To elect a Chair for the remainder of 2011/12 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED –

that Councillor Kelly McLeod be elected Chair for the remainder of the 2011/12 Municipal Year.

A presentation will be given about the Community Safety Partnership.  The Chair and members of the partnership will be present to answer any questions.

Cate Hall, the Chair of the Community Safety Partnership and Executive Director at Watford Borough Council advised that the presentation would explain the partnership and its role.  She gave apologies for John Smith from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue and Dawn Moorish from the Primary Care Trust.

The representatives from the Community Safety Partnership introduced themselves. 

Cate Hall explained the reason the Community Safety Partnership had been set up and its duties.  She outlined the different groups which delivered the partnership’s work.  The groups were Watford Responsible Authorities Group (WRAG), the Joint Action Group (JAG), Anti-Social Behaviour Action Group (ASBAG) and the Night Time Economy Focus Group which was to become the Purple Flag group.

Cate Hall provided the Task Group with statistics for the last three years and the four priorities for 2011/12.  The presentation also included some examples of the Partnership’s work. 

Cate Hall said that the Community Safety Partnership was happy to work with the Task Group.  The representatives had considered whether there were any areas it would appreciate the Task Group investigating.  It had been agreed that at the present time there were no specific areas they could suggest.

Members were provided with a copy of the presentation and the Community Safety Partnership’s action plan. 

Councillor Meerabux said that based on the reduction in crimes it might be considered that there was a reduction in the number of cases being presented at court.  He asked whether this was correct.

Cate Hall explained that the courts covered cases wider than the immediate Watford area.  Inspector Dent added that it was difficult to match data as some individuals were responsible for several cases. 

Councillor Meerabux added that the number of people in prison had risen and there seemed to be a conflict.  The public was confused by the different information.

Cate Hall replied that many cases did not attract custodial sentences.  The Police compared their data with similar Police force areas across the country.  There was not a direct link between the number of court cases and the work of the Partnership.  The number of court cases did not explain what was happening in Watford.  She added that the Accident and Emergency departments in Watford and Stevenage were carrying out a pilot project, looking at the admissions and if there was a correlation between injuries and alcohol.

Councillor Khan asked whether there were any crime statistics which had increased.

Inspector Dent responded that there was a slight increase in violent crime outside the Town Centre which was related to personal robberies.  There was no pattern and they happened at random places across Watford.  There had been six incidents in three months which had an impact on the statistics.

Councillor Lynch said that the Stonham premises for ex-offenders, located in central Watford, would be closing next year.  The residents did not meet the criteria for social housing and this could have an impact on Watford.  She asked for further clarification.

John Hughes said that it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

The Task Group to discuss areas they would like to review in 2011/12.

A scrutiny proposal about the recruitment of ex-offenders and disadvantaged youths has been forwarded by Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the Task Group to consider for its work programme.

The Task Group considered the scrutiny proposal suggested by Councillor McLeod.  The Committee and Scrutiny Officer advised that the suggestion had been forwarded to the Task Group by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  It had been suggested that if the Task Group were to undertake the review it might wish to expand it to include other businesses in Watford and not just the Council.

Councillor Martins responded that the Head of Human Resources’ comments had not been very helpful and he considered them to be against the Equal Opportunities Policy.

Councillor McLeod said that she was also concerned about the risk of ex-offender’s becoming homeless.  The Council did not appear to have a policy

Councillor Martins cautioned about the scope of the review.

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer suggested that Councillor McLeod could adjust the proposal and then it could be considered for review.

Councillor Khan suggested that statistics needed to be considered by the Task Group.  Members could then consider whether the Community Safety Partnership was dealing with the causes.

Councillor McLeod advised that during 2010/11 the Task Group had regularly seen the crime statistics.  Members had asked for the statistics to be broken down further and for details of where people came from.  The Task Group would also need to monitor the impact cutbacks had on the community.  She asked that the 2010/11 statistics and the latest information for 2011/12 be made available at the next meeting.  Members also wanted advice on how to interpret the statistics.

Councillor Meerabux asked whether it would be possible to call in Accident and Emergency.  Councillor McLeod advised that she was aware the Primary Care Trust (PCT) was monitoring A and E.  She said that the PCT could be asked for the statistics available, including a breakdown.

Councillor Lynch stated that she was concerned about the closure of the accommodation which was operated by Stonham and the state of the YMCA.

Councillor McLeod asked Councillor Lynch to complete the scrutiny proposal forms with her suggestions and then to return them to the Committee and Scrutiny Officer.

The Task Group to agree the date of the next meeting.

It was agreed that the next meeting would be held on Tuesday 6 December 2011, starting at 6.30 p.m.