Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Ahmed and Khan.

There was a change of membership for this meeting; Councillor Jeffree replaced Councillor Hill.  

The committee sent their congratulations to Councillor Hill on the arrival of her baby.

There were no disclosures of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2024 to be submitted and signed.

The minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2024 were submitted and signed.

Representatives of the Community Safety Partnership to make a presentation to the committee.

The committee received a presentation of the Community Protection Lead, the Community Safety Manager and Inspector Dan Jones.

The presentation covered the role of the Community Safety Partnership (CSP), the partnership’s current priorities (serious violent crime, violence against women and girls, community wellbeing and reassure and inform), actions undertaken to deliver the against the priorities, the future reporting structure of the partnership, the risk matrix, proposed new priorities, antisocial behaviour (ASB) case reviews, the policing update and crime data.

The officers and the police also addressed areas that committee members had highlighted in advance as concerns:

·                 There had been a peak in youth ASB in Atria when the schools had broken up for the summer holidays. The police had used dispersal powers and worked with local schools to agree staggered finishing times in the future. A plan would be in place to address any potential repeat of the issues.

·                 The partnership used ‘heat maps’ to identify patterns in localised ASB and emerging issues were addressed at the weekly partnership meeting.

·                 There had been a focus in addressing the issue of street drinkers congregating in St Mary’s Churchyard. The relocation of the police station to nearby George Street also afforded the police more opportunities to oversee the area. Should there be an increase in the summer months, civil orders could be utilised.

·                 Members of the Neighbourhood Policing Team had been trained in the use of speed cameras and these could be used to address issues identified with speeding on St Albans Road. It was noted that the issues raised with speeding often took place overnight.

·                 Funding had been secured for more lighting in Cassiobury Park which was now well-covered. No further requests had been received and the partnership would react should concerns be raised.

·                 Women’s shelters had provisions to provide cash for essentials for victims of domestic abuse until they were able to open a new account. The Community Safety Manager undertook to discuss the issue with the Sunflower Centre and the BID and look to progress any actions under the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy.  It was noted that prepayment cards might be a useful alternative.

The committee then had a wider discussion of the CSP:

·                 A new Hertfordshire-wide community safety app would be launched in April 2024 and details would be circulated to councillors.

·                 The reprofiling of the VAWG priority reflected the reduction in the risk rating and the trend of falling numbers of offences. It would remain under the Community Wellbeing priority and the tools and strategies developed would remain in place. While it was not a key driver for crime, the significant impact on individuals was recognised even if the risk to the community was reduced. It had remained as a priority for an additional year to ensure that the downward trend was continuing. Should there be an uptick in sexual offences the risk level and priorities would be reviewed. 

·                 Where drugs were involved in incidences of ASB, this was reflected in the data.  Increases  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.

The committee received the final report of the Social Housing Task Group. The Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee, a member of the task group, introduced the report.

She noted that it had been a really encouraging piece of work and that there had been an open and collaborative approach demonstrated. The culture of openness meant that issues could be more quickly addressed.

Councillor Devonish, who also sat on the task group, concurred that it had been productive. She praised initiatives like the Big Door Knock which helped tenants to have more control and also engaged tenants who did not make regular contact with their landlord. It had been helpful to know that underperforming contractors were not being retained. She thanked the registered providers who had also given written feedback.  

RESOLVED-

that the final report and recommendations of the task group be agreed and forwarded to relevant registered providers.

To consider any executive decisions which have been called in by the requisite number of councillors.

There had been no items called-in.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to review the latest edition of the Executive Decision Progress Report and consider whether any further information is required.

The scrutiny committee was invited to review the current Executive Decision Progress Report for 2023-24 and consider whether any further information was required.

RESOLVED –

that the current 2023/24 Executive Decision Progress report be noted.

Councillor Grimston, the Council’s appointed representative to Hertfordshire County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee, to provide an update.

The Chair reported that the Health Scrutiny Committee had not met. 

The committee discussed the increase in excess deaths that had been evidenced on an international scale and what impact that might have in Watford. It was noted that Covid still had an impact on the way people accessed healthcare services. The new hospital would be paramount in delivering health services locally. The Chair agreed she would raise this at the next meeting.

RESOLVED –

the update be noted.

The scrutiny committee is asked to review the current version of the work programme and consider any additional areas councillors wish to scrutinise.

Members were invited to review Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s draft work programme for 2023/24.  

There was a discussion about the impact of bins on streets with narrow pavements. It was agreed that this would be raised separately with Veolia.

RESOLVED –

that the work programme is noted.

·             Wednesday 13 March 2024, 7pm

The next meeting would be on Wednesday 13 March 2024.