Agenda and minutes

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

Members were asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on the agenda.  None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the committee held on 20 February 2012.

RESOLVED:       That the minutes of the meeting of 20 February 2012 be confirmed 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 committee’s remit can do so.  The deadline for registering is Tuesday 6 March 2012 at 5.00pm.

It was reported that there were no registrations to speak under the council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report provides an update on financial performance, service plan improvement actions and performance measures for Environmental Services.

Members had received a report that provided an update on financial performance, service plan improvement actions and performance measures for Environmental Services. 

Members expressed concern that no officer was in attendance to present the report and respond to any questions that may arise.

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the report be deferred to the next

                                      meeting.

                             (ii)      That an officer be requested to be present

                                      when monitoring reports are considered.

REASON:           To enable full consideration of the report.

The following reports are presented for Members’ consideration:

·        Safer Neighbourhood Team Priority Settings

·        Crime data within the York Safer Neighbourhood Team

·        Monthly Service Standards Performance

Members considered the following North Yorkshire Police Performance Reports:

·        Safer Neighbourhood Team Priority Settings

·        Crime data within the York Safer Neighbourhood Team

·        Monthly Service Standards Performance

Members reiterated concerns raised at previous meetings regarding York’s most similar family, as identified by the Home Office.  They requested that future data include comparisons with cities that had similar characteristics to York.

Members also requested that Chief Inspector Winward, or a representative, attend future meetings when performance reports were presented.

The Cabinet Member for Crime and Community Safety invited Members to attend a Crime Summit that was to be held on 25 April 2012. 

RESOLVED:       That the North Yorkshire Police performance

                             reports be noted.

REASON:           In accordance with the committee’s

responsibilities for the scrutiny of community safety issues, the Police and the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.

This report details performance on the Community Safety Plan 2011-14.

Members considered a report that provided information on performance on the Community Safety Plan 2011-14.  Officers went through the data.

(i)           Benchmarking Data

Responding to the issue that had been raised under the previous item, an explanation was given as to how the Home Office calculated the “family groupings”.  This was based on a number of socio-demographic and geographic factors, including size of population and ethnicity.  As requested by Members, future reports from the Safer York Partnership would include comparative data with more similar cities.

(ii)          CCTV

Members raised concerns regarding incidents of criminal damage on Grosvenor Terrace.  Arising from this, discussion took place regarding CCTV within the city.  It was noted that the committee had previously considered carrying out a review on issues relating to CCTV but had decided not to proceed at that time.  The Cabinet Member for Crime and Community Safety suggested that, with the planned move to West Offices, it may be an opportune time to consider whether they wished to carry out such a review.  Officers explained the arrangements that were in place to protect individual’s privacy.  Members also heard about the installation and maintenance costs.  It was noted that many local authorities were looking to reduce the number of CCTV cameras in operation in order to reduce costs.  Members suggested that it would be helpful if data was available to demonstrate the impact of CCTV in terms of crime reduction and crime solving. 

Members’ attention was drawn to the fact that the CCTV system in York was an ageing system and, over the next few years, the implications of this would have to be considered. 

(iii)        Performance Data

Members’ attention was drawn to key issues in the performance data including:

·        Total crime in York was predicted to be around 1500 crimes lower in 2011-12 than 2010-11.  If achieved, this would represent a 52% decrease in crime in the city since 2003/4.

·        There had recently been an increase in burglaries.  These were often from student premises and insecure properties.  Details were given of some of the strategies that had been put in place to address this issue.

·        There had been an increase in the theft of catalytic convertors.  The Auto-crime Task Group had put an initiative in place to deter such thefts, including the etching and painting of converters.

·        There had been a 120% increase in cases of metal theft within the first nine months of the financial year.

·        Levels of cycle theft continued to reduce with a predicted 30% drop since the last financial year.

·        There had been a 2% increase in anti-social behaviour, including incidents of graffiti.

Members were pleased to note that the Pay Back service was carrying out very useful work and that the co-ordination between CANs and the Probation Service was very good. 

Members suggested that it would be helpful if data could be provided in respect of the financial impact of crime.

Members expressed their appreciation of the way in which the report had been presented.

RESOLVED:       (i  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

Members are asked to consider the committee’s work plan.

Members considered the Committee’s work plan.  It was noted that an additional meeting of the Committee had been arranged for 28 March 2012 at 5.00pm.  The meeting would focus on possible topics for future scrutiny reviews ahead of a scrutiny work-planning event that was due to take place on 2 May 2012.

It was agreed that the Monitor 3 report should be considered at the meeting and that an officer should be requested to present the report.  The Cabinet Member for Crime and Community Safety and the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhood Services would also be invited to attend.

RESOLVED:       That, subject to the above, the work plan for the Committee be approved.

REASON:           To progress the work of the Committee.