Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were received.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor L Collins.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Community, Customer and Organisational Scrutiny Committee held on 11 July, 2019 were presented.

RESOLVED –

That the Minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

5.05 pm – Minutes of the Meeting of the Derbyshire Police and Crime Panel held on 27 June, 2019 attached.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, as Chesterfield Scrutiny Member of the Derbyshire Police and Crime Panel (PCP), presented the minutes of the meeting of the PCP held on 27 June, 2019 for the information of the Committee.

The Cabinet Member advised the Committee that she had asked the Police and Crime Commissioner for details of the proportion of the recently funded additional police resources which would be allocated in the Chesterfield area.

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing for her contribution to the meeting on this item.

RESOLVED –

(1)         That the minutes of the Derbyshire Police and Crime Panel meeting held on 27 June, 2019 be noted.

(2)         That a further report from the Derbyshire Police and Crime Panel meetings be provided to the Crime and Disorder Committee in March, 2020.

To move “That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act".

Part 2 (Non Public Information)

RESOLVED -

That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

5.10 pm - Chesterfield Community Safety Partnership Progress Report attached.

The Assistant Director - Health and Wellbeing and the Community Safety Officer presented the progress report on the Chesterfield Community Safety Partnership’s (CSP) action plan for 2019-20 and the performance report as recorded by the Safer Derbyshire Research and Information Unit in respect of crime and disorder data as at August, 2019.

It was explained that the 2019-20 action plan was focused on addressing four key priority areas:

·        Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

·        Domestic abuse and sexual violence

·        Acquisitive crime and organised crime groups

·        Substance misuse

with the overall aim of reducing crime and anti-social behaviour through effective collaborative working amongst a wide range of partners.

It was noted that changes in the recording of crime data had resulted in a rise in the crime statistics, although there had been a reduction in ASB calls for service over the previous 12 months.

Attention was drawn to the following aspects within the CSP action plan:

·        The positive impact for the town centre from the provision of the winter night shelter, improved screening of bus shelters on Beetwell Street and use of the town centre Public Space Protection Order (PSPO);

·        A county wide review of initiatives to tackle organised crime, with the aim of improving intelligence sharing between partners. 

Arising from Member’s questions and discussion the following points were raised:

·        Whether there was scope for greater flexibility in the use of existing camera resources, although it was recognised this would need to comply with legislative requirements;

·        The significant impact which had resulted from the Council’s involvement in bringing partners together in addressing some specific recent issues;

·        Whether options could be explored to enable a night shelter to operate all year round;

·        The scope to encourage greater involvement in the Neighbourhood Watch scheme, it being noted that recruitment of a replacement officer was underway;

·        The need to address anti-social behaviour which had been displaced to the margins of the PSPO area.

The PCSO Supervisor outlined his role, with the aim for PCSOs to be more visible and engaged with local communities in addressing local issues. He explained that this would include after school patrols and that links with Special Constables would also be used where possible. He confirmed that regular tasking meetings with Safer Neighbourhood Team partners identified which partners could best address specific issues and PCSOs could then be allocated accordingly.   

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, the Assistant Director - Health and Wellbeing, the Community Safety Officer and the PCSO Supervisor for their contribution to the meeting.

RESOLVED –

(1)      That the Community Safety Partnership progress report be noted.

(2)      That a further progress report on the Community Safety Partnership’s Action Plan and Performance be provided to the Crime and Disorder Committee in March, 2020.

Readmission of the public following consideration of an item containing exempt information.

                             Part 1 (Public Information)

RESOLVED -

That the public be readmitted to the meeting following consideration of an item containing exempt information.

5.55 pm - Scrutiny Project Group on Community Safety / Providing for Young People – Project Start Report attached

Councillor Caulfield, lead member of the Scrutiny Project Group on Community Safety and Providing for Young People and the Democratic and Scrutiny Officer presented the group’s project start report.

The project aimed to identify activity currently taking place in Chesterfield to improve community safety and provision for young people. The group would work with partner agencies to identify any under provision and consider how realistic improvements could be made within the resources of the Council and its partners. It was planned to complete the review and present the report to the Scrutiny Committee in January, 2020.

The Chair thanked Councillor Caulfield and the Democratic and Scrutiny Officer for their contribution to the meeting.

RESOLVED -

That the project start report of the Scrutiny Project Group on Community Safety and Providing for Young People be approved.

6.15 pm – Scrutiny Monitoring Action Plan: Friends’ Groups Progress Report and Scrutiny Committee Recommendations Implementation Monitoring Schedule attached.

The Principal Green Space Strategy Officer presented the Scrutiny Progress Monitoring Report on the Scrutiny recommendations on Friends Groups, following the previous monitoring report to the Committee on 22 January, 2019 (Minute No. 41, 2018/19).

The report outlined the actions taken to address each of the scrutiny recommendations. It was noted that a lot of work had been undertaken with friends’ groups since January to provide information, advice and signposting, and that this seemed to have been appreciated by the groups. Further network meetings were planned and it was confirmed that the Friends of Spital Cemetery would be invited.

Councillor Caulfield, lead member of the Scrutiny Project Group, welcomed the progress which had been achieved and the ongoing work to support friends’ groups.

The Committee concluded that the implementation of the project group’s recommendations had now been achieved.

The Committee also considered the Scrutiny recommendations monitoring schedule.

The Chair thanked the Principal Green Space Strategy Officer and Councillor Caulfield for their contribution to the meeting.

RESOLVED –

(1)     That the completion of the actions taken in respect of the scrutiny recommendations on friends’ groups be noted and that this item be removed from the monitoring schedule.

(2)     That the Scrutiny monitoring schedule be noted.

6.30 pm - Scrutiny Project Group Report on Community Rooms attached

Councillor Caulfield, lead member of the Scrutiny Project Group on Community Rooms and the Senior Democratic and Scrutiny Officer presented the group’s final report, following the previous report to the Committee on 22 January, 2019 (Minute No. 42, 2018/19).

The report outlined the reasons for the review, its aims and links to Council priorities and the approach taken by the group. It summarised the findings of the review in respect of the usage of the rooms, the promotion of their availability and the arrangements for booking and accessing them. The report included details of the latest proposals in respect of the facilities at Burns Close and Monkwood Road. The group’s recommendations were detailed in the report, with the aim of supporting the ongoing sustainable use of the rooms.

The Committee supported the findings and recommendations within the group’s report for submission to Cabinet for approval.

The Chair thanked Councillor Caulfield and the Senior Democratic and Scrutiny Officer for their contribution to the meeting.

RESOLVED -

That the Scrutiny Project Group’s report on Community Rooms be supported for submission to Cabinet for approval.

6.45 pm – Forward Plan of Key Decisions 1 October, 2019 – 31 January, 2020 available via link below: https://chesterfieldintranet.moderngov.co.uk/documents/l106/Printed%20plan%20September%202019.pdf?T=4

The Committee considered the Forward Plan for the period 1 October, 2019 – 31 January, 2020.

RESOLVED –

That the Forward Plan be noted.

6.50 pm – Work Programme attached

The Committee considered the list of items included on its work programme for 2019/20.

RESOLVED -

That the work programme be approved and updated to include the decisions of the current meeting.