(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 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 exempt
categories is available for public inspection at Brighton and Hove
Town Halls.
Minutes:
15A
Declarations of Substitutes
15.1
Councillor Simson
declared that she was attending the meeting as a Substitute Member
for Councillor Theobald and would be
Chairman.
15B
Declarations of Interest
15.2
There were none.
15C
Exclusion of Press and Public
15.3
In accordance with section
100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, it was considered
whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting
during the consideration of any items contained in the agenda,
having regard to the nature of the business to be transacted and
the nature of the proceedings and the likelihood as to whether, if
members of the press and public were present, there would be
disclosure to them of confidential or exempt information as defined
in section 100I (1) of the said Act.
15.4
RESOLVED- That the
press and public not be excluded from the meeting.
Minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2008
(copy attached)
Minutes:
16.1
RESOLVED– That
the minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2008 be approved and
signed by the Chair.
17.
Chairman's Communications
Minutes:
17.1
Cllr Simson gave Cllr Theobald’s
apologies for not being able to attend.
Cllr Simson advised the Forum that the Leader
of the Council recognising the importance of the meeting had asked
her, as an executive member, to Chair the meeting.
Cllr Simson stated that the Sussex Police
Authority had asked if they could use the opportunity afforded to
them through the Community Safety Forum to consult more widely with
residents in Brighton & Hove, and it had been agreed that a
report could come to the next meeting. It was felt this would fit
in well with the new Community Engagement Framework which the
Council was currently producing.
18.
Callover
NOTE: Public Questions will be reserved
automatically.
Minutes:
18.1
All Items were taken for
discussion.
19.
Public Questions
(The closing date for receipt of public
questions is 12 noon on Monday 29 September 2008)
No public questions received by date of
publication.
Minutes:
19.1
There were none.
20.
Community Safety Issues Raised By Members and Community Representatives
Minutes:
20.1
Cllr Carden raised the issue of the theft of
Blue Badges from motor vehicles. Not only was this distressing for
holders of the badges, but caused problems when they wanted to park
their cars before they received their replacement badges. People
had been receiving conflicting advice on what they should do. Chief
Superintendent Paul Pearce said that the police should be informed
of the theft of any badge, a crime number would then be issued and
this could then be produced if a parking ticket was issued. The
police were aware that the theft of badges was a problem, but
stated that one person had been arrested and it was hoped that this
would reduce the number of thefts.
20.2
Cllr Kennedy referred to a recent meeting
between the police and Brighton & Hove City Council about
London Road, and asked if the Forum could be updated at the next
meeting. Paul Tilley said that he had recently had a meeting with
Cllr Randall and the police, and it was hoped that a LAT for the
Level would be set. Duncan Blinkhorne
would be the lead officer and it was hoped that interested parties,
such as local traders, would be involved. The Chairman confirmed
that this matter would come back to the Forum.
20.3
Cllr Duncan referred to an incident in Jubilee
Street, where someone was attacked. There was concern over the lack
of CCTV and a lack of visible police presence in the area. Ms
Macho, the Assistant Director, Public Safety informed the Forum
that work was already underway to address these issues.
20.4
Cllr Duncan said there was some confusion over
the status of no drinking rules in the St James Street area, with
notices giving conflicting information. Ms Beanlands, Head of
Community Safety confirmed that the Designated Public Places Order
applied across the city and St James Street was covered in the
normal way. This was not a strict drinking ban but gave the police
officers the power to arrest a person if anti social activity was
taking place. It was intended to focus on anti social behaviour. Mr
Peacock (St. James St. Area Action Group), confirmed that there were a number of potentially
conflicting notices in the area and it was something which should
be look at to ensure clarity.
The Forum considered a report of the Director of
Environment on crime trends and performance in Brighton &
Hove(for copy see minute book).
21.2
Cllr Duncan said that a reduction of crime was
very good news. However, there was some concern that the
number of domestic burglaries had increased and
wonder whether the rise was seasonal or whether it could be
linked to economic reasons. The police said that there had been a
continual reduction previously, but it had risen during the last
four months. There had been 59 people arrested over the last six
months. Many of the burglaries could be attributable to a
relatively small number of people and there had been a number of
prison releases which had impacted on the figures.
21.3
Mr Tonks referred to the number of Domestic
Violence crimes and the comment in the report that “Recording
issues related to the introduction of the new police crime computer
system is believed to be the reason for the sudden rise (of
incidents) in May”. The police confirmed that the new
computer system now recorded repeat incidents from the same
person.
21.4
Mr Tilley referred to bicycle
thefts and asked whether the funding coming in could be used to
provide secure storage. Ms Beanlands stated that there was a multi
agency group looking at this issue and some money had been assigned
to providing secure storage. Mr Tilley also asked whether the Smart
Water which had been provided to residents in East Brighton had had
any impact on reducing the theft of bicycles. The police stated that no reduction in thefts had
been attributed to the Smart Water,
direct patrol in known hot spots had been more
effective.
21.5
The Chairman said that the overall reduction
in crimes was very good news and would ensure that it was
publicised.
The Forum considered a report of the Director
Environment on the response to the consultation on the Home Office
Green Paper ‘From the Neighbourhood to the National: Policing
our Communities Together’ (for copy see minute
book).
22.2
Cllr Morgan welcomed the Green Paper. Crime
had been reduced and welcomed the proposal to cut red
tape.
Cllr Morgan noted that Cllr Duncan was a
member of the Police Authority, and as members of the authority
receive an annual allowance asked whether Cllr Duncan should have
declared an interest. The Chairman confirmed that this would be
clarified for the next meeting, but suggested that Cllr Duncan did
not comment on this report. It was agreed that legal advice would
be taken on this matter and advice given to Cllr Duncan and Cllr
Theobald, who was also a member of the Police Authority, for future
meetings.
22.3
Cllr Smart asked where the funding would come
from if participatory budgeting was introduced. Ms Beanlands
confirmed that the proposal was that it would come from the Command
Unit Funding Stream and will go to the decision making process. If
allocated next year it will go to the Sussex Police Authority and
it would be their decision whether it went to the pooled budget for
crime prevention. This was not ‘new money’ but would be
a transfer of money. The police confirmed that this funding always
went straight to partnership working, with around £220k going
there. There was a concern that if the funding stopped it
wouldn’t be able to go to the Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnership (CDRP) to fund work to deliver the agreed priorities in
the Community Safety, Crime Reduction and Drugs
Strategy.
22.4
Mr Peacock referred to paragraph 4.18 of the
report and asked whether, if they wanted to refer something to the
relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee, whether that referral
would need to come from a councillor. The Chairman confirmed that
any referral would need to come from a councillor.
22.5
Cllr Kennedy referred to paragraph
5.2.3, and felt that there was a concern that some individuals
could become a Crime and Policing Representative who had not been
democratically elected to represent others.
22.6
Reverend Terry referred to paragraph 4.5 and
the role of Police Community Support Officers (PCSO), and noted
that there was no comment to the concern over the national standard
and discretionary powers of PCSOs. Ms
Beanlands stated that models for
standardising their role were being provided and more practical
assistance from the Home Office would be provided in the
future.
22.7
Mr Baker referred to paragraph 4.1.4, and
stated that the perception of crime was important. This was
particularly important for older people and noted that there
wasn’t currently a newsletter directed to them in the city.
Mr Baker also referred to paragraphs 11.4 and 11.5 and suggested it
would be useful to have some localised surveys. This would enable
the police to know of the immediate impact of their actions. Often
the quieter community’s views, such as older people,
weren’t taken into account, and it was important to know
their views.
22.8
Mr Tilley agreed that there should be more
surveys, particularly from the LATs.
22.9
Cllr Kennedy agreed with what Mr Baker had
said and suggested someone raise those issues with the Environment
Scrutiny Committee.
22.10
The Chairman said that a number of important
points had been raised and these would be noted.
22.11
Cllr Morgan referred to paragraphs 5.2.2 and
5.2.3, and said that the recent news that the Chair of the
Metropolitan Police Authority, Boris Johnson, was to politicise the
role of the most senior chief of police in the country, should lead
the Forum to support the proposals and not block them. Cllr Morgan
then moved an amendment to paragraph 5.2.2, which was seconded by
Cllr Carden.
The amendment was ‘We do not object to
the introduction of directly elected Crime and Policing
Representatives, which will make police authorities more democratic
and effective in responding to the needs of the local community,
whilst retaining independent and magistrate members as well as at
least one councillor on each authority to maintain the important
links and relationships with local government’.
The police stated that there was no
requirement for a magistrate to be a representative. Cllr Morgan
agreed to remove the wording ‘and magistrate’ from his
amendment. Cllr Carden agreed.
The Chairman took an indicative vote of
members of the Forum on the wording. The vote was:
In favour of the amendment - 8 votes
Not in favour of the amendment - 6 votes
Abstained
- 2 votes
Cllr Duncan did not vote
As the Forum were in favour of the wording,
the Chairman then asked for a vote on whether the following wording
should be included in the consultation response:
‘We do not
object to the introduction of directly elected Crime and Policing
Representatives, which will make police authorities more democratic
and effective in responding to the needs of the local community,
whilst retaining independent members as well as at least one
councillor on each authority to maintain the important links and
relationships with local government’.
The vote was:
In favour of including the wording in the
consultation response - 8
votes
Not in favour including the wording in the
consultation response - 0 votes
Abstained
- 7 votes
Cllr Duncan did not vote
22.12
RESOLVED
(1)
That the Community Safety Forum note in particular the
proposals
summarised in
section 4.0 of the report and the draft response set
out in section 5.0 of the report. The Forum agreed
the draft response
which rejects the Green Paper’s proposals as
described in section 5.2
(with the amended
wording in paragraph 5.2.2)
(2)
That the Community Safety Forum consider other proposals
described within
the report and agree that if implemented, they
would generally be
a positive addition to the existing good practise
arrangements of
Brighton & Hove’s CDRP
23.
Presentation on the Targeted Youth Support Service and Challenge and Support
Minutes:
23.1
Ms G Cunliffe Assistant Director, Children & Young
People’s Trust gave a presentation on the Targeted Youth
Support System (TYSS) in Brighton & Hove (see Minute Book for a
copy of the presentation).
The TYSS alongside Information,
Advice and Guidance (IAG), Positive Activities and Volunteering,
formed part of the Integrated Youth Support Service (IYSS). The
development of the TYSS aimed to focus delivery of work on those
young people who were at risk from the following; becoming first
time entrants to the Youth Criminal Justice System; teenage
pregnancy; substance or alcohol abuse; being excluded from
education and becoming Not in Education, Employment or Training
(NEET); involved in Anti-Social Behaviour; or young people moving
out of specialist services. The Integrated Youth Support System
would be linked to a number of bodies such as schools, the police,
housing providers, social care, community and voluntary sector, and
would be delivered through a network of ‘Youth Hubs’.
The Hubs would be staffed by different agencies such as youth
workers, advice workers, personal
advisor from NEET etc. The facilities at the Hubs would offer 1:1
space, open access areas such as a coffee bar and pc and internet
access. There would be six TYSS teams across the city, two in the
west area, two in central area and two in east area
23.2
Cllr Carden asked where the team in the west
area would be based. Ms Cunliffe there would be one in the YMCA in
Blatchington Road and one at the Hangleton Youth Club.
23.3
Mr Tonks said that traditionally there had
been less funding into youth work than the national average and
asked how the current funding was. Ms Cunliffe said that additional
funding had been secured and there had been some increase over the
last eighteen months.
23.4
Cllr Young said that this was very good news,
and asked when the first results were likely. Ms Cunliffe said
there had already been a drop in NEET, teenage pregnancy was down
but there were still many challenges to address. It was hoped that
there would be noticeable change within 12-18 months.
23.5
Ms Gray said that it was a great initiative,
but noted that there was a gap on domestic abuse and how that
related to teenage pregnancy. Ms Cunliffe that that matter would be
an area for discussion very soon with the Department for Children
Schools and Families.
23.6
Cllr Kennedy commented that it was great that
all the agencies were working together, but queried how families
would fit in with the service. Ms Cunliffe stated that support
would be offered to parents and where appropriate parenting
contracts and orders would be used. A
report on this would be brought to a future meeting.
23.7
Cllr Smart asked about funding. Ms Cunliffe
said that it was hoped to be up to £700,000 but the level of
funding would be linked to data and intelligence.
24.
Presentation on 'Operation Reduction' and Dealing With Drug Offences
Presentation by Detective
Chief Inspector Ian Pollard and Mike Pattinson, Director of Crime Reduction
Initiatives.
Minutes:
24.1
Detective Chief Inspector Ian Pollard, and Mr
Mike Pattinson, Director of Crime
Reduction Initiatives gave a presentation on Operation Reduction
(see Minute Book for copy of presentation).
24.2
The Forum was informed that in 2005 Brighton
had the highest number of deaths from heroin. Following this
Operation Reduction was formed. The objectives of Operation
Reduction were to increase the number of drug users in treatment
services; reduce crime and disorder; increase people’s
feeling of safety; increase the number of people charged with
supplying controlled drugs. The tactics used to achieve this would
include; test purchase operations; intelligence led referrals into
Crime Reduction Initiative (CRI); fast track into treatment. This
would be achieved through a number of avenues including; casework
forum approach; assertive intervention by way of street based
patrols; targeted care planned work; and rapid enforcement led
support. The aim was to remove the dealers and provide treatment
for the drug users. Over the last 30 months there had been 291
people referred for treatment and Impact crimes had been reduced by
18%. The number of deaths earlier this year had been high, with 17
in the period from January to April 2008. This had been linked to a supply of very strong
heroin, but those responsible for supplying the drugs had been
arrested. The number of deaths had since fallen to 5 for the period
from May to September 2008.
24.3
The Forum thanked them for the presentation,
and said that it showed how effective partnership working could
be.
PDF 208 KB