Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

Members were asked to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interest that they might have in respect of the business on the agenda.  No additional interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Communities and Environment Policy and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 16 November 2016 and the Ward Funding Scrutiny Review Task Group meeting held on 4 January 2017.  

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Communities and Environment Policy and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 16 November 2016 and the Ward Funding Scrutiny Review Task Group meeting held on 4 January 2017 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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 24 January 2017 at 5.00pm.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting may be filmed and webcast and thatincludes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission. This broadcast can be viewed at:http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting. Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting. The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present. It can be viewed at:

http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

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

This report updates Members on the progress that has been made in obtaining new vehicles to replace the aging FAME lorries and the changes to waste collection and recycling.

Members considered a report from the Executive Member for Environment that provided an update on the progress that had been made in obtaining new vehicles to replace the ageing FAME lorries and the changes that had been made to waste collection and recycling.  Members had also received a copy of the report that had been presented at the Decision Session held on 9 January 2017, and which detailed the waste collection calendar and arrangements for 2017.

Members commented on the need to ensure that there was good communication with residents to clarify which items could be recycled, particularly in respect of plastics.  The Executive Member informed Members that regular discussions took place with Yorwaste and that a Community Recycling Fund had been set up to engage with groups regarding this issue.

The Executive Member for Environment was thanked for his attendance at the meeting.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

Reason:     To ensure that the committee is kept updated on the arrangements for recycling and waste collection.

This report provides details of the 2016/17 forecast outturn position for both finance and performance across services within Economy & Place and Health, Housing & Adult Social Care.

Members gave consideration to a report which provided details of the 2016/17 forecast outturn position for both finance and performance across services within Economy & Place and Health, Housing & Adult Social Care.

Members’ attention was drawn to the main variations by service plan, as detailed in paragraphs 3 to 9 of the report. 

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

Reason:     To update Members on the latest finance and performance position.

This report provides an update on tackling Hate Crime and the development of the Community Safety Plan.

Members considered a report which provided an update on tackling hate crime and the development of the Community Safety Plan for 2017-20. 

Officers explained why the Safer York Partnership Board had agreed that hate crime should not be the subject of a separate strategy but should, in future, feature within the priorities for the new Community Safety Plan. Details were given of the ways in which hate crime was reported and recorded, and the follow-up action that was taken when sufficient information was provided to enable this to happen. 

The Executive Leader (incorporating Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods) stated that hate crime would continue to be taken very seriously and to be tackled in a range of ways.  It was, however, important to note that incidents of hate crime in the city remained low. 

Members acknowledged that it was a more efficient use of resources to bring hate crime within the overall Community Safety Plan and to take a more holistic approach, but they expressed concern that this type of crime may be underreported.  It was suggested that, in some instances, online bullying was a form of hate crime.  Officers confirmed that a more joined-up approach and cross-cutting approach was being taken to tackle this type of issue.

Consideration was given to the priorities that had been identified for inclusion in the Safer York Partnership’s three-year plan, as outlined in the report.  Officers explained that each partner would be responsible for reporting on the priorities on which they were leading. The plan was currently in draft format and was due to be finalised in March 2017.

Members were invited to identify particular strategic objectives relating to the priorities contained within the Community Safety Plan and any issues they would like to see reflected in the action plans.

Noting that Tackling Organised Crime had been included as a priority in the Community Safety Plan, Members commented on the challenges faced in tackling cybercrime, including the resource implications.  It was of particular concern that crimes such as scams often targeted vulnerable members of the community. 

Resolved:  (i)      That the decisions made by the Safer York

Partnership in December 2016 regarding the Community Safety Plan and the incorporation of hate crime within that plan be noted.

                   (ii)      That, at their meeting in March 2017, the

committee would give further consideration to the draft Community Safety Plan, and in particular, the draft strategic objectives that would drive the delivery of the priorities identified in the Plan.

                   (iii)     That, in view of the new approach to tackling

hate crime, the work planned by the Hate Crime Strategy Scrutiny Review Task Group was no longer required.

Reason:              To update the committee on hate crime and the development of the Community Safety Plan.

This report provides a brief overview of the detailed data contained within the Safer York Partnership bi-annual performance report as produced by City of York Council’s Policy and Performance Team.

Members considered a report which provided an overview of the detailed data contained within the Safer York Partnership bi-annual performance report (annex A of the report).

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

Reason:     To update the Committee on the performance of the Safer York Partnership.

This report provides an update on domestic abuse and drug related Crime.

Members considered a report which provided an update on domestic abuse and drug related crime.

(i)           Domestic Abuse

Officers drew Members’ attention to Annex A of the report, which provided statistics on domestic abuse in York.  Members noted that core services to support victims of domestic abuse were commissioned through the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and monitored by a Joint Co-ordinating Group (JCG) for York and North Yorkshire.  An Annual Report was being produced which would include quantitive statistics and information on the performance of service providers in supporting victims.  The report would be presented to the committee when completed.

At the request of Members, details were given of the training that was being provided. Officers confirmed that this issue was being addressed by the JCG and that a more consistent approach was now being taken.  Officers also explained the ways in which victims were encouraged to put forward their views on their experiences as a victim of such crime.  This information was being used to improve service delivery.

Members also sought assurances from officers about the support that was in place for children who were subject to, or were witness to, incidents of domestic abuse, and the mechanism by which schools were made aware of such incidents.

(ii)          Drug related crime

Members questioned officers as to whether more could be done to tackle the issue of substance misuse, particularly in respect of young people.  Concerns were expressed that data was not available to identify the scale of the problem in terms of the accessibility of drugs.  There were also concerns at the difficulty in identifying children and young people who were at risk of engaging in substance misuse, particularly if they were not already engaged with the agencies.  Officers explained the multi-agency approach that was being taken, including the involvement of public health and the work that was taking place in schools.  Tackling Substance Misuse had been included as a priority in the draft Community Safety Plan, as had Tackling Serious Organised Crime, which included drug related criminal activity.  In response to questions about support that was available at ward level, it was suggested that consideration could be given to using ward funding to support particular initiatives and that applications could also be made to access funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner for local projects.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

Reason:     To update the committee on domestic abuse and drug related crime.

The Executive Leader (incorporating Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods) was thanked for his attendance at the meeting.

This draft final report details the work undertaken by the Ward Funding Scrutiny Review Task Group, and presents their draft review recommendations for this Committee’s consideration.

Members gave consideration to the draft final report of the Ward Funding Scrutiny Review.  The Chair of the Task Group went through the main findings and drew Members’ attention to the draft review recommendations, as detailed in paragraphs 32 and 33 of the report.  

Members expressed their support for the recommendations contained within the report and agreed that they would wish to the committee to receive an update on their implementation six months after the report had been considered by the Executive.

The Chair thanked the Task Group members and the officers who had supported the review for the work they had carried out.

Resolved:  (i)      That the report and its recommendations be

                             approved.

(ii)      That an update of the implementation of the task group recommendations be reported to the committee in six months time.

Reasons:   (i)      To conclude the review in line with scrutiny

procedures and protocols, and to enable the review final report to be presented to a future meeting of the Executive in March 2017.

(ii)      To enable the committee to monitor the implementation of the recommendations.

Members are asked to consider the Committee’s work plan for the municipal year 2016/17.

Consideration was given to the committee’s work plan for the municipal year 2016/17.

Resolved:  That the committee’s work plan for 2016/17 be approved subject to the following additions:

·        Further consideration of Community Safety Plan and action plans (March 2017)

·        Consideration of Joint Co-ordinating Group (JCG) Annual Report (May 2017)

Reason:     To ensure that the committee has a planned programme of work in place.