Agenda item

Report of the Acting Strategic Director, Communities and Environment

The Committee received a report to provide an update on the six month assessment of performance and delivery for the period 1 April 2018 to 30 September 2018. 

Performance is measured using trend analysis against the data reported last year rather than annual targets.  The report also highlights key actions delivered within the last six months against the Council’s Thrive agenda.

There are 8 indicators within the Strategic Outcome Indicators which can be reported on at the six monthly stage.  4 indicators performance has improved, 3 indicators, performance has not improved from last year and 1 indicator performance has been maintained.

The Committee are asked to agree some amendments to the following indicators.

·         Reported incidents of ASB

o   It is proposed this indicator is amended to incorporate other sources of reported anti-social behaviour, as well as police reported incidents, data collected would also include anti-social behaviour reported to the Private Sector Housing team and The Gateshead Housing Company.

·         Referrals to ARCH

o   The ARCH Hate Crime recording system was decommissioned in November 2018.  It is proposed that this indicator is changed to reflect changes in recording.  Data collected will include reports made via the Council’s online reporting system and reports made to the police.

o   2019/20 will be the baseline year for this indicator as this is a different way of recording hate incidetns.

·         Total recorded crime

o   It is proposed that this indicator is changes to report only on violent and serious acquisitive crime

o   Violent and serious acquisitive crime includes all violence against the person, robbery, sexual offences, burglary, theft from motor vehicle.

o   In 2017/18 violent crime accounted for 40% of all recorded crime in Gateshead.  In reporting on these crime types only, partners will begin to understand the effects these crimes have on victims.

o   There will be no target set against this indicator.

·         Proportion of people who agree the police and council are dealing with ASB and crime issues that matter

o   This indicator has not changed but, rather than having a numerical target for this indicator, it would be preferable to set the target as being the best performing local authority in the Northumbria Police Force area.  The reason for this is that this is more of a challenge for partners and the figures reported across Northumbria for this indicator fluctuate.

·         Percentage of high risk victims engaged with the Independent Domestic Violence (IDVA) Service

o   Currently, this indicator measures the engagement rate of high-risk clients.  The newly-established Domestic Abuse service now works with medium-risk victims as well as high-risk victims, meaning that data collected post-October 2018 cannot be compared to previous years’ data

o   Due to changes in this service, it was felt that there was a better way of capturing the effectiveness of the service and so it is proposed that this indicator will now report on the proportion of cases closed where the risk level has reduced.

·         A new indicator is proposed that would seek to reducing the gap between those wards with the highest crime rates and those wards with the lowest crime rates.  This would assist in measuring partners’ effectiveness in supporting people to thrive.

·         It is proposed that one indicator is deleted altogether.  The figures for LW34, which measures the proportion of people who feel very or fairly safe in their neighbourhood, do not change significantly and have not been below 95% in the eight years the Safer Communities Survey has been surveying residents.

Some key achievements in terms of the Community Safety Portfolio are as follows:

·         To help address youth anti-social behaviour in hotspot locations, Operation Clasper is in effect across the borough.  The process involves taking the details of a child or young person who is believed to be involved in anti-social behaviour.  Any young person repeatedly stopped will receive a home visit from police and housing officers or, if this fails to address their behaviour, more formal action will be considered.

·         The use of the tools and powers that form part of the ASB, Crime and Policing Act 2014 has increased in the first six months of 2018/19.  Many residents may not understand the difference the use of these powers has made but, for partners, this increased knowledge has enabled officers to address issues and problematic individuals at an early stage, preventing escalation and therefore reducing the impact these behaviours have on the wider community.

·         The first successful injunction for a person under 18 years of age was granted earlier this year, with positive requirements attached to the injunction to ensure that the young person is encouraged to change their behaviour through positive experiences.

Some areas of focus for Community Safety over the next six months include:

·         Engagement and diversion of young people has been identified by partners as a gap.  Partners are trying to secure funding to improve services for young people in the community.

·         A review of all partnership meetings that are held to discuss complex individuals is due to take place.  This will streamline the approach partners take and reduce duplication for services.

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

Some key achievements and areas for improvements have been identified within the Thrive agenda covering the Economy, Environment and Transport, Housing, Communities and Volunteering and Culture Sport and Leisure Portfolios.

·         The Heworth maintenance work began late January 018 and was completed eight weeks ahead of schedule.

·         PROTO:  The emerging technology centre was completed and opened by HRH The Duke of Cambridge in September 2018.  There has been strong interest from occupiers with 60% of space now occupied, this includes 7 occupiers relocating from outside of Gateshead.  The Council, working in partnership with Invest North East England, has secured Department of International Trade’s resources to develop an inward investment proposition for the emerging technologies sector on behalf of the region.

·         An ERDF application submitted by Gateshead and five other local authorities (excluding Durham) in the NECA for a Business Energy Efficiency Support Programme was approved.

·         Planning approval was granted for new Grade A office accommodation on Baltic Business Quarter by the Council.  This was in response to development market failure but also demand from potential occupiers for space.

·         Gateshead has launched an enhanced, ethical recruitment service for employers obliged or willing to recruit new job entrants locally.  Working with partners the service would support single to large-scale recruitment campaigns and would be for both temporary and permanent positions.

·         A sector-based work inspiration programme for young people including NEETs and Looked After Children will be launched in early 2019.  Working with industry, training providers and schools, the programme will deliver sector insights and inspiration into future career choices.

·         A local Careers Education Information, Advice and Guidance Network for Careers Leaders from Gateshead secondary, SEND schools and Gateshead College has been established.  The network which will promote sharing best practice when linking education with business and developing the Gatsby benchmarks.

·         The Council successfully delivered the first concert to be held at Gateshead International Stadium since 2000, with over 23,000 people attending the ‘Little Mix’ concert in July.

·         The Go Gateshead Sport and Leisure Website (www.gogateshead.com) was launched in March 2018 to make it easier for residents to access the service.

·         Working in partnership, the Council, Keepmoat Homes and the local Glenpark Medical Practice secured funding from the NHS for a new medical practice on Ravensworth Road.  Construction started in 2018 and will complete in December 2018.

Some areas for improvement / actions to take forward over the next 6 months have been identified as follows:

·         The Gateshead Regeneration Partnership (GRP) will provide local employment and supply chain opportunities for Gateshead businesses.  In early 2019 GRP construction begins on three housing sites at Kelvin Grove, Rowlands Gill and Whitehills Drive.

·         Delivery of new facilities and improved public spaces at Baltic Quarter for businesses and visitors will help to create a vibrant business destination and facilities will include a new café.

·         The Council will explore opportunities to secure wider social and economic benefits for growth in the tech sector including a fairer share and distribution of wealth, and greater stability for freelance and contract employees by supporting the development of a Tech co-operative.

·         An ERDF grant application was made for £8m of funding, to support a £16m scheme to deliver sustainable energy and transport improvements to Chopwell.

·         Civic bus lane enforcement was expected in late 2018 with three cameras at Gateshead High Street, the A184 (West Central Route, behind the bus station) and the A184 Felling Bypass (westbound).  It is anticipated that lane enforcement will lead to a reduction in road traffic and pedestrian accidents.  The outcome of improved road enforcement will be known at the end of 2018/19 and continue on into 2019/20.

·         Council housing is progressing with work to develop a core and cluster scheme of 14 supported living homes in Winlaton.  The development will see a mix of bungalows and apartments, supported by an onsite concierge providing support for clients with Learning Disabilities.

·         The Housing Growth site at Clasper Village has been cleared and is ready for development of 191 homes plus a supermarket store to improve access to services for local residents. 

·         A planning application for the housing growth site at Bleach Green in Blaydon will be submitted in January 2019 by Keepmoat Homes, for 183 homes.  Funding from homes England will help provide 15% affordable homes for the area with work starting on site in March 2019 and support local first time buyers into home ownership.

·         In October 2018 the Council supported a month-long Adult Social Care Recruitment Campaign pilot working with the Department of Health and Social Care to promote careers in social care. 

RESOLVED -      (i)     That the report be referred to Cabinet on 22 January 2019 as part of the composite report relating to the Council’s overall performance

                            (ii)    That the Committee noted that the delivery of activities undertaken are supporting the Thrive agenda.