Resources and Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel

Minutes of the Meeting held on 12 January 2012

Commenced: 4.00pm
Terminated: 5.15pm

Present:

Councillor Sidebottom (Chair)
Councillors Bailey, Beeley, Buckley, Cartey, Miah, McNally

Apologies for absence:

Councillors Bowerman, Etchells, Whitley, Brazil

The Chair opened the meeting.

33. Minutes

The minutes from the meeting of the Panel held on 15 December 2011 were approved as a correct record.

34. Update on Reducing Reoffending

The Panel invited Enda Ross the Integrated Offender Management (IOM) Strategic Lead on Reducing Re-offending to present an update on Reducing Reoffending in Tameside. Enda provided a presentation to the panel on reducing re-offending. Enda advised the panel there had been a significant decrease in offending rates along with a 20% reduction is conviction compared to 10% Nationally.

Enda identified a 61% reduction in Prolific and Priority Offender, offending rates. 145 offenders were managed over a two year period identifying a 20% reduction in convictions and 35% reduction in offences committed in Tameside identifying an overall saving of £650,000 per year.

These figures have been made achievable through joined up intelligence sharing, real time responses and a balance between enforcement and rehabilitation. Including holistic approaches, accommodation schemes, employment of ex offenders and a peer mentoring scheme coupled with IOM systems being integrated in neighbourhood and policing systems. IOM were able to assist ex-offenders into employment.

The Panel asked if early release was possible as a result of being involved in Spotlight1 Enda advised it did not mean an early release for offenders. The Panel also asked whether the offenders were predominantly men, Enda advised it is predominantly men but they have seen an increase in women becoming involved.

Since the Scrutiny panel meeting in Summer 2011 there have been great improvements in reductions in burglary. Analysis showed that of 209 individuals subject to IOM, 30% had criminal records by the age of 14, and 50% by age of 15. Research carried out indicated an early entry into offending and entrenched offending.

Enda advised the panel of concerns regarding the proposed changes in benefits that will be taking place and that these changes in benefit present a high level of risk to achieving the aims in the Reducing Reoffending Strategy. The proposed change in Legislation is anticipated to push offender groups into shared tenancy arrangements. Enda advised grouping offenders into tenancies would present many challenges. Enda also advised the panel there had been an increase in the number of individuals buying property to accommodate the market for housing offenders.

Tameside offenders are now regularly being returned to Forest Bank. Intervention from Local partnerships including St Peters Partnership is assisting 18-25 year olds into employment. There has been increased intervention at a local level to reduce re-offending and early intervention in conjunction with local integrated services. Victims are now receiving ongoing support from Victim Support with volunteers increasingly getting training and providing an intermediary process between the offenders and the victims. In many instances victim contact is becoming part of Court Orders. This approach has also seen offenders keen to become involved in the process. The IOM Lead provided the panel with a copy of a letter sent by an offender to a victim of burglary from within HM Prison Wymott along with a response from the victim themselves.

The panel asked if Enda had identified a rise in shoplifting within Tameside- she advised there had been an increase of previous offenders who were coming back into the system due to shoplifting.

The Panel thanked Enda Ross, the IOM Lead for the update and the continued work that the Community Safety Team and the Offender Management Team had undertaken.

Resolved

That the information is noted.
The potential for the Panel to visit ASBRAC2 was identified within the meeting and this will be looked at further by the Panel.

35. Update on Review of Tameside Cultural Strategy and its Impact on Community Cohesion

The Panel received an update on the Cultural Strategy and its impact on Community Cohesion from Adam Allen the Assistant Executive Director of Cultural and Customer Services and Sarah Booth the Strengthening Communities Manager.

Adam Allen advised the Panel of a new structure of cultural services, the new cultural offer and the role of Cultural Cohesion in actively supporting the Community Cohesion Partnership, soon to become the Supportive Delivery Board.
Sarah Booth provided an overview of the Cohesion Strategy. The panel were advised of the role of the cohesion strategy in giving communities within the authority a voice and increasing the engagement of different local authorities with one another and keeping them involved.

Adam advised the panel of the requirement to reduce costs by 35% whilst retaining and increasing the levels of participation within the communities. Consultation involving libraries, has been open minded looking at saving provision and integrating services with one another.

The Community Cohesion action plan is targeting specific areas where issues have been identified such as high incidences of hate crime. The action plan looks to bring support to those areas that are identified as needing it most. Through this involvement the plan aims to bring people from different backgrounds together, be it elderly/young or people from different cultures and religions. The feedback so far in relation to the community engagement programmes has been positive.

The panel were then advised of the progress of the recommendations previously identified by the panel in their report from April 2010.

Recommendation 1

The Panel were advised of the developments to meet the recommendations in encouraging greater openness amongst diverse communities. Mosque Management Committee training is being set up to encourage community cohesion.

Recommendation 2

The panel were advised of the impact of restrictions in subsidies for many of the projects being undertaken and the need to increase subsidies through other avenues and areas of income.

Recommendation 3

The panel were advised of the increase in the size of the arts and events programme and the positive responses to the programme from communities. However these events are heavily subsidised and further avenues of income for these programmes need to be explored.

Recommendation 4

The panel were advised of successes by the Arts and Events Team in making Diwali, Eid and Christmas celebrations enjoyable for all communities. The panel were advised of the interaction of different White British communities being involved in interfaith network celebrations. This has also come from more outreach and community groups inviting different sections of communities to attend events.

Recommendation 5

You Choose has assisted and supported various groups to attaining further funding and this support will be increased through more partnership working.

Recommendation 6

The Panel were advised that the Community Cohesion Partnership working did not just involve different cultures and faiths but also people of all ages coming together to build community cohesion. The Panel asked the representatives whether there were plans to increase the use of single provisions by different groups and increasing engagement within the community such as, libraries, youth clubs and sporting clubs being integrated into individual facilities. The panel were advised due to varying financial constraints that this would be an area that was due to be explored in order to continue to offer the facilities whilst reducing costs.

The Panel thanked Adam Allen and Sarah Booth for the information and also for the continued work of the Tameside Community Culture and Community Cohesion Partnership.

Resolved

That the information is noted.
The need to maintain a working relationship with the mosques and increased communication with the Mosque Management Committee as identified in the previous recommendations.
The need for continued community cohesion events to engage further sections of the communities within Tameside.

36. Local Government Act 2000 - Urgent Items

The Chair reported that there were no urgent items for consideration at this meeting.

Chair