for the travelling community to be treated with respect and tolerance.
31.10 RESOLVED – That the position be noted.
31d Meeting the Needs of the Street Population and Dealing With Street Drinking
31.11 A presentation was given in detailing the measures which had been put into lace to address street drinking and the anti-social behaviours which could arise as a consequence. These included :
· A city wide “Designated Places Order”, this avoided problems of displacement; · The Street Community Neighbourhood Police team working alongside street outreach services; · Outreach services working closely with the rough sleepers team; · Assertive management to achieve engagement with services and tenancy sustainment; · Enforcement action being taken if an offence was committed; and · Monitoring of individuals for repeat offending if necessary and information sharing.
31.12 it was noted that in 2010/11 of the 263 street drinkers identified 70% had an entitlement to some local service. Those who had been identified as being most likely to commit anti-social behaviour were prioritized for case management. A typical case would require support into accommodation and maintenance of physical and mental health and an acceptable behaviour contract. These requirements would be monitored by staff from a range of agencies. Some personalized approaches were also required for older people and those with mobility problems. The outcomes sought included measures to seek to reduce impact on the public and foster increased stability for the service user. The “Alcohol Treatment” Pilot was supported by a dedicated nurse and multi-agency planning meetings to deal with street drinking and rough sleeping in “hot spot”
31.13 Mr Harman, Coldean LAT referred to the nuisance which could result of tables and chairs being placed on the pavement. The Chair, Councillor Duncan pointed out that although this relates to a slightly different issue it was very important to ensure that premises behaved responsibly and operated within their agreed licence conditions. Any breaches should be reported either to the Police or the Licensing Team who would investigate them.
31.14 Mr Tonks, Older People’s Council sought assurances that measures were in place to mitigate against any negative impact which could arise as a result of the closure of the St Patrick’s Church, night shelter.`
31.15 RESOLVED - That the position be noted. |
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Enhancing PCSO Powers Joint report of Police and Commissioner, Community Safety (copy attached) Minutes: 32.1 The Forum considered a report 0f the Police, relating to the enhancement of PCSO powers. It was explained that as part of the Neighbourhood Policing Review it had been recommended that PCSO’s be given five additional powers to enhance their role and improve their problem solving capabilities. The report outlined those new powers.
32.2 Sergeant Castleton gave a presentation outlining means by which it was anticipated that these additional powers would be used. Continuing dialogue would take local LAT’s to ensure that they continued to be kept informed both through their regular LAT meetings and updates to theForum
32.3 RESOLVED – That the Community Safety Forum note and consider the information contained in the report and the likely implications |
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Sussex Police Authority: Minutes of the Meeting Held on 13 October 2011 (copy attached) Minutes: 33.1 RESOLVED – That the contents of the minutes be noted. |
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East Sussex Fire Authority: Minutes None available for this meeting. Minutes: 34.1 None were available for consideration at this meeting. |