Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chair for the remainder of the municipal year.

RESOLVED –

That Councillor Asif Khan be elected Chair for the municipal year 2013/2014.

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no disclosures of interest.

To submit for signature the minutes of the meeting on 31 January 2013.

(All minutes are available on the Council’s website.)

The minutes of the meeting held on 31^st January 2013 were submitted and signed.

The Community Safety Partnership’s Operational Leads have been invited to the meeting. They will cover the following topics for the Task Group:

• A introduction to the work of the CSP
• A review of the performance of the CSP in 2012/13
• Priorities for the CSP in 2013/14

The Community Safety Manager introduced the officers present to the Task Group.  She advised that the Managing Director was now the Chair of the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) and that the Head of Community and Customer Services was his deputy.  She highlighted the other changes that had affected the CSP including the addition of a representative from the NHS on the Watford Responsible Authorities Group (WRAG) and the changes in the probation service.

Chief Inspector Wheatley introduced himself and outlined his prior experience in policing before starting his new role.  He described some of his priorities for the Borough; this included a particular emphasis on vulnerability. 

Councillor Meerabux outlined his concern for vulnerable groups who could be excluded from engagement through a lack of internet access.  Chief Inspector Wheatley responded that he would wish to identify the leaders of these groups at the strategic level and would also be keen to make use of councillors’ contacts within their wards.  He added that he recognised the gap in internet access and would be prepared to knock on doors to reach vulnerable groups.  He outlined the Safer Streets campaign that he had run in Welwyn Hatfield. 

Councillor Martins welcomed the new Chief Inspector to Watford.  He asked about his approach to preventative work for the Night Time Economy and asked about ratios of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).  Chief Inspector Wheatley responded that he would undertake a review of the Night Time Economy to consider the demand placed on the Police.  There was a concern that other issues could be missed elsewhere.  He reiterated that he would not necessarily change the way the Night Time Economy was policed.  He outlined the recent success in the use of Scannet which had resulted in a number of arrests. 

In response to the question about officer ratios, Inspector Dent outlined the new structure for neighbourhood policing.  For the outer Watford area there would be six Police officers and six PCSOs, for North Watford there would be six Police officers and six PCSOs and for the town centre there would be seven Police officers and two PCSOs present.  Watford General Hospital would also be part-funding two PCSOs this year.  Chief Inspector Wheatley noted the importance of flexibility among Police officers; he would want to send his resources to areas where there had been problems, to flood the area with preventative messages. 

Councillor Aron asked about the Police resources for Nascot Ward.  Chief Inspector Wheatley replied that there would not be any imminent changes to the structure of the Safer Neighbourhood Team.  Chief Inspect Wheatley advised councillors that if they wanted a Police Officer to attend a community meeting an officer would be in attendance. 

Following a question from Councillor McLeod, the Antisocial Behaviour Coordinator highlighted the recent email from the local neighbourhood Sergeant which provided contact details for the local policing team. 

ACTION – The North Watford Sergeant to forward the email in question to the Committee and Scrutiny Support Officer. 

Inspector  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

This report updates the Task Group on ongoing work since the last meeting.

The Task Group received a report of the Committee and Scrutiny Support Officer outlining work that had been undertaken to produce surveys for different groups since the last meeting.  Three different surveys had been circulated; one to residents and community groups, one to the Police and one to Councillors.  The survey was due to close on 26 July 2013. 

ACTION – The Committee Scrutiny Support Officer to send a reminder to all councillors about the survey. 

ACTION – The Committee and Scrutiny Support Officer to forward the community survey to the Task Group to send on to residents and community associations in their wards. 

The Committee and Scrutiny Support Officer drew the Task Group’s attention to the financial implications comment that had been circulated. 

RESOLVED –

That the update report be noted

The Task Group to discuss areas they would like to review in 2013/14. The rolling work programme, which includes suggestions made at previous meetings, is attached for discussion.

The action list, which covers the Task Group’s earlier work, is also attached. The Task Group is asked to review the list and make any recommendations for action.

The Task Group received a proposed work programme for consideration.  The Committee and Scrutiny Support Officer noted that after discussions with officers, it was suggested that the Probation Service be invited to a future meeting to discuss areas raised in the scrutiny suggestion by Councillors McLeod and Lynch. 

The Task Group agreed that they would be interested in looking at the Thriving Families programme.  The Community Safety Manager suggested that this would be appropriate for the meeting in September as a half-year report was due to be published.  She suggested that the lead officer for Watford be asked to produce a report, though this could be included in the same meeting as the survey feedback. 

It was agreed that the Probation Service would be invited to the meeting in December. 

It was agreed that the Strategic Assessment would be considered at the meeting in February 2014. 

The Task Group confirmed that they would like to invite the PCC to give a briefing to all Watford Councillors when possible.  The Community Safety Manager advised that a representative from the PCC’s office now attended WRAG meetings. 

The Task Group considered the action list that was attached to the agenda.

It was agreed that the drug and alcohol treatment agencies be invited to give a briefing to all Watford Councillors, perhaps followed by a meeting for the Community Safety Partnership Task Group to consider learning points. 

RESOLVED –

That the updates to the work programme and action list be noted. 

30 September 2013

30 September 2013