Agenda item

Report of the Interim Corporate Director of Resources.

The Chairman asked the Overview and Scrutiny Officer to speak to Members in relation to the refresh of the Work Programme 2021/22 for the Safer and Stronger Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee (for copy see file of minutes).

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer explained that the report highlighted work that had been undertaken by the Committee within the past year and also looked forward to the forthcoming year.  Members were reminded that the aims and objectives were aligned to those of the Council Plan and associated plans, as well as the Safe Durham Partnership Plan priority areas.  It was explained that the report set out the use of remote meetings and the prioritisation of issues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer noted Members could also suggest possible areas that Committee could consider, with a further report to come back to Committee at its first meeting in the 2021/22 municipal year.

Councillor R Crute noted Members could respond to the Overview and Scrutiny Officer as regards issues, with a further report to come back to the new Committee following the election in May.  He added that an issue he felt was important and noted feedback from Councillors from AAP and PACT meetings was that of ASB with off-road vehicles on public open space and footpaths.  He noted the issue could be complex, given the differing geography of the county, containing both rural and urban areas, as well countryside and coastal areas.  He noted a key issue was public safety, adding that through the pandemic people had been encouraged to go for walks outdoors meaning more chance of coming across such ASB.  Councillor R Crute noted the issue involved a number of partners and that any timescales in terms of activity would not be finalised until around June or July.  He noted the number of meetings the Committee may have in the next municipal year would have to be taken into account when looking at the work programme, as would the way in which meetings took place, the Committee currently holding remote meetings with the current guidance relating to remote meetings expiring the first week of May.

The Chair noted the topic of ASB linked to off-road vehicles had merited a lot of discussion, adding that if Members had any issues they wished to be included they should get in touch with the Overview and Scrutiny Officer.  The Overview and Scrutiny Officer noted he would speak to service and partnership leads to explore the area, further to the briefing note that had been circulated to the Committee on the issue.

Resolved:

(i)           That the Safer and Stronger Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee note the information contained in the Altogether Safer priority theme of the Council Plan 2020 -2023.

(ii)          That the Safer and Stronger Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its June meeting receive a further report detailing the Committee’s Work Programme for 2021 -2022.