Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairman of the Committee, Rick Hylton, welcomed attendees to the second Stakeholder Board meeting; particularly the new Police and Crime Commissioner Sir Graham Bright.

The Chairman, for the benefit of new attendees, explained that the Board had been set up officially 12 months previously, following a debate about the continuity of the CDRP. Bearing in mind budget constraints and competing priorities, the aim was to put in place a Board that would reduce bureaucracy and make an impact ‘on the ground’.

The three key aims of the Board were:

1)    To set strategic priorities

2)    To monitor performance

3)    To review progress and celebrate success.

A separate Tasking and Co-ordination Group was put together to meet monthly and pull together representatives from key agencies, in order to discuss specific actions.

Cllr David Jenkins declared a personal interest as his son is a Police Officer.

Magistrate Pat Mungroo declared a personal interest as the Chair of Black Minority Ethnic (BME) for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Foundation.

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed as a correct record.

Matters arising:

County Councillor David Jenkins apologised for not sending in apologies for the previous meeting on 12 June 2012.

Following the previous meeting, an action was set to determine the best place to discuss issues relating to road safety. A sub-group met and suggested that the Board should work more closely with the Road Safety Partnership to ensure road safety issues are embedded in the planning of new developments/communities and to assess the criteria for existing communities.

The sub-group noted the importance of Neighbourhood Panel meetings as a venue for the public to express concerns and share intelligence, but suggested that road safety should not be a main priority for the Board. Instead, work relating to safety cameras and enforcement would link-up with the Health and Wellbeing Board projects to provide a County-wide approach to tackling road safety issues.

Sir Graham Bright provided an update on plans for the future of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office.

Sir Graham began by thanking members of the Board for providing an update on work carried out so far, and highlighted that as Commissioner, he will be implementing a ‘public’ plan to tackle on-going issues in the District, based on what members of the public feel are the main problem areas.

The key focus would be on prevention, engagement and sustainability. The Commissioner was keen to get more involved with Neighbourhood Watch schemes to encourage a more proactive approach; to build intelligence and to plug the gap between an offence being committed and support being implemented.

The Commissioner was impressed with the results of work carried out by the Youth Offending Services and Voluntary Bodies and emphasised the need for Outreach Programmes to prevent crimes by working with troubled families. An advert had already been placed for an Outreach Worker in the North of the County, and duties would include co-ordinating with Parish Councils, schools, businesses, crime prevention schemes and governing Bodies.

A seminar would be held in April in the Council Chamber of South Cambridgeshire District Council HQ to discuss best practice, flag up ideas and be used as a stepping stone for planning for the long term approach.

Councillor Ben Shelton, the SCDC Policing Champion and Member of the Police and Crime Panel, explained that the Panel had brought together representatives from neighbouring authorities and had met as a shadow group. Their first official meeting would take place on 7 February where they will agree the budget. The Panel also consists of 2 independent members and will be focussing on new developments/communities. Cllr Shelton emphasised the need for Outreach Workers in South Cambridgeshire, not just surrounding areas.

Five priorities were set in November 2012; the focus being on intelligence gathering and work ‘on the ground’.

Anti-Social Behaviour (update by Mike Hill):

Working alongside the Housing Department, providers of Mental Health support, the Environment Agency and the Environmental Health Department at SCDC, strong action has been taken in resolving problems relating to anti-social behaviour.

Cases remain low, but specific resolutions were undertaken in Girton, Teversham, Cambourne and Whittlesford.

Emerging themes include the increased co-operation of members of the community if involved in the resolution process. Improved information-sharing systems, a victim-centred approach and more creative thinking has led to reducing the risk for vulnerable people.

Anti-social behaviour relating to road safety, i.e. dangerous parking or speeding, has been embedded in the work of the Local Health Partnership to reduce an overlap with work being carried out by the CDRP.

Business Crime (update by DI Darren Alderson):

Business crime overall has seen a 6% reduction. This has mainly been due to a more cohesive coordinated approach to tackling crime in rural areas. Retail crime has been reduced by moving CCTV to more appropriate places to improve the identification of perpetrators.

A dedicated PCSO has been coordinating with links already in existence, such as Cambridge City schemes and the successful Pub Watch scheme. Ecops has proved a useful tool in sharing intelligence and increasing awareness of vulnerable areas.

Despite on-going problems relating to diesel theft, a positive effect has been observed across the District; the key focus now being on travelling offenders that use road and rail links in to the District from further afield. Plans have been put in place to keep track of Integrated Offenders already in the system, to prevent repeat offending.

Growth and New Communities (update by Mike Hill):

Plans are being put in place to ‘design crime out’ of new developments by building a solid relationship between Planners and the CDRP Tasking & Co-ordination Group aims. By using operational experience and lessons learnt from for example, Cambourne, a long-term creative plan would be put in place to prevent pockets of anti-social behaviour in open spaces or poorly-lit areas.

Integrated Offender Management (update by DI Mick Birchall):

Since April 2012, 3 cases have risen to 5. This was not considered a bad thing as it shows that the scheme is working and is able to monitor more offenders successfully. Compared with neighbouring Authorities this figure is extremely low, especially when compared to Peterborough who are currently managing between 70 and 80 offenders.

Using a joined-up approach, re-offending has been reduced with improved monitoring and support being provided to offenders once released from prison. Cambridgeshire Constabulary have agreed to underwrite the ECINS software, funding for which, can be claimed back by the Board. This software will enable agencies to share intelligence and maintain a more co-ordinated approach to offender management. It can be used to monitor ASB information, Probation, Licensing, Troubled Families and multiple occupancy homes. This would be a county-wide opportunity to also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

Presentation by CI Darren Alderson/ Leigh Roberts.

Detective Inspector Darren Alderson gave an update on crime and anti-social behaviour across the District over the last year, and was pleased to report that there had been a total crime reduction of 6%.

His presentation is available at:

http://scambs.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s69426/Crime%20and%20ASB%20in%20the%20District.pdf

Key themes:

·         Perception of anti-social behaviour has decreased;

·         Confidence that Cambridgeshire Police are dealing with the things that matter to people in their community has increased by 6%;

·         Satisfaction rates have risen.

The Board APPROVED the recommendation to continue with the following priorities for 2013/14, based on the Strategic Assessment provided and outlined by Leigh Roberts.

1.    Tackling anti-social behaviour and supporting troubled families.

2.    Preventing and reducing crimes against businesses.

3.    Shaping and supporting new growth, including taking account of its impact on existing communities

4.    Committing support and appropriate resources to the Integrated Offender Management scheme in Cambridgeshire.

5.    Supporting work to reduce domestic abuse.

The presentation that accompanied the Strategic Assessment is available at:

http://scambs.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s69427/Strategic%20Assessment%20-%20Community%20Safety%20Priorities.pdf

It was agreed that Gemma Barron would report back on CDRP Spending Priorities at the next meeting.

The next Stakeholder event will take place in June 2013; date TBC.

The Committee voted for Rick Hylton to remain the Chairman for the next year.