Agenda and draft minutes

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26th November 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed.

The following disclosures were made:

      i.        Councillor Fryer as the Chair of the Outwoods Management Committee and Chair of Plans Committee in relation to item 7;

    ii.        Councillor Campsall as the Vice-chair of the Outwoods Management Committee and Vice-chair of the Thorpe Acre Residents Group in relation to item 7;

   iii.        Councillor Fryer and Councillor Miah as members of Leicestershire County Council in relation to item 9;

   iv.        Councillor Fryer as the Chair of the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee at Leicestershire County Council in relation to item 9.

No declarations were made.

No questions were submitted.

No questions had been submitted.

A report of the Head of Strategic Support to assist the Committee in determining its work programme.

Considered a report of the Head of Strategic Support to assist the Committee with determining its work programme (item 6 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Assisting with the consideration of the report: Chief Executive

The Committee noted that after its review of the Children and Family Wellbeing Service at this meeting (item 9) it would consider whether further scrutiny was required and that an update would be provided to the Scrutiny Commission.

RESOLVED that the current position of its work programme be noted and updated in accordance with decisions taken at this meeting.

Reason

To enable the Committee to fulfil its scrutiny remit efficiently and effectively.

A report of the Chief Executive providing performance monitoring information and results for the third quarter of 2019 - 20.

Considered a report of the Chief Executive providing performance monitoring information and results for the third quarter of 2019-20 ( item 7 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Assisting with consideration of the report: Cabinet Lead Member for Communities, Safety and Wellbeing, Head of Cleansing and Open Spaces, Head of Neighbourhood Services and Neighbourhoods and Partnerships Manager.

Summary, key points of discussion:

KI4 - Percentage of household waste sent for reuse, recycling and composting

·         noted a downward trend to figures over last three quarters, which reflected a national downward trend. Actions taken to improve included campaigns with schools and youth groups, using social media, republishing of recycling guide, and partnership working with Leicestershire County Council regarding contamination.

·         reasons for reduced recycling included lightweight packaging and reduced circulation of newspapers which affected tonnage weight.  Dry recyclate collection percentages compared well with other councils.

·         use of demographic data to target areas of low take up for garden waste.

With respect to ERM2 - NS(1) - Maintain support to the voluntary and community sector through continued growth of the Charnwood Lottery Scheme, it was noted that an update would be provided at the Committee’s meeting scheduled for 30th June 2020 and questions could be asked then.

RESOLVED that the performance results, associated commentary and the explanations provided be noted.

Reason

The Committee’s remit included receiving regular performance monitoring reports and, having noted the discussion at this meeting and made specific resolution where it so wished, it was content to note the performance information report.

A report of the Head of Neighbourhood Services to ensure that the statutory responsibility to scrutinise the Community Safety Partnership, at least every 6 months, is undertaken effectively and to ensure the continued monitoring of  incidences in Charnwood.

Considered a report of the Head of Neighbourhood Services to ensure that the statutory responsibility to scrutinise the Community Safety Partnership, at least every 6 months, was undertaken effectively and to ensure the continued monitoring of incidences in Charnwood (item 8 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Assisting with the consideration of the report: Cabinet Lead Member for Communities, Safety and Wellbeing, the Head of Neighbourhood Services, the Community Safety Manager and the Inspector for Charnwood Neighbourhood Policing area.

Prior to the consideration of this report the Chair stated that it would be assumed that committee members had read the agenda documentation before the meeting.

Summary, key points of discussion:

·         performance data for 2019-20 encouraging, comparison of data with previous years challenging as figures varied dependant on crime type and offenders in the community.  Upward trends reflected national issues and although results were good during Operation Lionheart, crime spikes occurred due to recording process.

·         Partnership proactive in reducing percentage total of ‘all crime’.  Introduction of a drug strategy and Youth JAG, ongoing data review through JAG processes, ethical reporting processes and the current cohort of students receptive to campaigns resulting in reduction of crime.

·         some crime types were trending upwards, in particular drug related crime and hate crime, but significant work carried out to reduce crime numbers.

·         anti-social behaviour (ASB) incident in Loughborough town centre – police were canvassing local businesses to understand issues; perceived to be lack of communication rather than poor police visibility, injunctions were being issued and work with businesses and Youth JAG to improve.  Still pockets of ASB in town but not representative of a town wide issue. 

·         issue with street begging - CSP introduced joint protocol, civil injunctions being served, robust process in place to deal with issue, police visibility perceived to be good in town, any concerns should be reported direct to the police.

·         funding priorities recently reviewed and realigned with priorities in the CSP plan for the next year.  More contingency would be included to allow for new initiatives throughout the year.

RESOLVED

1.    that crime performance data from 2017-18 and 2019-20 be circulated to members of the Committee as a trend line analysis for comparison;

2.    that the Committee notes the report.

Reasons

1.    Members of the Committee wished to compare the data for 2019-20 with the data from two years previously as it was understood that spikes in data in 2018-19 were anomalous.

2.    Neighbourhoods & Community Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee has been allocated the statutory responsibility to ensure that effective scrutiny of the work of the Community Safety Partnership takes place.

A report of the Head of Neighoburhood Services regarding the services available to Charnwood Borough Council from by Leicestershire County Council.

Considered a report of the Head of Neighbourhood Services scrutinising how the new Children and Family Wellbeing Service model provided by Leicestershire County Council (LCC) impacts Charnwood Borough Council (item 9 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

Assisting with the consideration of the report: Cabinet Lead Member for Communities, Safety and Wellbeing, the Chief Executive, the Head of Neighbourhood Services and the Children, Families and Partnership Manager.

Summary, key points of discussion:

·         the process by which families were identified as requiring support.  Officers asked to identify as part of safeguarding processes and training.  Measured by LCC against different thresholds to determine required support. Families requiring early intervention go through the Locality team.

·         how the success of the Service was monitored.  Since the transition to the new Service, communication of performance data was sketchy.  Officers to engage through the Locality team to obtain Borough specific data.

·         how councillors could report abuse concerns, that the Council had designated safeguarding officers and a refresh of safeguarding training for councillors could be of value.

·         benefit of scrutinising a Service provided by the County Council with its own scrutiny structure.  Report very clear how the Borough Council interacted with the Service, need to be mindful of not overstepping Committee’s remit.

RESOLVED

1.    that performance data and numbers of case referrals for Charnwood Borough be requested from LCC and, if available, be circulated to the Committee in six months’ time;

2.    that the Committee notes the report.

Reasons

1.    The Committee wished to understand the performance of the Service as it related to the Charnwood area and, as the Service was relatively new, allow for the generation of data.

2.      The Committee considered that the report set out the terms of the relationship clearly and that further scrutiny was not required.  If the Service was to be scrutinised it would be within the County Council’s remit.