Meeting documents

Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee
Thursday, 16th October, 2014 6.30 pm

Place:
Jubilee Room, Civic 1, Civic Campus, Victoria Ave
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
296 Apologies and substitutions.
 Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Evans (substitute Councillor Courtenay), Councillor Moring (substitute Councillor Salter) and Councillor Waterworth (no substitute).
297 Declarations of interest.
 The following interests were declared at the meeting:

(a) Councillors Woodley, Assenheim, Gilbert and Longley (Executive Councillors) - interest in the referred items; attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19th July 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011;
b) Councillor Borton - agenda items relating to - Question from public; Policing update - non-pecuniary - employed by JobCentre Plus / DWP - mentioned in reply / item;
(c) Councillor Salter - agenda item relating to MPR - non-pecuniary - private landlord in Borough;
(d) Councillor J Garston - agenda item relating to MPR - non-pecuniary - private landlord in Borough;
(e) Councillor Habermel - agenda item relating to MPR - non-pecuniary - private landlord in Borough;
(f) Councillor Betson - agenda item relating to MPR- non-pecuniary - husband is private landlord; Board member South Essex Homes;
(g) Councillor Assenheim - agenda item relating to MPR - non-pecuniary - Board member South Essex Homes.
298 Questions from Members of the Public.
 A question had been received from Mr Davies, a resident, but he was not present at the meeting. A copy of the response from the Executive Councillor will be forwarded to Mr Davies.
299 Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday, 16th July, 2014
 Resolved:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 16th July, 2014 be received, confirmed as a correct record and signed.
300 Policing Update
Business for item 300
Resolved:-

That for Mr Collison and Mr Anslow be thanked for attending the meeting and for their honest, informative and helpful presentation.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.
301 Monthly Performance Report
Business for item 301
Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item.
302 In-depth Scrutiny Project 2014-15
Business for item 302
Resolved:-

That the project plan be agreed.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.
18.30 / 20.45

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor Habermel (Chairman),
Councillors Ayling, Betson, Borton, Callaghan, Courtenay*, Lamb, Holland, J Garston, Nevin, Robinson, Salter*, Stafford, Ward and Wexham
(*Substitute in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 31)
In attendance:
Councillors Woodley, Assenheim, Gilbert and Longley (Executive Councillors)
F Abbott, J Chesterton, J Ruffle and S Ford

Business

ItemBusiness
300Referring to Minute 123 of the meeting held on 16th July 2014, the Chairman welcomed Chief Superintendent Luke Collison, South Local Policing Area Commander and Chief Inspector Simon Anslow, Southend District Commander, Essex Police to the meeting. The Police had been invited to the meeting because of concerns about crime performance indicators (Corporate Performance 1.1) and to discuss current performance.

Mr Collison and Mr Anslow covered the following key issues in their presentation - reducing crime, solving crime, improving satisfaction as well as providing information about initiatives such as Operation Booth and the Forces recent changes to community engagement and also the Essex Community Messaging system.

The Committee asked a number of questions which were fully responded to. Members highlighted the recent changes announced by the Chief Constable to the way Essex Police will engage with local communities and the move in particular to the new police-led Local Community Meetings which replace police attendance at the neighbourhood action panels.

The Committee welcomed the introduction of the Essex Community Messaging system but had reservations about the loss of the NAP structure and the ‘fit' across the borough of the new Local Community Meetings. Members also noted the contribution from the Business Improvement District and other partners to support policing in the High Street.
301The Committee considered Minute 226 of Cabinet held on 23rd September 2014, together with the Monthly Performance Report (MPR) covering the period to end August 2014, which had been circulated on 1st October 2014. The Committee additionally had before it an Exceptions Report which had been circulated on 10th October 2014.

In response to questions, the Head of Finance & Resources said that he would provide the following information:

• CP 4.12 (no. of eligible homeless prevention apps who are discharged into private rented sector) - detail around the leasing of 22 flats mentioned in commentary;
• CP 8.1 (level of current rent arrears) - arrange for the Head of Procurement, Commissioning & Housing to advise why the relevant information had not been received / provided by SEH and included in the commentary.
302Further to Minute 134 of its meeting held on 16th July 2014, the Committee considered the project plan in relation to its agreed in depth scrutiny project for 2014/15 - ‘The Council's Community Leadership role in promoting safer communities'.

The Chairman advised that the project plan was agreed by the member project team at its meeting on 2nd October. The project team will be meeting again in November and the planned main evidence gathering session will be held on 2nd February 2015.

 

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