Resources and Sustainable Communities Minutes - 28th May 2009
Resources and Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel
Minutes of the Meeting held on 28th May 2009
Commenced: 5.00pm
Terminated: 6.10pm
Present:
Councillor M J Smith (Chair)
Councillors Beeley, Brelsford, Buckley, Sidebottom, Travis and Whitley
Apologies for absence:
Councillors W Downs and White
Please note that Minutes are numbered consecutively throughout the municipal year
1. Councillor Martin Wareing
The Chair referred to the very recent death of Councillor Martin Wareing who was a former member of this Scrutiny Panel. Members paid tribute to Councillor Wareing’s work on the Council and all present stood in silence as a mark of respect.
2. Minutes
The Minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Panel held on 9th April 2009, having been circulated, were taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.
3. Follow-Up Review Of Violent Crime In Tameside
The Panel gave consideration to a draft report of the Follow Up Review of Violent Crime in Tameside and was asked to approve both the draft report and conclusions and recommendations.
During the consideration of the draft report, members discussed the licensing laws and the effectiveness of the emergency help points and were informed about a Sanctuary Housing Scheme “Survivors Group” which was a self help and mentoring group set up by members of the Sanctuary Housing Scheme. In addition members were informed that the level of case work at the Domestic Violence Court warranted three specialist adviser posts rather than the current single post.
Resolved
That the report be approved subject to amendments and additions in relation to support for the Sanctuary Self Support Housing Group and support for the addition of two extra specialist adviser posts at the Tameside Domestic Violence Court.
4. Work Programme 2009/10
The Panel gave consideration to the draft work programme for this scrutiny panel for 2000/10. It was noted that the work programme contained actions to comply with the Police and Justice Act 2006 and was closely aligned with the Local Area Agreement and the Community Strategy.
Resolved
- That the work programme for this scrutiny panel for 2009/10 be approved as detailed in the Appendix to these Minutes.
- That the scrutiny panel receive a presentation on the Patrollers Service at its next meeting.
5. Monitoring Local Area Agreement (LAA) Targets – Tameside LAA 2008-11 (Revised March 2009)
The Panel received a report from the Head the Policy Unit and the Head of Scrutiny in respect of the annual review and refresh process that had taken place in March 2009, for the Tameside Local Area Agreement 2008 - 11 (LAA).
The aim of the review was to refresh the targets in a way that reflected the changed circumstances that reflected the changed stretch (difference between the baseline and the target) that reflected the reality of the position. There had to be flexibility in the targets to enable the LAA to be meaningful to partners and the community.
The report outlined a number of key changes to the LAA that had been agreed with the Government Office North West. These covered several indicators that had been either increased of decreased to reflect changing circumstances and the inclusion of indicators that reflected the priorities across the Tameside Strategic Partnership such as breast feeding.
The Executive Leader had in accordance with constitutional powers formally approved the Tameside LAA 2008 -11 in March 2009. It was confirmed that the LAA continued to be supported by a detailed performance monitoring process which included the scrutiny panels.
Resolved
That the report be noted and approved.
6. Local Government Act 2000 – Urgent Items
The Chair reported that there were no urgent items for consideration at this meeting.
Chair
Appendix
Resources and Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel
Work Programme 2009/2010
In-depth Policy Reviews
| Subject of Review | Rationale for Review | Links to Council Priorities, Sustainable Community Strategy and Local Area Agreements | Cabinet Deputy | Suggested By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Reducing Re -offending |
Reducing re-offending is a statutory responsibility for the Crime and Disorder Partnership with the aim of reducing levels of harm to the community and achieving sustainable reductions in re-offending. The national Reducing Re-offending Strategy cuts across eight strategic pathways which include drugs and alcohol, accommodation, education and training. The Tameside Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership Plan 2008-11 acknowledges that working with offenders is key to reducing crime and identifies reducing re-offending as a priority action for the Partnership. |
This review supports the Council and Sustainable Community Strategy priorities relating to ‘A Safe Environment’ The review supports LAA target around reducing crime and re-offending. |
Cllr J Taylor |
Scrutiny Panel |
|
Parks and Open Spaces |
Parks and open spaces within Tameside are all fundamental areas of the borough which help to enhance the lives of residents. They improve the appearance of the borough and form an integral part of our heritage. There are many great benefits of providing well maintained green spaces and growing awareness and evidence of other ways in which these areas can improve quality of life including:-
|
This review supports Council and Sustainable Community Strategy priorities relating to “An Attractive Borough”, “A Safe Environment” and “A Healthy Population”. The review would also support the Sustainable Community Strategy Performance Indicator and LAA targets to increase the number of Green Flags/Pennants for Public Spaces in the borough. |
Cllr J Fitzpatrick |
Scrutiny Panel |
|
Library Service |
The public library service is a statutory service covered by the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act with a duty to provide a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ library services for those who live, study or work within the Borough. In May 2005 ‘New Libraries for Tameside’ was published and addressed drivers for change. The report set out a vision for the library service and outlined a number of recommendations for improvement. The review will look at the implementation of those recommendations for improvement and will particularly consider measures taken to increase the use of public libraries. |
This review supports the Council and Sustainable Community Strategy priorities relating to “Supportive Communities” and a “Learning Community” This review also supports the National Indicator Set target 9 ‘to increase the use of public libraries’. |
Cllr G Cooney |
Scrutiny Panel |
|
Alcohol related Crime data |
Local partnerships, stakeholders and agencies within Tameside have been well aware of the increasing issue of alcohol related harm and the need for partnership working to counteract the increase in alcohol related harms upon levels of crime and disorder and to the health of residents. The Panel will review current practice of alcohol data collection and monitoring systems in relation to the impact alcohol has on crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour. |
This review supports the Council and Sustainable Community Strategy priorities relating to ‘A Safe Environment’ and ‘A Healthy Population’ The review supports LAA targets around reducing crime and domestic violence. |
Cllr J Taylor |
Scrutiny Panel |
Follow-up Reviews
| Subject of Review | Rationale for Review | Links to Council Priorities, Sustainable Community Strategy and Local Area Agreements | Cabinet Deputy | Suggested By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Follow-up review of the Scrutiny Panel’s report on the Provision of Support, Learning and Development for Elected Members in Tameside |
This Scrutiny Panel produced a report on the Provision of Support Learning and Development for Elected Members in Tameside early 2008. The Panel will return to this subject later in the year to monitor the implementation and impact of the reports recommendations |
This follow-up review will help ascertain whether support, learning and development for elected members has developed in accordance with the needs of elected members to enable them to fulfil their roles as community leaders and place shapers. |
Cllr J Taylor / Cllr J Kitchen |
Scrutiny Panel |
Service Overviews / Policy Overviews
| Subject of Review | Rationale for Review | Links to Council Priorities, Sustainable Community Strategy and Local Area Agreements | Cabinet Deputy | Suggested By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Role and Responsibilities of the Patroller Service |
Tameside Patrollers were established during 2003/04 and are often seen the ‘Eyes and Ears’ on the street. They’re a team of uniformed Council Officers that work hand in hand with Greater Manchester Police to tackle lower level disorder such as youth nuisance and environmental anti-social behaviour. The Scrutiny Panel will have the opportunity to consider the current operation of the Service and discuss any developments planned for the future. |
This review supports Council and Sustainable Community Strategy Priorities relating to ‘Supportive Communities’ ‘A Safe Environment’ ‘An Attractive Borough’ |
Cllr J Taylor |
Scrutiny Panel |
Performance Monitoring
| Subject of Review | Rationale for Review | Links to Council Priorities, Sustainable Community Strategy and Local Area Agreements | Cabinet Deputy/ Partnership |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tameside Local Area Agreement Targets |
The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 placed a duty on responsible local authorities to prepare a Local Area Agreement (LAA) in consultation with partner organisations. The Tameside LAA 2008-11 was endorsed by the LAA Executive on 29th May 2008 and launched at the Tameside Strategic Partnership (TSP) Annual Conference on 12th June 2008. The LAA was reviewed and refreshed in April 2009. The 2007 Act gives Scrutiny Panels powers to hold the local authority and partnership agencies to account in achieving LAA targets. In particular the Act gives Scrutiny Panels the power to:
The Scrutiny Panel will receive performance monitoring information on LAA targets relating to this Scrutiny Panel on a quarterly basis. |
This performance monitoring exercise supports the Council and Sustainable Community Strategy priorities relating to ‘Supportive Communities’ ‘A Safe Environment’ ‘An Attractive Borough’ and ‘A Healthy Population’ |
Tameside Strategic Partnership |
|
Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (“Responsible Authorities”) |
A requirement under the Crime and Disorder (Overview and Scrutiny) Regulations 2009, is for the designated scrutiny committee to meet with "responsible authorities" in "connection with the discharge of their crime and disorder functions" at least once a year. Responsible authorities as defined in section 5 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 comprise of:
The Scrutiny Panel will meet annually with representatives of ‘responsible authorities” to discuss initiatives and activity. This exercise will enable the scrutiny panel to carry out its statutory duty under Section 19 of the Police and Justice Act 2006. |
This performance monitoring exercise supports the Council and Sustainable Community Strategy priority relating to ‘A Safe Environment’ and “A Healthy Population”. Supports LAA targets around reducing crime and increasing public reassurance. |
Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership |