Agenda, decisions and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interests were declared:

Councillors L R Jones, M Jones, S M Jones, H Lawson, W G Lewis and S Pritchard declared a Personal Interest in Minute no.102  – Crime and Disorder Scrutiny – Safer Swansea Community Safety Partnership.

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

To approve and sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.  

Resolved that the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 14 March, 2023 and the Special Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 20 March, 2023 be signed and approved as a correct records.

Questions can be submitted in writing to Democratic Services democracy@swansea.gov.uk up until noon on the working day prior to the meeting. Written questions take precedence. Public may attend and ask questions in person if time allows.  Questions must relate to items on the open part of the agenda and will be dealt within a 10 minute period.

No questions were received.

As the Council’s designated Crime & Disorder Scrutiny Committee, the Scrutiny Programme Committee met to discuss the performance of the Safer Swansea Community Safety Partnership (SSP), with Council and Police leads. The Chair welcomed Council representatives: Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Cabinet Member for Community (Support), Cabinet Member for Service Transformation, Strategic Lead Commissioner, Community Integration Partnership Manager, and South Wales Police representatives: Trudi Meyrick, Chief Superintendent, Mark Brier, Superintendent, James Ratti, Chief Inspector, Eve Davis, Superintendent (Communities and Partnership), and Jessica Williams, Community Safety Manager (Swansea / Neath Port Talbot).  The Chair thanked representatives for providing written report / papers reflecting on the performance of the Partnership over the last year, specific activities, and Draft SSP priorities for 2023-26 and the Draft Swansea Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy 2023-26.

The Cabinet Member for Wellbeing stated that the Annual Report highlighted how local agencies and partners have worked well together to make Swansea safer and reduce the fear of crime during 2022. However, as a partnership, it was recognized that work was still required to build upon our success and to focus on new challenges. 

The Cabinet Member for Wellbeing referred to the main focus to continue to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour, address substance use, seek to reduce reoffending and support our young and vulnerable people from being drawn in to extremist and violent behaviour.

The Safer Swansea Partnership would remain committed to tackling hate crime in all its forms and will continue to ensure Swansea as a place that stands against intolerance, hatred and extremism. Many of the crime and disorder issues safer Swansea will seek to address of underlying contributing factors often linked to vulnerable vulnerability and exploitation.

She referred to the Community Safety Priorities for 2023 to 2026, setting out the six key priorities of strategic gains, intentions and the outcomes.  These priorities acknowledge that the nature of crime is changing. It sets out the approach to address hidden harm crimes such as domestic violence, child sexual exploitation and serious organised crime and serious violence. Work is ongoing on individual action plans for each of the priorities.

Progress will be monitored on quarterly basis by the SSP Steering Group.  It is hoped that by delivering on the aims of strategic intentions for each priority will be able to improve public confidence and trust in local policing and Community safety partners to make Swansea safer.

Committee questioning and discussion with regard to the performance of the Safer Swansea Partnership focussed on the following:

·      Governance specifically relating to the joint chairing arrangement of the Partnership that provides the leadership and management of the SSP.

·      Partnership resources and the quantification of resources/spend.

·     Evening and Night-time economy priorities and achievements; Purple Flag status; ad partnership working with the Swansea Business Improvement District

·     Anti-social behaviour (off road bikes) challenges and initiatives.

·     Hate Crime, comparison of data sets and proactive initiatives.

·     Community cohesion, integration and achievements.

·     Sexual offences/rape, initiatives and achievements.

·     Mayhill disturbance and timelines for the publication of the findings and recommendations following independent Police review of the policing response.

·     Community Engagement and initiatives/successes, use of co-production.

Substance misuse initiatives (Project Adder) successes and priorities.

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Members, Officers and representatives of South Wales Police for the information provided and response to questions.

Resolved that the Chair write to the Joint Chairs of the Safer Swansea Partnership reflecting the views of the Committee.

Cllr C A Holley provided a report summarising the work of the Development & Regeneration Scrutiny Performance Panel over the past year, and key issues which the Panel has been focussing on.

Resolved that the Scrutiny Performance Panel Progress report in respect of Development & Regeneration Scrutiny Performance Panel be noted.

Resolved that the membership of the Panels and Working Groups as reported, be agreed.

The Chair presented the agreed Scrutiny Work Programme for 2022/23 which the Committee is responsible for monitoring.

The main items scheduled for the next meeting on 16 May is:

·        Pre-decision Scrutiny:  FPR7 Redevelopment of 277-278 Oxford Street - Community Hub Project.

·        Review of the Year.

The Scrutiny Team Leader stated that to strengthen the process of review, self-evaluation and reflection, a survey has been sent out to all Councillors inviting views on about the way Scrutiny has worked over the last year.

The Chair presented a report on ‘Scrutiny Letters’ for information.

The Chair referred to the date and time of upcoming Scrutiny Panel/Working Group Meetings, for information.