Agenda item

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 to last year whilst the number of referrals to ARCH has declined. The number of recorded crimes has increased and this has been discussed in depth earlier on the agenda.      

RESOLVED -             i) Committee agreed that the activities undertaken during April   to September 2017 are achieving the desired outcomes in the Council Plan 2015-2020.