Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the Meeting.

Councillor Mike Rouse paid tribute Sir David Amess, who tragically and shockingly lost his life whilst holding a constituents’ surgery recently. Condolences were paid to his family, friends and everyone who knew him. One minute’s silence was held in his memory.

Apologies were received from Cllr Shirley Webb and Mark Hughes (Parent Governor Representative).

None.

Members of the public wishing to take part should notify the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance in writing or by e-mail indicating the nature and content of their proposed participation no later than 9.00am on the working day before the meeting (in this case 20 October 2021).  Enquiries can be made through the telephone number/e-mail address below.

None.

(to follow)

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 30 September 2021 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Attending for this item:

Dr Kathryn Cobain, Director of Public Health

Tony Mercer, Public Health Consultant

Paul Kinsella, Advanced Public Health Practioner

Karen May, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Health and Wellbeing

Lloyd Griffiths, Chair – South Worcester Community Safety Partnership

Superintendent Steph Brighton (South Worcestershire Police)

Superintendent Mark Colquhoun (North Worcestershire Police)

Tracey Onslow, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner West Mercia Police

Becca Youings, Commissioning Officer, West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioners Office

The Board was asked to consider the Annual Update on developments in relation to Community Safety in Worcestershire; and the update on the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

Cllr Udall (Lead member for Crime and Disorder) explained that the areas that had been identified as crime and disorder priorities for the Board were: drugs and alcohol abuse, rape, domestic abuse, sexual violence, anti-social behaviour, hate crime, wildlife, rural crime and speeding (which would be discussed at the November Board meeting).

The Advanced Public Health Practitioner introduced the Report and reminded the Board of the Council's statutory responsibilities (as detailed in the Agenda Report). 

The Annual Update on developments in relation to Community Safety in Worcestershire

The main discussion points were:

·         Community Safety Partnerships (CSP’s) were made up of representatives from the Police, Local Authorities, Fire and Rescue authorities, Health and Probation Services (the 'responsible authorities'). The responsible authorities worked together to protect their local communities from crime and to help people feel safer.  In Worcestershire, there were 2 CSP’s with North Worcestershire CSP incorporating the 3 district authority areas of Wyre Forest, Bromsgrove and Redditch, and South Worcestershire CSP incorporating Worcester City, Malvern Hills and Wychavon. Across the Worcestershire CSPs, the local delivery of Community safety priorities was overseen by district based operational groups. There were currently 4 strategic priorities for Community Safety work across Worcestershire, these were set out in the Community Safety Agreement and were:

·         Reducing Re-Offending

·         Harm Reduction (including Anti-Social Behaviour, Safeguarding, Hate Crime, Community Cohesion and Preventing Violent Extremism)

·         Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence

·         Drugs and Alcohol.

·         It was noted that some of the funding received from the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), was used to support Data Analysts.

·         The variety of partners who were part of the CSP made for a very productive partnership. Sometimes attendance at meetings could be challenging and on occasions, there could be some duplication when other Groups across Worcestershire had similar priorities

·         The Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (DPCC) explained that the PCC allocated £260k funding per year to CSPs (and was one of the top 5 funding allocations in the Country).  The CSP’s could allocate funding to the priorities as they saw fit.  The PCC also provided service of Data Analysts to collate and analyse data and attended each quarterly CSP meeting.

·         Previously, the PCC had been able to allocate funding for a 2 year period and he would look to review this when the current election term was confirmed.

·         CSP’s received early notification of the budget allocation which was  helpful in being able  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1214.

Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) (Cllr Brandon Clayton)

The Board was advised that an additional meeting of HOSC was held on 18 October to look at the Strategy in relation to community ambulance stations and also how the residents of Worcestershire were able to access appointments with GPs following the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the discussion on Community Ambulance Stations, HOSC was advised by West Midlands Ambulance Service Trust that handover delays at hospitals was as an area of concern and in particular, regular and significant delays at Worcestershire Royal Hospital. The HOSC had therefore agreed to look at this as soon as possible via task group session of HOSC (not in public) with all system partners.

Work Programme

It was agreed that Scrutiny of Community Safety Partnerships would be added to the Work programme.

It was noted that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Board had written to the Leader of the Council to ask if there were any particular areas of Budget that Scrutiny could assist with for Budget Scrutiny 2022/23.

Task Groups

It was noted that the Developer-funded Highways infrastructure & Section 278 Technical Approval Task Group would have its first meeting that afternoon

Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Budget Task Group – Councillor Adams reported on the progress of this Task Group.

In response to the suggestion, that all Scrutiny meetings should be webcast, the Democratic Governance and Scrutiny Manager advised that this was being considered.