Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Community Select Committee held on 29 February 2024.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Community Select Committee held on Thursday 29 February 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive the Executive Member response to the CSC Housing Repairs Scrutiny Review report and recommendations.

The Chair introduced the Executive Member response to the Review of Housing Repairs.

The Committee acknowledged that all recommendations had been agreed. The Chair thanked the Assistant Director (Building Safety and Housing Property Services) and requested that, rather than wait for a review, they provide an update as and when they find appropriate.

The Assistant Director (Building Safety and Housing Property Services) thanked the Committee for their recommendations.

It was RESOLVED that the Executive Member response to the Review of Housing Repairs is noted.

The Committee are invited to sit as the Council’s statutory Crime & Disorder Committee and will receive a presentation from the Police, Chief Inspector Graeme Walsingham, and contributions from Head of Community Advise and Support, Sarah Pateman, Executive Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Cllr Jackie Hollywell and Chair of the SoSafe Partnership, CE Matt Partridge.

The Chair introduced the Head of Community Advice and Support Sarah Pateman, the Chief Executive Matthew Partridge, and the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Equalities Cllr Jackie Hollywell.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Equalities introduced a presentation provided by Hertfordshire Constabulary. She acknowledged the ongoing efforts to address various issues within the community, particularly focused on the reduction of antisocial behaviour. She highlighted the challenges faced due to limited resources but emphasised the commitment to making effective use of available resources.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Equalities reminded the Committee of the frequent Police Priorities Meetings that helped focus efforts on particular issues within the district and encouraged Councillors to engage in local street meets and work collaboratively with the Police and Council Communities and Neighbourhood Team.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Equalities praised the recently launched ‘Build a Better Bedwell’ together with the Safer Street funding that aims to regenerate the area, reduce crime, and tackle anti-social behaviour. She advised that the project had already shown some benefits and that similar projects would be welcomed should there be the necessary funding and resources available.

Head of Community Advice and Support then talked the Committee through the presentation and advised the Committee that there had been a 28% reduction in theft from person incidents across Stevenage, with 70 incidents compared to 97 in the previous year. The Town Centre remained a hotspot for such incidents, although the situation had improved. This was in part due to plain clothes police operations and regular crime prevention events within the Town Centre.

The Head of Community Advice and Support highlighted efforts to address youth involvement in crime, including intervention briefings and collaboration with the Youth Justice Team. Initiatives like "Youth No More" aimed to prevent antisocial behaviour and crime among young people by working with schools and families.

There had been a 50% reduction in incidents initially classified as drugs-related antisocial behaviour, with 241 incidents compared to 478 in the previous year. Hot spot mapping showed very few incidents in Stevenage parks except for the Town Centre Gardens and King George V Playing Fields. The mapping identified areas with higher incidents, leading to targeted patrols and problem-solving plans.

The Head of Community Advice and Support advised the Committee that fly-tipping was often logged by the Police as a crime but not as an indicator of a full investigation as they were often dealt with by the Councils Community Safety Officers and Wardens, with a focus on finding cost-effective solutions. Strategies included encouraging perpetrators to remove waste themselves.

Members praised the work of Officers.

The Chair asked a question related to the reference on the second slide to sending letters with the intent to cause distress or anxiety. The Head of Community Advice and Support confirmed advised that such letters referred to scams or fraudulent correspondence designed to intimidate or defraud recipients.

A Member asked a question related to crime trends in the Roaring Meg Retail Park  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider any Part I business accepted by the Chair as urgent

None.

To consider the following motions:

1. That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the ground that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2. That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

It was RESOLVED:

1.         That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in Paragraphs 1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.         That the reasons for the following reports being in Part II were accepted, and that the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Members are invited to receive a presentation from Survivors Against Domestic Violence (SADA) providing an update on the work of SADA. Members will be considering this item as a Part II confidential item due to the sensitive nature of the service.

The Committee viewed a Part II presentation from Survivors against Domestic Abuse (SADA).

Members asked a number of questions, which were responded to by officers.

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent

None.