Agenda item

The Council considered a report of the Director of Neighbourhood and Climate Change Services which presented the Safe Durham Partnership Strategy (SDPS) 2024-29 following public consultation. The final plan was attached as Appendix 2 (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Head of Community Protection outlined the public consultation which had taken place between March and April 2024. Presentations had also been provided to the County Durham Youth Council and to the Safer and Stronger Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee highlighting the ambitions and priorities of the Strategy.

In Moving the report, Councillor P Heaviside reported that when the Safer and Stronger Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee were consulted on the draft strategy in April, members referred to off-road bikes which were a major issue in some areas. He also referred to the reluctance of people to report anti-social behaviour though fear of retaliation or lack of confidence that anything would be done. The Committee acknowledged the need for increased scrutiny around sexual violence and the growing issue of hate crime. The benefits of a partnership model to tackle the three priorities was recognised by members, with several commenting on successful work carried out in their Electoral Divisions as a result of partnership working, which included the community and voluntary sector.  Councillor Heaviside welcomed the new streamlined approach to the Safe Durham Partnership Strategy, focusing on areas where the partnership could make a difference. This was echoed further during the consultation by members of the public and by the Youth Council who were particularly positive about the easier-to-digest format. Anti-social behaviour continued to be the number one issue of concern for local communities, and it was pleasing to see that the work on the Anti-social Behaviour Strategy and Delivery Plan would be reinforced and overseen at the Safe Durham Partnership. Sexual violence and violent crime had a huge impact on the lives of victims and their families, and on how safe people felt in our communities. He welcomed the Safe Durham Partnership’s goals around increasing confidence to report such crimes and support victims.

As Chair of the Safer and Stronger Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Heaviside intended to work closely with partners on the Safe Durham Partnership on these specific goals and to address the underlying contributing factors, and moved the recommendations set out in the report.

Councillor Shield said that success of the Safe Durham Partnership Plan required a partnership response between statutory, voluntary organisations and residents themselves. He said that it was great to see the Safe Durham Partnership reaffirm its commitment to working with communities through the Approach to Wellbeing and recognised the impact of wider factors such as health, housing, employment and poverty on its priority themes. As Portfolio Holder for Equality and Inclusion, he welcomed the focus on Hate Crime. As communities became more diverse, through our Humanitarian Support programmes, it was important to get the message across that Hate Crime would not be tolerated, and partners were committed to promoting community cohesion. It was noted that the Youth Council supported this priority as an issue which impacted upon many young people’s lives, and we could assure them that the Hate Crime Action Group would be reinvigorated, and more activity would take place on the back of the Hate Hurts campaign.

Councillor Shield seconded the recommendations set out in the report.

Resolved:

(a)          That the content of the report be noted; and

(b)          To agree that the Safe Durham Partnership Strategy 2024-29 be adopted.