Agenda and draft minutes

At this point, Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.

Councillor Potter declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Agenda item 6 (Safer York Partnership: Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership for the City of York) as a member of the Safer York Partnership Board.

Councillor Scott declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Executive Item 6 (More for York - Blueprints) as his wife was a member of Unison and employed by the Authority.

Councillor King declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Executive Item 6 (More for York - Blueprints), as his daughter was a Trade Union member and employed by the Authority.

Councillor Crisp declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Executive Item 6 (More for York – Blueprints) as a retired Unison member.

Councillor Simpson-Laing declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Executive Item 6 (More for York - Blueprints) as a Unison member.

To consider excluding the press and public from the meeting during consideration of any exempt information relating to briefings on Executive business, as detailed on the agenda for the Executive meeting to be held on Tuesday 20 October 2009, under Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006.

RESOLVED:             That the press and public not be excluded from the meeting as there was no exempt information relating to briefings on Executive business, as detailed on the agenda for the Executive meeting to be held on 20 October 2009, under Section 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

To approve and sign the minutes of meetings of the Shadow Executive held on 2 and 16 September 2009.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of meetings of the Shadow Executive held on 2 and 16 September 2009 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Shadow Executive’s remit can do so. The deadline for registering is Tuesday 13 October 2009, at 5.00 pm.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

To receive any briefings requested on Executive business for Tuesday 20 October 2009.

[Please note that the reports relating to these items will be published on the Council’s website on Friday 9 October 2009. The website address is www.york.gov.uk  Copies of the Executive agenda and reports can also be obtained by telephoning Democracy Support Group on York (01904) 551088.]

The Shadow Executive considered the following item of business on the agenda of the Executive meeting on 20 October 2009:

• More for York – Blueprints (Agenda item 6)

This report responds the Shadow Executive’s request for a briefing report on the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, developing a link with Neighbourhood Management, Councillor Calls for Action (CCfA) and the challenges for the year ahead.

[Consideration of this report was deferred at the last meeting of the Committee on 16 September 2009]

Members received a briefing report, which responded to their query on how Safer York Partnership (SYP) was working to reduce crime, disorder and the harm caused by substance misuse in the City of York together with future challenges SYP faced.

Jane Mowat, Director of the Safer York Partnership, confirmed that since 2005, the Safer York Partnership team had utilised the National Intelligence Model as a means of identifying crime and disorder priorities and allocating resources to develop solutions. This approach had proven successful and impacted significantly on the achievement of a 38% reduction in crime between 2005-2008 against a target of 24.1%. The ALTN8 (a 14 week education and enforcement programme aimed at reducing binge drinking) which had resulted in a 36% reduction in violent crime in the city last year had seen an 18.8% reduction over the summer.

Regarding challenges for the year ahead she confirmed that the SYP was in its sixth year of sustained crime reduction and that they were still focussed on sustaining these results.

Chief Superintendent Ali Higgins and Superintendent Lisa Winward attended the meeting and they confirmed that the North Yorkshire Police restructure would allow the same level of involvement and close working with the SYP and other partners. They also confirmed that there would be sufficient support and resources to deliver the local policing service.

Members questioned various aspects of the report and discussions, including:

• Details of alcohol related crimes and the assistance that was available for such offenders;
• Affect of relaxation of the licensing laws on policing;
• Capable Guardian work and the ability to sustain and broaden this with the available resources;
• Privacy and human rights issues in relation to data sharing.

The Chair thanked Officers and representatives of the Police for their attendance and informative briefing.

RESOLVED:             That the briefing report be noted.

REASON:                  To inform and update the Shadow Executive and help shape the effectiveness of future action.

The Chair stated that as this may be the last meeting of the Shadow Executive he requested that a record be made of his thanks to all Officers both for their time spent in preparing briefing reports and in attending Shadow meetings over a number of years.

He also expressed his thanks to both current and past members of the Shadow Executive for their tireless work in questioning decisions and holding the Executive to account.