Agenda and minutes

The Chair, Councillor N Akhtar, welcomed Councillor S Gray, non-voting Green Group representative, to his first meeting of the Committee. Councillor A Jobbar, Chair of the Finance and Corporate Services Scrutiny Board (1),

as also welcomed to his first meeting.

The Committee noted Councillor J Lepoidevin’s other interest in the matters the subject of Minutes xx and xx below.  

The Minutes of the meeting held on 10 June, 2024 were agreed and signed as a true record.

There were no matters arising.

Briefing Note of the Director of Public Health and Wellbeing  

The Committee considered a Briefing Note of the Director of Public Health and Wellbeing which provided an update on key developments, achievements, challenges and next steps in ongoing efforts to tackle serious violence in Coventry using a public health approach. Officers from West Midlands Police attend the meeting for consideration of this item.

The Briefing Note detailed the Committee’s consideration of this issue at their meeting in November 2023 (Minute 33/23 refers), which had highlighted the new Serious Violence Duty (SDV) imposed on local authorities and their partners to tackle serious violence collaboratively.  The Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV) was also introduced as an externally funded intervention targeting individuals aged fourteen or more, at risk of, or experiencing, violence. West Midlands Police has contributed a substantial resource in terms of personnel.

The Briefing Note indicated that since the initial report, progress has been made on implementing the Serious Violence Duty and CIRV, as well as undergoing a joint targeted area inspection. Key achievements in the following areas were detailed:-

·  Serious Violence Duty Implementation

·  Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV)

·  Significant Milestones:-

o  Joint Targeted Area Inspection (JTAI)  on the theme “Serious Youth Violence” was undertaken in March 2024 which lasted for a period of three weeks, with inspectors from Ofsted, Care Quality Commission. A copy of the letter of findings from the JTAI was appended to the report.

o  Next Steps-

§  Monitoring and Evaluation

§  Community Engagement

§  Policy and Advocacy

A comprehensive presentation at the meeting was provided by officers and representatives from West Midlands Police.

The Committee asked questions, sought assurances and made comments on a number of issues including:-

·  Engagement and partnership working with West Midlands Fire Service

·  The proposed launch of the “My Tomorrow”

·  Decisions regarding the deployment of Police Officers across the West Midlands and ensuring that Coventry gets the officers required

·  Details of the successful “Step Together” initiative and work being undertaken to secure future funding for this

·  The link between an increase in incidents of Domestic Violence during football tournaments and plans in place to deal with any such increase during the Euros 2024

·  The link between a perceived fear of crime during nighttime hours, particularly when street lights are dimmed/turned off. It was noted that high rates of crime are recorded during daytime hours.

·  Work undertaken to target street violence and the resulting reduction in these figures

·  A request for a comparison of crime rates in the City with comparable Cites and not just those in the West Midlands region. West Midlands Police indicated that they would provide this data to the Committee

·  Work undertaken with partners and how information is shared

·  The outcome of the JTAI and work being undertaken on the Action Plan to tackle those areas for development following the JTAI

·  The complex nature of Serious Violence crime and the need to ensure that there is adequate funding for early intervention and prevention

The Chair, on behalf of the Committee, thanked officers from West Midlands Police  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Report of the Director of Law and Governance

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance, which would also be considered by Cabinet on 9 July, 2024, and which sought approval to commence a citywide 12 week consultation on the creation of a Community Safety Partnership Plan.

The report indicated that Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) are the statutory body that bring together local partners to solve shared issues around Crime and Disorder, Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), Drug and Alcohol misuse and Reoffending. The CSP in Coventry meets as the Police and Crime Board (PCB) and is chaired by the Local Authority. CSPs are required to develop an overarching Community Safety Partnership Plan under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The Plan provides an overview of the work and priority areas that fall under the responsibility of the CSP.

The Plan is intended to focus upon those issues of most concern to residents, that cause the most harm to communities, and require a coordinated approach to deliver lasting change.

The Community Safety Plan will be informed by:

•  The views of residents, including those who have been affected by crime and/or accessing services;

•  Analysis of the problem, drawing on data and information from a breadth of partners;

•  Evidence of “what works” in tackling crime and disorder; and

•  The views of professionals and stakeholders working locally.

To help inform the Plan it is proposed that a public consultation exercise will be undertaken and the information together with data from West Midlands Police will be reviewed in workshops by the sub-groups of the PCB. This will be used to develop a Community Safety Partnership Plan which will identify how these priorities will be delivered.

When complete, the draft Plan will be submitted to Cabinet for approval on 7th January 2025.

The Committee asked questions, sought assurances and made comments on a number of issues including:-

·  That the list of stakeholders was not exhaustive and that other social housing providers and external partners such as faith groups and Severn Trent would be included in the consultation

·  The timescales for the consultation and how participants will get feedback as to how their responses will be used

·  Whether there should be a target number for responses and if this would be useful to identify

·  The lack of resource to be able to offer a financial incentives to participate

·  The fact that fly-tipping, dog fouling and off-road e-bikes were raised as concerns by residents to their Councillors but weren’t included in the options available as priorities

·  That requiring the public to have to log into a Council account to participate in the on-line survey could be a disincentive but could also provide a route to be able to provide feedback

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee:-

1)  Note the requirements of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and the need to create a Community Safety Partnership Plan

2)  Agree to receive a future report setting out the responses received and the proposed Community Safety Partnership Plan 2024-2027.

3)  Identify  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

The Committee considered their Work Programme and Outstanding Issues for 2024/25. The Committee discussed their proposed consideration of Health Inequalities during the year.   

RESOLVED:-

1)  That the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee notes and approves the Work Programme and Outstanding Issues for 2024/25.

2)  That the Chair and Deputy Chair be requested to give further consideration as to how and when the Committee should consider Health Inequalities, focusing on a specific issue.

Any other items of public business which the Chair decides to take as a matter of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no other items of urgent public business.