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Agenda and minutes
Venue: Town Hall, Queen's Square, Priory Meadow, Hastings TN34 1QR
Contact: Michael Courts on 01424 451764 email mcourts@hastings.gov.uk
Items No. Item Update on recording crime statistics
Minutes:
At the request of the Chair, this item was moved up the agenda.
The committee had invited Inspector Chris Veale of Hastings Police to attend the meeting, to provide an update on crime data integrity.
Following initial research by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent, HMIC had undertaken a programme of works across the country to assess whether crimes were being accurately recorded and correctly categorised. This work was ongoing, but an interim report published in 2014 identified that nationally there had been a significant under-recording of crime.
Maintaining accurate data was essential to gain an accurate representation of crime and anti-social behaviour in a particular area and for the police to plan their work to ensure the best outcome for victims and communities, including appropriate access to victim services.
Police forces across the country had developed a more comprehensive approach to recording crime, and this had resulted in an increase in the number of recorded crimes. However, it was considered that this increase in recorded crime was the result of improved monitoring practices, rather than an increase in the number of offences. Indeed, crime rates in Hastings continued to compare favourably against similar districts around the country. Discussion took place regarding a range of initiatives which had been launched by Hastings Police and its partner agencies, including the council, to tackle issues around community safety and anti-social behaviour.
The committee thanked Inspector Veale for his update.
Minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2014
Minutes:
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2014 be approved as a correct record.
Forward Plan of Cabinet decisions from 1 November 2014 to 28 February 2015 PDF 57 KB
Minutes:
This item was moved up the agenda, at the request of the Chair.
The committee considered the forward plan of Cabinet decisions from 1 November 2014 to 28 February 2015. Members had previously requested an update on the Community Partnership Funding Main Grants Programme and the Sex Establishment Policy – review of numbers and development of a policy.
The Head of Regeneration and Planning Policy provided a briefing note on Community Partnership Funding; she also gave Members an overview of the range of activities supported by the grants programme.
The Head of Environmental Services explained that the council’s proposed Sex Establishment Policy was currently subject to a public consultation. The council had engaged with a variety of stakeholders as part of the consultation and Members were invited to submit any further comments on the draft policy by Friday, 2 January 2015.
Quarter Two Performance and Financial Monitoring Report PDF 131 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Senior Corporate and Democratic Services Officer presented a report to advise Members of the performance against 2014/15 targets and performance indicators in Part II of the Corporate Plan. The report also provided a summary of financial information.
Members welcomed an update that the council had met its target to bring forward a further programme of compulsory purchase orders in respect of long term empty properties. At its meeting on 7 July 2014, Cabinet had approved a programme of compulsory purchase orders on 27 long term empty properties. Members acknowledged that the council’s Empty Homes Officer continued to identify other long term empty properties in the town and explore options to bring them back into use.
The Lead Member for Housing and Community Services advised the committee that efforts were underway to develop a 5 year housing strategy. Although a housing strategy was no longer a statutory requirement, it was useful to assist the council in identifying and addressing housing needs in the area. The draft strategy would be subject to a public consultation.
Members noted that council was developing a revised target for the Townscape Heritage Initiative, which sought to conserve and repair buildings within the Central St Leonards area. It had been agreed with partners, including the Heritage Lottery Fund, to extend the timescale for the project to December 2015, to enable repair works to the Congregational Church to be completed.
Consideration was given to progress with the restoration of Pelham Arcade. The Lead Member Regeneration acknowledged that the project had been delayed by the complexities of ownership and lease arrangements for some of the units on the arcade, however, the council continued to encourage interest in the scheme from other owners. English Heritage had highlighted the scheme as a successful example of partnership working.
Discussion took place regarding efforts to improve public safety, particularly at events which take place across the year. The Director of Environmental Services explained that the council had formed a multi-agency safety advisory group, which assisted with the planning of large-scale public events. He commented that much of the alcohol consumed at events had not been purchased from licensed premises in the town, but brought in from outside the area. Efforts were underway with the British Transport Police to address incidents of irresponsible drinking. A de-brief was also held after each event, to consider possible safety improvements which may be made in future. This had included relocating the Jack in the Green Festival to the West Hill.
At the last meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Services in September, Members had met with Kier Services to discuss the new waste and street cleansing arrangements. Members noted that the number of missed collections continued to fall, and further initiatives were planned to reduce this further. The Joint Waste Committee continued to meet, to monitor performance under the contract. The committee were advised that efforts were underway to reduce the number of agency staff employed over the contract, which would help to retain experience ... view the full minutes text for item 13.
Update on the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2014/15 PDF 40 KB
Minutes:
The Senior Corporate and Democratic Services Officer advised the committee that all three pieces of work that Members had identified as a high priority at their annual meeting were now underway.
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