Agenda item

Community Protection Update

(i)           Report of the Corporate Director of Resources.

(ii)          Presentation by the Head of Community Protection Services, Neighbourhoods and Climate Change.

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed the Head of Community Protection Services, Joanne Waller who was in attendance to provide the Committee with an update presentation in relation to Community Protection (for copy see file of minutes).

 

The Head of Community Protection Services noted the areas covered within the presentation included: the County Durham Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) Strategy; Developing a place-based multi-agency approach; Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM); and the Area Based Interventions Programme up to September 2020.

 

In respect of the ASB Strategy, the Head of Community Protection Services noted it had been intended that a draft strategy would have been ready and for the Committee to have received a copy, however, the service had been heavily involved in the response to COVID-19 and therefore resources had been focussed on that response in terms of management and control and the implementation of health protection regulations that govern business opening and lockdown restrictions.  She explained that work had been ongoing in relation to the ASB Strategy and that a profile was being developed for County Durham, for ASB incidents.  She noted that profile would need to be updated on a regular basis, however, it would allow for key priorities to be identified to be focussed on as a wider partnership.  The Head of Community Protection Services noted a number of key partners involved in the local delivery landscape, understanding their roles and responsibilities, joint working and how escalations and referrals would be handled between organisations.  She noted in delivering actions identified it would be important to ensure they would help achieve the desired impacts and outcomes.  It was explained that it was hoped the ASB Strategy would be in place by the end of the financial year and added that a number of the new initiatives and approaches would be piloted within key areas of the county and their effectiveness would be evaluated and help inform the longer-term strategic approach.

 

The Head of Community Protection Services noted that in terms of a place-based multi-agency approach, while partnership working in County Durham had been very successful, the focus of the approach was on specific geographic locations, bringing together a broad range of partners from the public and voluntary sectors with a shared interest in tackling issues within a specific location.  She noted the community was at the heart of the approach and seen as a key partner.  She explained that the approach aimed to build community confidence and restore social norms while also building evidence around the impact of targeted interventions in high crime areas, strengthening the case for future investment, both at a local and national level.  Members noted that the approach would give communities a voice and maintain regular community conversations and would help redesign and deliver better coordinated services for people experiencing

multiple disadvantage.  It was added that the approach would also be “Making Every Adult Matter”.

 

 

 

The Committee were asked to note the Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) was a national initiative, involving a coalition of charities including The Clink Charity, Homeless Link and Mind amongst others.  It was explained that MEAM approach would provide a framework on which to strengthen existing partnership arrangements, as well as facilitate change and promote the co-production of future services.  The Head of Community Protection Services noted the Safe Durham Partnership had been successful earlier in the year in a bid for MEAM support and work had started on bringing MEAM into some of the place-based multi-agency work.  It was added that the approach would require a step change in the delivery of local services within the defined localities which would require strong leadership, drive and motivation as well as time and effort over next three years.

 

The Head of Community Protection Services noted key deliverables included:

      Tackling ASB, crime and disorder- making residents safer and reducing demand

on the key public services enabling them to focus on more complex crimes;

      Reduction in burglary;

      Reduction in fear of crime;

      Understanding of community needs and ongoing concerns;

      Provide a joined-up, whole community response to tackling local issues;

      Develop an advocacy strategy that would enable multiple agencies to engage

with local communities and individuals through a single, end-to-end contact;

      Public authorities are trusted by communities and individuals and are confident

in their response to local issues.

 

Members were asked to note that in terms of specific areas within the county which were being focussed upon the Horden area and short to medium term interventions included:

      The Safer Street Initiative, September 2020 to March 2021 (multi-agency approach, with an Office of the Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner’s [PCVC’s] bid securing £485,000 of funding, the initiative to be evaluated by the Home Office);

      The Community Action Team (CAT) Programme, October to December 2020;

      Establishing the ‘Place’ Team, January 2021;

      Making Every Adult Matter, 2020 to 2023.

 

It was added medium to longer term interventions:

      Empty Homes initiatives;

      Selective Licensing;

      Horden Masterplan / Area Regeneration.

 

The Head of Community Protection Services noted the pilot scheme and reiterated what was hoped to be achieved in the short to medium term, how it could influence the ASB Strategy, and how the approach could be rolled out to other localities within the county.  She concluded by noting that an update would be brought back to the Committee in the future.

 

The Chair thanked the Head of Community Protection Services and asked Members of the Committee for their comments and questions.

Councillor B Avery welcomed the idea of leaving a multi-agency team after the CAT had left an area and asked whether those “legacy” teams would be permanent, citing issues when the CAT left his area, Ferryhill.  The Head of Community Protection Services noted the CAT interventions were time-limited, delivering over a period of eight to ten weeks, adding that the aim was to empower communities to help themselves.  She noted that some communities however needed a long-term presence and the evaluation of the work at Horden would help in looking at how to balance resources in this regard.

 

Councillor A Batey, Vice-Chair of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, noted she was reassured by the presentation and noted other areas that could benefit from such schemes.  She asked how much dialogue there had been with Durham Constabulary, noting some cross-over with Police schemes she was aware of relating to ASB.  The Head of Community Protection Services noted Durham Constabulary were involved and work was ongoing in terms of governance, with a high level steering group to be established, that would report back to the Committee and the Safe Durham Partnership, as well as an operational group.  She explained it would be important to engage with partners as much as possible and to involve the community and it was hoped to have the team established in Horden by January 2021.  She noted there had been a lot of interest in the approach and added that the approach needed to be properly resourced in order to be able to deliver.  The Chair agreed that community buy-in was essential to ensure the momentum continued after CAT interventions had taken place.

 

Councillor J Stephenson noted the approach was welcomed and asked how it would be managed in terms of avoiding duplication of work, noting the multi-agency problem solving teams (MAPs), the Neighbourhood Wardens and the work of Town and Parish Councils.  The Head of Community Protection Services explained that the “One Team” would bring together Neighbourhood Wardens, the Fire Service, Neighbourhood Policing Teams, the voluntary sector and local communities and that having a single point of contact and a joint approach would help in reducing duplication.  She reiterated that it would be a change in how services would be delivered, and it would “get up and running”, with key partners at the core, then building upon that core.  Councillor J Stephenson noted the current position in terms of the MAP and welcomed an overarching approach that would help tackle ASB and bring all the elements mentioned together.

 

Councillor R Crute, Chair of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, noted the excellent work of the CAT and added that an important aspect was the work in advance of the team entering into an area, the lead-in time being used to promote the scheme so that communities were ready.  He noted the example of the work in his area, Blackhall, and the formation of a local “exit strategy” supported by Groundwork.  He explained as regards the formation of a permanent litter picking group, residents’ association to continue the work of the CAT as well as continuing with the community walkabouts, involving Local Members, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), the Parish Clerk, the Empty Homes Team and Neighbourhood Wardens amongst others. 

He noted his electoral division, like many others within the county, had a large number former colliery housing stock with associated issues including secondary fires and rubbish within the backyards.  He added that it was important to maintain the impact of the work of the CAT after they left an area, adding that in order to sustain it was essential to have the community buy-in, else it would fail.  He reiterated that the work of the CAT was excellent, encouraged Members to embrace the opportunity if made available, and thanked the Head of Community Protection Services and the Officers within the CAT for their work.

 

The Chair noted that as an impact of COVID-19, Police and Communities Together (PACT) meetings had not been taking place, Councillor Surgeries were not able to be held in the usual way and, other that the CAT, residents had noted there had not been a visible Police presence on the street.  He emphasised the excellent work of local PCSOs, however, he noted that there was a need to reassure communities that there was work ongoing in the background in terms of tackling ASB.  He added a current issue was ASB with people on off-road motorbikes and reiterated that while work was being done in the background, it was always reassuring when the Police, Neighbourhood Wardens or PCSOs were visible in an area.

 

Resolved:  

 

That the content of the report and presentation be noted.

 

Supporting documents: