Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED - that the minutes of the last meeting held on 27 June 2017 were                               agreed as a correct record.

Presentation from David Leach, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service

The committee received a presentation from David Leach, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service on deliberate secondary fires.

RESOLVED - that the information be noted.

Presentation from Nicola Musgrove, Karl Wilson and Ady Oakes, Northumbria Police

The Committee received a presentation from Peter Wright, Gateshead Council and Chief Inspector Karl Wilson, Northumbria Police on perceptions of crime and disorder and feelings of safety.

RESOLVED - that the information be noted

Report of the Strategic Director, Communities and Environment

The Committee received a report on the Community Safety Board’s six monthly progress update on activities that have been undertaken to address its strategic priorities (as set out in the statutory Partnership Plan for 2017/18)

The Committee were reminded that the Partnership Plan brings together the analytical findings from the Strategic Assessment, along with the key activities undertaken by the Board on the previous 12 months to set out the strategic priorities that will be delivered in the forthcoming year.  The priorities confirmed for 2017/18 are:

1)         Tackling Violence

2)         Combatting Anti-Social Behaviour    

3)         Addressing Substance Misuse

4)         Improving Public Confidence

The table appended to the report shows performance of crime and disorder within Gateshead from April 2017 until 31 August 2017. It must be noted at the outset changes to National Crime Recording Standards has significantly altered the way in which crime is recorded and has subsequently inflated performance figures and makes it difficult to compare to previous years. Discussions held at the Police and Crime Panel suggests that inflated figures will continue until the end of the financial year – with Corporate Development in Northumbria Police projecting increases of between 9% and 18% at year end.

The Committee received details of some of the work carried out by partners and Council services involved in Community Safety in the last six months against the objectives identified within the Partnership Plan. For reassurance, work has taken place against all priority areas, most of which are progressing well and/or has already been completed.

The Board advised that they will continue to progress work in relation to all of the objectives, however, some of the areas that will be prioritised or be developed further over the next six-months are:

·         Continue to review the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub and Domestic Abuse functions and identify a new operating/delivery model for Gateshead.

·         Undertake a systems-thinking review of how we tackle ASB to ensure we have the right approach for supporting victims.

·         Continue to roll out training and awareness around ASB Tools and Powers and to further embed a problem solving culture within Gateshead in relation to Community Safety issues.

·         Further develop our communications/engagement approaches to ensure we continue to proactively tackle perceptions of crime and disorder and feelings of safety with local residents.

·         Produce the statutory Strategic Assessment (and explore options for a joint assessment with Safe Newcastle) as well as undertaking public consultation on the draft priorities.

·         Finalise the Domestic Homicide Review into Adult D and implement any of the recommendations identified.

The Committee received an additional update on the progress made in the last six months against the outcomes set out in the Council Plan 2015-2020. Of the 6 indicators reported to this committee, 3 have 6-month data available. The number of reported incidents of ASB has improved compared  ...  view the full minutes text for item CSS37

Strategic Director, Communities and Environment

The Committee received an update on the six month evaluation of the Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) for Gateshead. Gateshead Council’s Cabinet requested a review of the PSPOs once they had been enforceable for six months.

The orders have now been enforceable for six months with varying degrees of success:

Borough wide

There are two measures in the borough wide PSPO which were intended to help the council deal with an increase in complaints regarding dog fouling:

·         The requirement to carry the means to clean up after your dog

·         To dispose of bagged dog waste in a bin or by taking it home

There is also an additional requirement to help police deal with on street drinking which makes it an offence in Gateshead not to surrender any open alcohol container when asked to do so by an authorised officer.

The measures around dog fouling were put in place as a response to reduced resources and recognising the difficulties of catching people “in the act”. They allow officers to proactively challenge dog owners to ensure they have the means to clear up which completely changes the situation from being reactive to enable a more direct, intelligence led approach. The second element was around dog waste being hung in trees, as this is not covered by littering legislation.

However, there has been little activity around implementing this as there is currently no on street enforcement function. Without an on street environmental enforcement team the only place the work could sit would be with the enforcement team – however, unless they stopped doing existing areas of work there is no capacity to pick up this additional demand. A report to Cabinet in July explored the options for delivering on street enforcement. Discussions continue about an on street enforcement team with the aim of having one in place by the end of the year.

Northumbria Police value the measure around disposing of alcohol as it is a useful tool, particularly in relation to youth ASB – alcohol is often found and confiscated. Northumbria Police do not routinely record the number of times alcohol is disposed of but have noticed an increase in the use as the legislation is available to use across the whole of the borough rather than the discreet areas that were previously subject to a Designated Public Place Order (DPPO).

Metro Centre

This PSPO has been very effective and has worked in preventing the number of car meets in the retail park of the Metro Centre, as a result there have been no fixed penalty notices issued. Since its implementation there have been no issues and the meets have ceased to exist.

Town Centre

There are nine measures to combat anti-social behaviour in the town centre PSPO.

Touting for business and pitching stalls on the highway

Since the order was introduced and the enforcement team carried out some planned activity this is now greatly reduced, if not eliminated.

However, the Institute of Fundraising has raised concerns that the current situation  ...  view the full minutes text for item CSS38

Report of Strategic Director, Communities and Environment

The Committee received a report which provided an update on the work/activity that has taken place to address the recommendations outlined within the Final Report (of the review of Preventing Violent Extremism that was carried out in 2015/16) and builds upon the previous progress reports submitted to Committee back in October 2016 and April 2017.

The Committee were reminded that the Final Report concluded that there were multi-agency arrangements in place to meet the statutory responsibilities set out in the national Prevent Duty Guidance.

The review identified no significant gaps but felt that a self-assessment should be undertaken on a regular basis to ensure that strong and robust processes are in place to safeguard those at risk of being drawn into extremism (and to help demonstrate that, as a Council, proactive work is underway to address future challenges).

There were a total of 13 recommendations were identified as part of the review and were appended to the report for information. The recommendations were aligned to the 3 x themes identified in the national Prevent guidance:

(1)        Leadership

(2)        Working in Partnership; and

(3)        Capabilities

A wide range of actions have been carried out in relation to the recommendations and examples of the work undertaken were appended to the report for information.

In relation to the future focus/gaps identified – which needs to be progressed in the next six months are:

·         Community Safety is to re-establish PPP (Prevent, Protect and Prepare) Sub-Group and Contest Board by the end of the year.

·         Strengthen our internal data collection and identification method to ensure that all referrals are captured.

·         Practice Guidance Note produced to help officers understand the processes involved in referring an individual to Prevent remains still relevant – but may need to be amended to reflect ongoing changes to the Early Help and Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub Models

·         A Members Seminar will be arranged with Special Branch to share findings of the Local Counter Terrorism Profile and to provide an updated picture of local/national threat.

·         Further work to be undertaken with key services to ensure the Council utilises its full authority and legitimacy to increase awareness and understanding of the Prevent agenda.

·         Commission and deliver further training sessions in relation to WRAP – targeting those areas of greatest need.