Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Town Hall

Contact: Jodie Kloss/Alan Garside  Email: legalanddemocratic@watford.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

17.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

 

18.

Disclosure of interests

Minutes:

There were no disclosures of interest.

 

19.

Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2017 to be submitted and signed.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2017 were submitted and signed.

 

20.

CSP Protecting our Communities and Managing Crime Plan - end of year update

The Community Safety Coordinator to provide an end of year update on progress with the Protecting our Communities and Managing Crime Plan 2017/18.

Minutes:

The Community Safety Coordinator provided the task group with an end of year update on progress with the Protecting our Communities and Managing Crime Plan 2017/18.  He advised how data from the annual strategic assessment helped inform CSP objectives.


Night time economy

There had been a reduction in footfall in the town centre and a change in people’s requirements for entertainment; with a developing café culture and less alcohol related.   The number of arrests and the need for policing had reduced.  As a result, it was proposed that this topic would no longer be a stand-alone item in the CSP plan for 2018/19.

 

Domestic abuse

Historically, this matter had been linked to the night time economy and would therefore no longer be a stand-alone item in the coming year.  However, careful monitoring would continue.

 

Hate crime

There had not been instability within communities.  Some instances had related to the behaviour of individuals when arrested for shop lifting offences and to repeat offences in families.  It was to be proposed that the topic would not be a stand-alone item in 2018/19.

 

In response to a question from members, the Community Safety Coordinator undertook to provide the task group with information on how the partnership would respond to an issue reported in the national media apparently inciting unlawful activity against a religious group on a date in April.

 

Gangs and cross border offenders

This matter remained a vulnerability and would be further progressed in next year’s CSP plan.  A number of cases were discussed to highlight the ongoing issues. 

 

Homelessness

Some cohorts of the homeless were linked to drug offences and work would be continued in the coming year.  However, the number of rough sleepers had reduced in the town in 2017/18 following effective partnership activity. 

 

In response to questions from members, the Community Safety Coordinator explained how individuals would be monitored going forward and how breaches of Community Protection Notices could result in terms of imprisonment. 

 

The task group discussed the number of rough sleepers presently in Watford and there were differing views as to whether these had actually reduced; and whether the homeless made use of the various facilities provided by charities and churches.  The Community Safety Coordinator clarified that the majority of rough sleepers in the town were not previously residents of Watford. 

 

Child safeguarding

Child sexual exploitation had not proved an issue in Watford - rather matters around relationships within gangs.  Consequently, child safeguarding would be progressed in the ‘gangs and cross border offenders’ item in 2018/19 and the issue of grooming would be monitored.

 

RESOLVED that -

 

·        the update be noted

·        the action requested be undertaken

 

 

21.

Exclusion of press and public

The Chair to move: that, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during consideration of the item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Section 100(1) of the Act for the reasons stated below in terms of Schedule 12A.

 

NOTE: if approved, the Chair will ask members of the press and public to leave the meeting at this point.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED –

 

that, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during consideration of the item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Section 100(1) of the Act for the reasons stated on the agenda in terms of Schedule 12A.

 

22.

Community safety partnership risk register

The Community Safety Coordinator to give a presentation to members on the community safety partnership’s risk register and how this will help inform the partnership priorities for 2018/19.

 

Paragraph 7 Schedule 12A

 

(This item contains information relating to the prevention of crime)

 

Minutes:

The panel received a presentation on the community safety partnership risk register and how this would help determine the partnership priorities and action plans for 2018/19.

 

Members discussed the register, and the officers responded to questions and comments.

 

RESOLVED that –

 

·        the presentation be noted.

 

 

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