Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor P M Meara.

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

 

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

In accordance with the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011, no declarations of Whipped Votes or Party Whips were declared.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 8 February, 2016.

 

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 8 February, 2016, be agreed as a correct record.

There were no public questions.

·       Chief Superintendent Joe Ruddy (South Wales Police);

·       Chris Sivers (Director – People).

Chief Superintendent Joe Ruddy (South Wales Police) and Chris Sivers (Director of People) attended to provide a progress report on Safer Swansea Partnership Performance and answer questions.

 

A presentation was given which encompassed:

 

·       Recorded Crime Trends;

·       Domestic Abuse;

·       Sexual Offences;

·       Robbery;

·       Burglary;

·       Hate Crime;

·       Autocrime;

·       Other Thefts;

·       Criminal Damage and

·       Sectors Recording Biggest Crimes.

 

The Chief Superintendent stated that crime has reduced over 5 years, making Swansea one of the safest Cities in the UK to live.  Crime has increased by 0.7% (118 more offences) as the manner in which South Wales Police record crime has changed.  Previously crime was reported and investigated prior to being recorded.  Now crime is recorded as soon as it is reported.  With this ethical crime recording process higher levels of crime can be expected, however, there has not been a big increase in recorded crime.

 

Cyber related crime, confidence of the public to record.  Detailed violence against persons, significant amount in the night time economy.  Help point in Swansea City Centre very valuable.  1548 admissions in last year, lots of vulnerable people.  A lot of work in relation to violent crime.

 

 Level of violence with injury is less.  Section 5 cases.  Biggest changes within element.  Work being done with licensees.  TASS (Tackling Alcohol Substance in the Community) main theme and priority for Safer Swansea Partnership domestic violence.  29.3% domestic related.

 

The Director of People referred to Domestic Violence increase 13.9% from last year.  Significant increase in terms of impact in terms of how managed across the board.  Strategic group to deal with this, need to embed within Partnership.  Alongside this did a systems review reporting to LSB to look at different referrals  In the process of implementing changes.  Opened one stop shop last year, probation services see family offenders have proportion 95% experiencing or had experienced domestic abuse. 

 

Domestic Abuse LSB top priority.  All Councillors will be offered Domestic Abuse training from the Summer.  Welsh Government revised funding for Domestic Abuse, we are submitting plan about how we expect to spend it.  Need to analyse the data and understand issues in Swansea.  High levels of Domestic Abuse in Swansea and understanding implications for children.  Do some training across all our services, analyse the gaps.  How we focus around high risk offenders and victims and giving support to people going through the court process.

 

The Chief Superintendent referred to the Police and Crime Reduction Plan, part of Plan to beat record, increase the level of recording.  Hi level Wind Street have to draw resources from other areas of the City to deal with Wind Street.

 

In response to Member questions, the Chief Superintendent stated that there is an upsurge of incidents of Domestic Abuse on sports international days.

 

The Chief Superintendent referred to an increase of 17.2% (52 more cases) in respect of sexual offences, many of which were historic cases.  He referred to the work of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) which provided emotional and practical support.  Success that victims feel confident to come forward. 

 

Members’ noted that:

 

·       There had been a reduction of 2.9% in relation to robbery;

·       There had been a reduction of 13% in relation to burglary;

·       Hate Crimes has increased by 52 in 2015 and racial crimes had increased to 50;

·       There had been a 11.2% increase in auto crime;

·       There had been no increases in other crimes such as shop lifting;

·       There had been a 2.5% increase in criminal damage and a restorative approach had been adopted in dealing with such issues;

·       The sectors recording biggest crime were Gorseinon, Townhill (and other areas);

·       The emerging crime areas included cyber crime; child sexual exploitation; community cohesion; new psyco-active substances and the student population.

 

The Chair thanked Chief Superintendent Joe Ruddy and Chris Sivers for the informative presentation and was pleased to see progress in a number of key areas.

 

In response to Member questions, the Chief Superintendent stated that:

 

·       The Police had met with Students during Freshers week to raise awareness of burglaries and the need to secure properties;

·       The Police were working with other agencies in the community to target specific areas suffering with high levels of anti-social behaviour.  He referred to the work of the Targeted Action Meeting and the need to deal with issues in a proportionate manner;

·       The Police often see ‘peaks and troughs’ in areas as a result of premises becoming less secure or known individuals being in custody;

·       The Violent and Crime Reduction Campaign in the press have been used to attempt to address crimes against women and girls.  However, crime is difficult to manage when it is committed in the home;

·       There was no clear connection between alcohol and sexual crimes.  Work is on-going with SARC in order to raise awareness and increase victim support.  Work is ongoing with schools to let them know what is and is not acceptable behaviour;

·       There were no current plans to introduce a Drunk Tank within the City although discussions had taken place between the Leader regarding the redevelopment of the City Centre and ways to manage crime;

·       The Council’s decision to reduce budgets for CCTV within the City was a political matter although the Police and Crime Commissioner has had discussions with the Leader and Chief Executive;

·       The seemingly high turnover of Officers at senior level was part of a Police initiative;

·       CCTV is a useful tool in protecting the City, although Swansea does enjoy more CCTV coverage than other cities in England and Wales;

·       A lot of work is ongoing with schools at key stage 1, 3 and 4.  Crucial Crew are involved in raising awareness regarding internet safety for young people. 

 

In response to Member questions, the Director of People stated that:

 

·       Discussions have taken place with Councillor P M Meara regarding research into high levels of sexual violence within Swansea.  This issue remains as a top priority when Welsh Government grant money is received.

 

RESOLVED that the report be NOTED.

Councillor A S Lewis referred to her written report which detailed the areas covered within her Portfolio.

 

She detailed work ongoing in Housing (which included Landlord Services, Community Housing and the Business Planning Division); the priorities, achievements and plans for the next 12 months in Corporate Building and Property Services; Energy and Commercialism.

 

She stated that the Commercial Team works to support all Council departments and service areas.  A report would be submitted to Council over the forthcoming months which would detail progress.  She detailed the particular success in relation to public sector contracts which had produced an additional £1.8m savings bringing the total to £3m.

 

In response to Member questions, the Cabinet Member for Next Generation Services stated that:

 

·       Timescales in relation to Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) were governed by the Occupational Therapist’s (OT) ability to assess individuals.  The appointment of 2.5 OT posts directly to Housing had made a positive impact of waiting times and there was a positive argument for expanding this service within Housing;

·       The air tightness of properties, insulation and quality of building products al have an input into reducing fuel poverty.  Whilst the houses costs slightly more to build, the savings are realised over time.  Quality of build that no noise disturbance with neighbours;

·       The More Homes Pilot provides the Authority with an opportunity to test the capability of Corporate Building and Property Services who have to be competitive and build properties to a certain standard.  Corporate Building Services do schools and other buildings and do have building skills in-house.  However, there are gaps which the pilot scheme should identify.

·       The process of assessment for DFG’s involves input from the OT and the Surveyor.  Each recommendation and every property is different, surveyors visit critical part important to analyse whole process.  Lampost, ramps, pillar wraps more geared towards when we have a commercial look at multi story car parks.  Admiral or Great First Western commercial income from that partnership.  Lamposts everything will be looked at to create income.  If  issue with things being left then that is a different issue.

·       In relation to commencing the pilot homes building works, aspirational timelines, surveys going ahead and progressing early March/April 2017. 

·       Will provide more information about £3m generated from Public Sector Contracts from Local Health Boards.

·       Commercial Team analysing process looking at contracts, changing role do we need that contract?  Should be significant efficiencies going forward.  Critical friend.

·       Whatever services across the authority looking at approach from commercial/e-bundle services as in house service beds in.

·       School building programme.  Still Education that identifies school and funds money?  Do have input from Corporate Building and Property Services, they have broadsheet rate boiler, electrics.  Allocated within budget and managed a further £1m Corporate and Building Services not so much on delivery.

 

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member for Next Generation Services for her informative presentation.

 

RESOLVED that the Chair write to the Cabinet Member reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee.

Councillor P Hood-Williams, Convenor, Chid & Family Services Scrutiny Performance Panel referred to update 3 dated March 2016.

 

He highlighted the key activities; achievements/impact and future work programme.

 

RESOLVED that the report be NOTED.

The report of the Chair reviewed the current Scrutiny Work Programme.

 

The report provided the Committee with:

 

·       The current Scrutiny Work Programme;

·       A plan for future committee meetings;

·       A progress report on the various existing Panels and Working Groups; and

·       Cabinet forward plan for opportunities for pre-decision scrutiny.

 

RESOLVED that the report be NOTED.

The Chair presented a report which advised of changes to the membership of the Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups.

 

RESOLVED that the following changes be made:

 

1)    Councillor S M Jones to be added to the Tackling Poverty Enquiry; and

2)    Councillors D W Cole (Convenor); A C S Colburn, E W Fitzgerald, M H Jones, L Tyler James, K E Marsh, I Richard, G J Tanner and T M White be confirmed as members of the Scrutiny Working Group on Tree Preservation

The Chair reported the Scrutiny Letters Log and referred to the recent correspondence between Scrutiny and Cabinet Members.

 

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Letters Log be NOTED.

The Chair referred to a workshop which is taking place on 18 April, 2016.

 

RESOLVED that the report be NOTED.

There were none.

There were none.

RESOLVED that the Audit Committee Work Plan be NOTED.

The date and time of future Committee meetings for the 2015-2016 Municipal Year was NOTED.

The date and time of upcoming Panel/Working group meetings were provided for information to help increase the visibility of this work and encourage participation.