Issue - items at meetings - Community Safety, Crime Reduction and Drugs Strategy 2008 -2011

Report of the Director of Environment (copy attached).

(1)         That Cabinet recommends Council to give approval to the priorities within the Community Safety, Crime Reduction and Drugs Strategy 2008 -2011 and to the action plans for the delivery of those priorities.

155.1                The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Environment presenting the Community Safety, Crime Reduction and Drugs Strategy 2008 – 2011 (for copy see minute book).

155.2                Councillor Hawkes thanked the Partnership Community Safety Team and the council’s Head of Community Safety for putting the strategy together.

155.3                In response to a question from Councillor Hawkes, Councillor Brown advised that a review of youth services was taking place. Officers would be working closely with the Partnership Community Safety Team and that she did not expect there to be a change to the area based approach to youth services.

155.4                Councillor Randall commented that there was a need to concentrate efforts nationally and locally on educating people about the dangers of alcohol abuse and the link to violent behaviour. He also hoped that the council and its partners would find the resources to tackle the problem of hate incidents targeting disabled people as detailed in the strategy.

155.5                Councillor Simson explained that the Licensing Act meant that it was difficult for the council to limit the availability of cheap alcohol, but that Licensing Panels were committed to using the powers at their disposal. She added that new services within the city had joined forces with the council to help tackle over-consumption of alcohol and that measures were in place.

155.6                Councillor Watkins commented that it would be necessary to defend vital youth services from the prevailing economic circumstances in order to protect the futures of the city’s residents.

155.7                The Chairman explained that Councillor Simson was committed to youth work and that the budget contained a separate proposal to ring fence funding for targeted youth work.

155.8                RESOLVED – That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet accepted the following recommendation:

(1)         That the priorities within the Community Safety, Crime Reduction and Drugs Strategy 2008 -2011 and the action plans for the delivery of those priorities be recommended to council for approval.