Agenda and minutes
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Additional documents: Minutes: Committee Apologies- Apologies were received from Jan Mason, Robert Evans and Alan Young.
Co-opted Member and Witness Apologies- Apologies were received from Amy McLeod, Cllr Helyn Clack, Cllr Paul Tuley, Cllr Glynis Whittle, Cllr Liane Gibson and Cllr Chris Townsend.
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.
Notes: · In line with the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, declarations may relate to the interest of the member, or the member’s spouse or civil partner, or a person with whom the member is living as husband or wife, or a person with whom the member is living as if they were civil partners and the member is aware they have the interest. · Members need only disclose interests not currently listed on the Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests. · Members must notify the Monitoring Officer of any interests disclosed at the meeting so they may be added to the Register. · Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest. Additional documents: Minutes: There were none.
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COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIPS IN SURREY
Following the Police and Justice Act 2006, Local Authorities are required to undertake annual scrutiny of the local Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs). Surrey County Council’s Communities Select Committee can meet the requirements of the Act as it has legal power to scrutinise and make reports or recommendations regarding the functioning of the responsible authorities that comprise a Community Safety Partnership.
This paper sets out the current responsibilities of the CSPs and County Strategy Group (Community and Public Safety Board) and informs the Committee of their current priorities and challenges they will be facing in 2013/14. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: Cllr Penny Forbes- Forsyth, Spelthorne Cllr Jean Smith, Epsom & Ewell Cllr Rita Renton, Reigate and Banstead Cllr Carole King, Waverley Cllr Beryl Hunwicks, Woking Cllr Christine Cross, Elmbridge Cllr Kay Hammond, Cabinet Associate for Community Safety
Gordon Falconer, Community Safety Unit Senior Manager Jeff Harris, Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner for Surrey Wendy Roberts, Community Safety Manager for Runnymede Debbie Stitt, Community Safety Manager for Reigate and Banstead Helen Atkinson, Interim Director for Public Health Jane Last, Programme Manager and Lead Manager for Community Safety and Partnership Katie Webb, Community Safety Manager for Waverley Gavin Stephens, Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Lin Pendrick, Director for Surrey Local Delivery Unit, Surrey and Sussex Probation Trust Liz Mills, Chief of Staff, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service Phelim Brady, Governing Body Lay Member, Guildford and Waverley CCG Yvonne Rees, Strategic Director for Customers and Communities and Interim Chief Executive of Mole Valley district council
Key points raised during the discussion: 1. The report was introduced by the Community Safety Unit Senior Manager to Members of the Select Committee. The Community Safety Unit Senior Manager explained that the report gave an oversight of community safety (CS) at both the county and district and borough level. The report took account of the changes that were brought about with the introduction of the Police and Crime Commissioner in Surrey and the resulting effects on community safety budgeting. The report also covered issues around the single strategic assessment and key county wide priorities such as anti social behaviour and domestic abuse.
2. A Member of the Committee asked how the transfer of the budget to the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) had affected the work of the CSPs. The Community Safety Unit Senior Manager stated that the Community and Public Safety Board (CPSB) anticipated this change would come about and had prepared accordingly. Locally there have been fewer resources which has had an impact on the CSP’s local work. The Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner for Surrey explained that there had been an amalgamation of various budgets into one. The office of the PCC had decided to continue with funding for the drug intervention programme and domestic abuse programme. Each CSP has been given the opportunity to bid for money, half of which has already been allocated to grant funding. The details of this can be found on the PCC website.
3. Members of the Committee expressed their concern with the reduction to funding which they felt has had an impact on the activity of CSPs. There was a concern that in the future this funding will go into the police budget and not to CSP’s.
4. Another Member of the Committee agreed that funding has been greatly affected across all areas but that there was an opportunity for CSPs to work together in a joint funding model. Members of the Committee agreed on the importance of partnership working and asked if there was an opportunity for joining up the work ... view the full minutes text for item 3/13 |
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DOMESTIC ABUSE STRATEGY 2013 - 2018
Purpose of the report: Policy Development and Review
To have oversight of the final Domestic Abuse Strategy for Surrey as signed off by the multi-agency Community and Public Safety Board and to review the developing action plan.
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: Cllr Jean Smith, Epsom and Ewell Cllr Rita Renton, Reigate and Banstead Cllr Richard Billington, Guildford Cllr Penny Forbes-Forsyth, Spelthorne Cllr Kay Hammond, Cabinet Associate for Community Safety Cllr Helen Clack, Cabinet Member for Community Services
Kaye Howick Jane Last, Programme Manager and Lead Manager for Community Safety and Partnership Jeff Harris, Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner for Surrey Gavin Stephens, Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Garath Symonds, Assistant Director for Young People Gordon Falconer, Community Safety Unit Senior Manager
Key points raised during the discussion: 1. The Chairman introduced the witness, Kaye Howick to the Committee. The Programme Manager and Lead Manager for Community Safety and Partnership explained that Kaye had written into the leader on her experiences of domestic abuse and working with agencies involved.
2. The Programme Manager and Lead Manager for Community Safety and Partnership introduced the report to Members of the Committee and explained that a domestic abuse strategy along with an action plan had been developed. The action plan was still in its early stages but focuses on key work activities up on to the end of 2014.
3. Kaye Howick spoke to Members of the Committee and described her experience of domestic abuse. She explained how she was helping with the freedom programme in Cobham and wants to make a difference in the lives of other women going through the same experience. Kaye explained that as a victim and now facilitator, there is no clear pathway for domestic abuse victims. It seems as if partners are not coherently working together. The freedom programme is currently running at the Oasis family centre in Cobham and the East Surrey Domestic Abuse Service (ESDAS) and gives victims the opportunity to learn more about domestic abuse. Kaye explained that she undertook the training for this programme and believes it should be made available out to professionals.
4. A Member of the Committee asked if there were any positive examples that had come out of the domestic abuse work. The Programme Manager and Lead Manager for Community Safety and Partnership explained that there was greater joint working between organisations as a result of the Rapid Improvement Event which was held in June 2012. There are currently talks for a multi agency safeguarding hub to be set up in the future. Where there are concerns over under reporting, campaigns have been launched to promote domestic abuse issues.
5. Another Member of the Committee asked if those people involved in DHRs were known to the service. The Temporary Assistant Chief Constable said that these individuals were often already in the system. The Programme Manager and Lead Manager for Community Safety and Partnership stated that in some cases some people are known and in other cases they were unknown. The Cabinet Associate for Community Safety commented that there seemed to be a gap in knowledge on domestic abuse and hence under reporting. Coming from a legal background, the Cabinet Associate for Community Safety explained that solicitors rarely reported ... view the full minutes text for item 4/13 |
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on 21 November 2013. Additional documents: Minutes: DATE OF NEXT MEETING The date of the next meeting is 28 November 2013.
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