Agenda item

Report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships.

The Chairman asked the Team Leader, Performance, Co-ordination and Development, Laura Malone to speak to Members in relation to the Quarter 3 2017/18 Performance Management Report for the Altogether Safer priority theme (for copy see file of minutes).

The Team Leader, Performance, Co-ordination and Development highlighted that there had been an increase in reported crime, however it was noted as a national trend, with now all Forces reporting an increase, following compliance across forces in terms of national crime statistics and campaigns in terms of promoting the report of crimes, such as sexual offences.  Members noted an increased confidence in reporting of crimes, and increases in theft, arson and vehicle crime had also contributed to the increase.

The Team Leader, Performance, Co-ordination and Development noted that a new national electronic system for recording road traffic collisions (CRASH) had changed the way casualty severity was recorded and the figures in terms of those killed or seriously injured had increased.  It was noted that those involved were mostly passengers in cars or those riding motorbikes, not pedestrian.  It was noted some analysis was being carried out with information to be brought back to the next Committee meeting.

Members noted improvements in the number of successful completions from the drug and alcohol service, as mentioned in the previous report.

The Chairman thanked the Team Leader, Performance, Co-ordination and Development and asked Members for their comments and questions.

Councillor R Crute asked for a further breakdown of the crime statistics, in order to see whether any actual increases were being masked by the increases through recording changes, and also noted his concern as regards public perception with a decrease in confidence in terms of dealing with issues such as anti-social behaviour (ASB).  He also referred to the table set out at paragraph 11 of the report and asked as regards “serious offences” and if those figures included “sexual offences” and “violence against the person”, which were also listed separately.  The Team Leader, Performance, Co-ordination and Development noted that in terms of the latter question that each offence referred to was a separate type and could look to provide and circulate a breakdown as suggested.

The Chairman asked as regards the new electronic recording system for road safety statistics, asked what CRASH stood for, and asked whether less serious incidents, not involving “blue light services” were recorded.  The Team Leader, Performance, Co-ordination and Development noted the definitions in terms of recording incidents had not changed, however, following the implementation of the new system an increase in reporting had been noted.  The Chairman noted that, for example at Planning Meetings, Members had noticed a mismatch between accident figures in an area against Police figures and Fire and Rescue Service figures, which appeared to be greater, and asked which figures were accurate.  The Chief Fire Officer noted Fire and Rescue Service figures should be lower, in the sense that the Fire and Rescue Service were called out to fewer incidents than the Police, albeit usually the more severe incidents.  The Team Leader, Performance, Co-ordination and Development noted there had not been a change in terms of slight or serious definitions.

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer noted he would speak with the Road Safety Manager, Paul Watson as regards CRASH and as regards how incidents were recorded as being slight or serious.  The Team Leader, Performance, Co-ordination and Development noted the system would update a slight incident to serious should an individual involved be subsequently admitted to hospital.

The Chairman noted the 31% increase in those killed or seriously injured in road traffic incidents was concerning and asked if it was possible to drill down to identify any hotspots, noting some seasonal hotspots such as the Barnard Castle area in summer with a number of motorcycle incidents.

Councillor R Crute noted paragraphs 16 and 17 of the report referred to risk management, with a key risk identified being if a service failure of adult safeguarding leads to the death or serious harm to a service user and asked if this did not apply to children or was there less risk within that service.  The Team Leader, Performance, Co-ordination and Development noted that any risk in terms of Children would be referenced within the performance report received by the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  Councillor R Crute noted as a cross-cutting issue it may be that it should be included within both reports.

Resolved:

That the contents of the report be noted.