Agenda item

Report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships.

The Chairman introduced the Corporate Scrutiny and Performance Manager, Tom Gorman who was in attendance to speak to Members in relation to the Quarter Two 2018/19 Performance Management Report for the Altogether Safer theme (for copy see file of minutes).

The Corporate Scrutiny and Performance Manager referred Members to the report, with the key performance indicators (KPIs) being set out against the key performance questions (KPQs): how effective are we at tackling crime and disorder; how effective are we at tackling anti-social behaviour; how well do we reduce misuse of drugs and alcohol; how well do we tackle abuse of vulnerable people, including domestic abuse, child sexual exploitation and radicalisation; and how do we keep our environment safe, including roads and waterways.

It was noted that the key performance issues in terms of crime and disorder, with an increase in the crime rate (reported), noting a workshop session on Recorded Crime having been led by Chief Superintendent A Green.  It was added that factors related included recording methods changing nationally, greater reporting through greater encouraging of reporting, and an element of actual increase in crime.  The Corporate Scrutiny and Performance Manager noted that the increase did appear to be tailing off and level out.  In terms of violence against the person, there had been an increase though this was thought to be largely an increase due to recording changes. 

It was added that there had been an increase in shoplifting in particular areas, and that any link to areas where the roll out of Universal Credit had taken place would looked at, and information reported within the Quarter Three report. 

The Corporate Scrutiny and Performance Manager noted that in terms of anti-social behaviour (ASB) there had been a reduction, continuing the recent trend, again as recording of crime had changed, many issues that would have been ASB was now recorded as crime, roughly comparable to the increases in crime as noted.  Members noted that while the total number of incident had reduced, there was an increase in environmental ASB, and were asked to recall the work in relation to arson carried out in the East of the County.

Councillors noted the measure in relation to public confidence in the Local Authority and Police in dealing with crime and ASB.  The Corporate Scrutiny and Performance Manager reminded Members that this information was collated nationally from surveys quarterly and that this had decrease from around 63% to 50%, a significant decrease.  He added that this was an area that would be looked at by the Council and Durham Constabulary and further information would be presented to Committee in due course.

The Corporate Scrutiny and Performance Manager reiterated the improvement in terms of the Council’s Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service, with completion rates now greater than target and better than the North East, albeit less than the national average.

Councillors noted information relating to the vulnerable people, and the statistics relating to a safe environment, including the numbers of those killed or serious injured (KSIs) having significantly improved since the previous year.  The Corporate Scrutiny and Performance Manager noted that also the number of child KSIs had also reduced, with no fatalities.  Members were reminded of the ongoing work of the Overview and Scrutiny Officer in terms of the Working Group that would look at the topic of road safety.

The Chairman thanked the Corporate Scrutiny and Performance Manager and asked Members for their comments and questions.

Councillor R Crute noted the decrease in ASB and the increase of crime and asked as regards the value in being able to unpick the issues, with many people assuming the Police dealt with crime and DCC would deal with ASB.  He wondered that if they were split if a different picture and areas that the Council could influence would emerge.  He noted the increase in shoplifting and asked if it could be looked at to see if there was any links to areas that had been pilot areas for the roll out of Universal Credit (UC).  The Chairman agreed that unpicking the issues could be beneficial and he noted in his area a rise in shoplifting, his area also being one of the pilot UC areas.  The Corporate Scrutiny and Performance Manager noted the confidence measure came from surveys with individuals asked if they felt that the Police and Local Authority were working effectively to tackle crime and ASB in their area.  He added that this was the perception of crime or ASB, not the recorded crime or ASB.  The Corporate Scrutiny and Performance Manager noted he would look as regards the increase in shoplifting and the roll out of UC, noting originally the Police had not noted any correlation.

The Chief Fire Officer noted the information on road safety was very positive, with a lot of positive work being undertaken in this regard.  He added that the multiagency approach taken was very pleasing to note.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.