Agenda item

Portfolio Holder holding to account and Quarter 2 Performance

Minutes:

1.            Rolling Programme of Portfolio Holder Holding to Account

 

The Chair welcomed Councillor Michael Payne, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Communications and Public Protection, Paddy Tipping Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Wendels, Head of Estates, Nottinghamshire Police and Council officers, and invited Councillor Payne to present an overview of the crime reduction and community safety element of his portfolio, with specific reference to the PCC Policing Plan and the proposed closure of Carlton Police Station. Members had also requested an update on customer satisfaction.

 

Councillor Payne circulated a briefing note detailing the customer service highlights of 2014/15, including co location arrangements with Jobcentre Plus in the Customer Services Centre, the new Self Service Payment Kiosk, as well as feedback from the Gedling Conversation and recent Mystery Shopping exercise, customer satisfaction data including formal compliments and complaints. There had been a slight reduction in the number of formal complaints upheld between April and November 2014 against the two comparative years.  

Councillor Payne then presented the following overview of the Councils Community Safety work:

 

Partnership context

      Gedling is part of South Nottinghamshire Community Safety Partnership (SNCSP) working in partnership with Broxtowe and Rushcliffe

      SNCSP represented on Safer Nottinghamshire Board

      Local governance; Domestic Violence Executive and Delivery Group, Partnership Plus, Vulnerable Persons and ASB Group, Locality Group 

Overview;  Levels of Crime

      All recorded crime; 7.6% increase, equates to 246 more offences

      House burglary;  7.5% decrease, equates to 18 less offences

      Car crime; 10.3% increase, equates to 27 more offences

      Robbery; 44.6% decrease, equates to 33 less offences

      Violence; with injury increase of 27.5%, 100 more offences and violence without injury increase of 33.7%, 91 more offences

      Shop theft is an emerging issue, new retail premises

 

Overview;  Levels of Anti-social Behaviour

      All recorded ASB; 12.2% increase, equates to 189 more incidents

      Top wards by volume; St Marys, Daybrook, Netherfield and Colwick, Bonington and Carlton

      Top wards % increase compared to previous year; Killisick, Carlton Hill, St Marys, Valley and Bonington

      Killisick, St Marys and Valley increases largely down to  single address / location, partnership plans are in place   

(The figures above are for the period April to November 2014 compared to the same months in 2013).

 
 

 

 


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New Tools and Powers

 

      Anti-social Behaviour Police and Crime Act – October 2014

      Joined up approach across Nottinghamshire and Nottingham City

      Previously 19 powers, including ASBO, now 6 powers including Community Trigger

      Systems and processes all in place

 

Supporting Families (troubled families)

 

      Phase 1 ends April 2015

      Phase 2 is an enhanced programme for 5 years

      From April 2015 Supporting Families will be part of a new structure within County – Family Resilience Service (working title only) for 0-19 year olds 

      Steering Group working on new criteria against 6 “headline problems” seeking to engage and turn around 5000 families in Nottinghamshire

 

Supporting Families Headline Problems

 

 

  1. Parents or Children involved in crime or anti-social behaviour
  2. Children who have not been attending school regularly
  3. Children who need help
  4. Adults out of work or at risk of financial exclusion and young people at risk of worklessness
  5. Families affected by domestic violence and abuse
  6. Parents and children with a range of health problems

 

These 6 Headline Problems are broken down into 28 sub criteria:

 

Gedling CCTV

 

      67 cameras across Gedling Borough

      Town Centres; Arnold, Carlton, Mapperley and Netherfield

      Jubilee Deport 5 cameras

      Arnot Hill Park 10 cameras

      Leisure centres 6 cameras

      Ravenshead Leisure Centre 3 cameras

      Planning under way for cameras in Newstead and Calverton

 

Partner Relationships

 

      Supporting Families

      Nottingham North and East Clinical Commissioning Group

      Connecting Communities (C2)

      Neighbourhood Policing Inspectors

      Gedling Homes and other housing providers

      Wider community safety issues including Dementia Awareness and Loneliness

 

Borough Resources to Community Safety

 

      Chair SNCSP Executive Group – Corporate Director

      Community Safety & Safeguarding Manager – 50% of post

      Service Manager Public Protection – 25% of post

      Community Protection Manager – 40% of post

      Community Safety Co-ordinator – part time post 3 days per week

      Anti-social Behaviour Co-ordinator – full time post

      Neighbourhood Wardens – 30% of 5 full time posts 

      CCTV and Radio - £110,000 / year budget

 

The portfolio holder paid tribute to work going on across the borough to address the fear of crime, including the Dementia Friends and Loneliness campaigns.

 

In conclusion, Councillor Payne acknowledged recent increases in crime and  ASB  and the impact of the current financial situation and paid tribute to the hard work of Council Officers, the lead role undertaken by the Chief Executive in respect of Domestic Violence and the positive cooperation of partners including Notts Police, the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and those representatives working with priority neighbourhoods in the Gedling Localities, and offered Members the opportunity to tour the new customer service facilities and the CCTV suite.

 

The Chair thanked Councillor Payne for his presentation, and invited Members to put questions to the Portfolio Holder and Police and Crime commissioner, to include those questions submitted in advance.

 

Members questions

 

Advance question from Councillor Parr:

 

During the past two years or so we have had installed CCTV around the

borough. I wonder how effective this has been in

 

· deterring traffic offences along Front street, Arnold?

· helping minimise incidents alongside B&Q in Daybrook?

 

A regular report relating to these assets would, I feel, be most welcome - in

particular to the business community.

 

In response Cllr Payne explained that there is a need to watch safety in public places in order to ‘design out’ crime. Cameras had been provided to Ravenshead Parish Council and there are plans for a camera in Newstead and Calverton. He reported however that the Secretary of State has directed against use of CCTV to address traffic offences, and the cameras in Gedling had never been used for that purpose.

 

The Police and Crime Commissioner added that due to financial pressures and subject to consensus between authorities the Chief Constable is proposing the centralisation of all CCTV at Sherwood Lodge, giving the potential to link up CCTV footage between the city and districts and to modernise the equipment and surveillance approach. A bid will be made to the Home Office in 2015 for a joint CCTV strategy.

 

The Police and Crime Commissioner informed Members about recent work undertaken by his office, including a review of Priority Plus areas to be considered by the Safer Nottinghamshire Board in January which highlights some positive outcomes and some areas for improvement.

 

Whilst crime trends generally are still at the lowest point for 30 years, nevertheless last year, 12 out of 43 forces across the country had a slight increase in crime, and figures up to September this year show a slight increase on the previous year. Specific increases in shop theft, sexual abuse including historical abuse are to be welcomed as they indicate greater public confidence in reporting these crimes.

 

Advance question from Councillor Feeney:

 

Re: Proposals to close Carlton Police Station

 

Would it not be better to keep Oxclose Lane and Carlton police station open and close Arnold in order to save money with regard to running costs as this would surely provide a more efficient balance of resources and give easier access to police services for both sides of the borough?

 

  • What is the business case for moving the computer servers, custody and ID suite from Carlton to other locations?

 

  • If this building is closed for police use, who will occupy it and what other users for this building have been identified?

 

Advance question from  Councillor Gregory

 

I understand that a feasibility study was undertaken to establish the viability of putting co-locating partner organisations into Carlton Police Station to keep it open. What was the cost implication of that proposal?

 

The Police and Crime Commissioner gave the following response to the above two questions:

 

Looking at the sequence of events in respect of proposals to close Carlton and Arnold Police Stations, following consultation the Commissioner has been made aware of the public protest about Carlton station and acknowledged these concerns.

 

Arnold had been non – contentious, the proposal being to close Arnold station, move the entire staff team to the Home Brewery building and to provide a front counter service at the Civic Centre directly link to the Home Brewery team. Tim Wendels reported a delay in the timetable due to ongoing negotiations with the County Council.

 

In respect of the Carlton station, the Commissioner reported that the Police Service has had to make savings of £42m, with a further savings target of £12.7m by 31st March. Subject to a provisional settlement expected before Christmas, a potential further saving of £10m will be expected in 2015/16.  It is estimated that over a 10 year period up to 50% of Police Service funding will be lost.  

 

The rationale for closing Carlton Police Station is that the building is not fit for purpose. The facility is too big, with features that are no longer used due to changes in the way that policing is conducted. The cost of maintaining the building is £200k per annum, and the Police Service must find £2.8m from its estates budget over the next 2 years.

 

In response to local consultation and in the light of community concerns, the Commissioner has given an undertaking that the Carlton Police Station will not be closed until an alternative location for the service in the Carlton area has been established.

 

Councillor Payne confirmed that Gedling BC has been active in brokering discussions with partners including Notts County Council in respect of alternative venues and a possible partnership hub. Carlton Library and the East Midlands Ambulance Service have been considered along with the empty shops in Carlton Square, with a rental arrangement being an option. It will be important to relocate to the right building to enable a counter service.

 

Members raised the need for a service close to Netherfield and Colwick. The Commissioner confirmed that Netherfield is a priority area for policing, and that future services might well be located closer to that area.

   

Members expressed concerns about the future of the Carlton Police Station building once it is closed and the danger that it will add to the general dereliction evident in Carlton Square. The Commissioner confirmed that the building will be sold.

 

Members discussed the need for comprehensive development of the Carlton Square area, which it was generally agreed could potentially be achieved with intensive partnership working over a five year period.

 

Finding a new location is heavily dependent on successful negotiation with partners, which are ongoing, and an assurance has been given to keep the current station open until these discussions come to fruition. There is scope for a One Stop Shop in Carlton.

 

Members raised concern about levels of policing in rural areas, which had reduced in terms of locally based personnel in some rural areas in Gedling, and asked whether response times had increased as a result. The Commissioner confirmed that response targets in rural areas were being met, and made the point that in reality 25% of crime is committed in 5 wards in the City, whilst some parts of the wider County have virtually no crime. The Commissioner highlighted a range of regionally coordinated services which are equally provided to both rural and urban areas. Members were also informed that the Chief Constable would be announcing a Rural Policing Pledge in the January budget announcement.  The Commissioner explained that people want to see more police on the streets, and Nottinghamshire is one of only 5 forces in the country which is still recruiting PCSO’s and Police Officers.

 

In closing the discussion, The Portfolio Holder explained that everyone doing a job at Gedling Borough Council has a responsibility to keep residents safe by remaining alert to vulnerable people and suspicious incidents whilst out and about in the Borough, and cited a number of examples of effective intervention.

 

2          Quarter 2 2014 Performance Review

 

Stephen Bray, Corporate Director, provided Members with the Quarter 2 Performance information.

 

Summary

 

18 out of 27 indicators are on target, particularly housing, benefits and improvements in planning performance.

 

Recycling has topped 40% for the first time (target 41%)

 

The main area for alert is recorded Crime which has increased

 

59 out of 60 actions are either on target or completed

 

1 target in respect of the Community Infrastructure Levy was changed at Cabinet, however is now back on track against the original target.

 

Members were pleased with the amnesty on the collection of bulky items and the ability to give such items to the Archway Project.

 

Members were concerned that the delivery of affordable homes is still showing red, and raised the importance of maximising opportunities for Gedling Homes to bid for properties in new developments.

 

The Corporate Director confirmed that the Council is currently working to a model which actively involves a number of social housing providers in bidding for properties from developers. The model assesses the viability of social housing – properties must be of the right type and located in the right place. The Council must find 60 affordable homes year on year.

 

The aim this year is to secure a total of 60 units at the Grove site,   in Carlton and on Dunston Street in Netherfield, using a combination of HCA, GBC Commuted sums and monies from registered social landlords.

 

The issue of social housing is a priority going forward, especially for older people.

 

3          2014/15 Programme of Portfolio Holder Attendance

 

Members were informed that the current programme of Portfolio Holder attendance has completed, however there are two more meetings remaining in 2014/15. It was proposed that Councillor Wheeler, Portfolio Holder for Health and Housing be invited to the meeting on 11th February, to take questions on the following areas of his Portfolio:

 

  • Housing and council tax benefits

 

  • Housing Strategy

 

  • Safeguarding

 

 

RESOLVED to:

 

      i.        Thank the Portfolio Holder, Public Protection and Communications, the Police and Crime Commissioner and other guests for their attendance.

 

    ii.        Note the Quarter 2 performance information and further information provided on the Quarter 1 information.

 

  1. Agree the attendance of the Portfolio Holder, Health and Housing at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on Wednesday 11th February.

 

 

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