Agenda and minutes

Venue: New Council Chamber - Town Hall, Reigate

Contact: Democratic Services (01737 276182)  Email: Democratic@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

67.

Minutes

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the previous meeting.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Minutes of the previous meeting on 20 January 2022 were approved.

68.

Apologies for absence and substitutions

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of any substitute Members in accordance with the Constitution.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Whinney.

Councillor Blacker gave his apologies and was substituted by Councillor Absalom.

69.

Declarations of interest

To receive any Declarations of Interest (including the existence and nature of any Party Whip).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no Declarations of Interest.

70.

Annual Community Safety Partnership Scrutiny 2021

To receive presentations from the Portfolio Holder for Community Partnerships and the Borough Commander for Reigate and Banstead, and to review the work of the Reigate and Banstead Community Safety Partnership in 2021.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a presentation from Councillor Ashford, Portfolio Holder for Community Partnerships, on the Community Safety Partnership giving an overview of work over the past year and challenges to come. Highlights from the past year included the success of the new Reigate and Banstead Community Safety Partnership. There had also been delivery and oversight of high number of Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) as Reigate and Banstead had the highest number of DHRs in Surrey. The partnership was taking part in a research project to better understand the patterns of domestic abuse and suicide.

 

Visits and talks had taken place across the borough in partnership with other agencies such as the YMCA, tackling issues such as avoiding becoming a victim of fraud, low level Prevent briefings and arranging events to raise awareness. A joint approach had been taken to address several concerns through Joint Action Group, Community Harm and Risk Management Meeting (CHaRMM) and Community Action.

 

The Community Safety Plan, which is unique to the borough, has four key priorities:

·     Empowering Communities to Feel safe

·     Protect the Most Vulnerable from Harm

·     Responding to Domestic Abuse

·     Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour

 

Committee members asked how the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) was funded and how value for money was measured. It was noted that there is no direct funding for the CSP; it is a partnership model, between the Council, Surrey Police, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, and the Clinical Commissioning Group in terms of officer time. All parties shared responsibility and as a group can bid for additional funding. The partnership is chaired by the Head of Paid Service at RBBC, Mari Roberts-Wood and officer time to enable, facilitate and collaborate was the main resourcing for the CSP. Committee members recognised that the CSP is important in bringing information and learning together across agencies.

 

Empowering communities to Feel Safe – From a resident survey in 2021, results showed that 65% of residents felt safe after dark, an improvement on the 2020 result of 60%. Targeted work would be carried out to improve areas needing improvement.

 

Highlights included:

 

·     Campaigns to raise awareness and outreach with communities.

Responding successfully to Community Triggers such as verbal abuse, noise and feeling unsafe. It was also noted that Community Triggers could be used on places as well as people.

 

In development:

 

·     A refresh of Get Connected with local partners who work with young people such as the YMCA with National Lottery funding.

 

Committee members asked what would happen to the Get Connected project when lottery funding comes to an end. Get Connected was currently in the second year of a three-year period of lottery funding; it is overseen by a steering group which facilitates ongoing review and further funding would be sought.

 

Protect the Most Vulnerable from Harm – A number of County Lines had been tackled.

 

Highlights included:

·     Significant arrests resulting from the serious organised crime JAG.

·     Prevent and modern day slavery awareness.

 

In development:

 

·     Developing Safe and Well checks with Surrey Fire and Rescue  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

71.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme 2021/22

To consider and agree any changes to the schedule for Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s Forward Work Programme 2021/22 (Annex 1) and note the Action Tracker (Annex 2).

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received the Forward Work Programme 2021/22 which related to the final meeting of the Municipal Year in March.

The Chair, Councillor Harrison, drew Members’ attention to the IT Strategy which would be discussed at the next meeting. Members of the Audit Committee were invited to attend as it included information on areas they were interested in. The report would be discussed in a Part 2 Exempt session.

At the March meeting, the Committee will look at the upcoming Forward Work Programme for the coming year 2022/23. Members were asked to submit any items to the Clerk to bring to the Committee for consideration.

Councillor Essex asked if the Companies Performance Update report could include information in Part 1 of the report that could be in the public domain rather than Part 2 Exempt session, for example, information that was published already on the Companies House public website.

There were no comments on the Action Tracker.

RESOLVED – that the Committee:

1)    Noted the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme 2021/22 and Action Tracker.

72.

Executive

To consider any items arising from the Executive which might be subject to the ‘call-in’ procedure in accordance with the provisions of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules set out in the Constitution.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was reported that there were no items arising from the Executive that might be subject to the ‘call-in’ procedure in accordance with the provisions of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.

73.

Any other urgent business

To consider any item(s) which, in the opinion of the Chairman, should be considered as a matter of urgency - Local Government Act 1972, Section 100B(4)(b).

(NOTE: Under the Committee and Sub-Committee Procedure Rules set out in the Constitution, items of urgent business must be submitted in writing but may be supplemented by an oral report.)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.