Council and democracy

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1, Civic Offices, New Road, Grays, Essex, RM17 6SL. View directions

Contact: Charlotte Raper, Senior Democratic Services Officer  Email: Direct.Democracy@thurrock.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

29.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 104 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Cleaner, Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 6 December 2016.

Minutes:

The Chair commented upon the Grays Beach Report.  Councillor Jones had asked whether measures had been put in place to avoid similar problems in future and Members had been assured the Council would monitor the situation moving forward.  In light of recent events in Purfleet the Chair considered it to be appropriate that officers followed up with Anglian Water and continued the conversation regarding whether adequate measures were in place across the Borough.

 

The minutes of the Cleaner, Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 6 December 2016 were approved as a correct record.

30.

Items of Urgent Business

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

31.

Declaration of Interests

Minutes:

Councillor Piccolo declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of Item 5 – Update on Community Safety Partnership Hubs as he was a representative for the voluntary sector on the Community Safety Partnership

32.

Update on community safety partnership hubs pdf icon PDF 67 KB

Minutes:

The Head of Environment presented the report which had been requested by the Committee following the pilot of a community safety hub.  The report highlighted the strength of collaborative working currently undergone by the partnership, but outlined the benefits of a co-located hub.

 

The Chair thanked the Head of Environment for presenting the report and welcomed the move to a co-located hub as a principle as it would lead to increased communication, better decision making and the ability to achieve more across the groups involved.  He asked for assurance that the move was not about taking anything away from the service.  Members were assured that bringing the partnership together in one location would mean increased efficiency and the ability to respond more quickly as things occurred.

 

Councillor Jones agreed that the change was needed.  He asked whether a location had already been identified, and for elaboration on the phrase “costs being negotiated”.  The report alluded to 8 desks which had been identified within the Civic Centre.  When attempting to bring all the relevant parties together there would be cost implications, particularly as the Police required certain infrastructure, although it was thought they would be relatively small.  It could be that each of the partners would contribute towards what they required, but the Head of Environment would clarify outside of the meeting.

 

Councillor Collins expressed his appreciation for the work of the Community Safety Partnership Hub and echoed previous sentiments that a co-location would allow more effective and more rapid working.  He asked whether there was any idea of a date when the proposal would be fully operational.  A date was not yet available; the report sought a steer from the Committee as to whether they supported the change.  Councillor Collins asked, and the Head of Environment confirmed that it was now a matter of logistics more than overcoming problems.

 

Councillor Piccolo sought clarification on the wording of recommendation 1.2.  The Chair interjected that, following a previous discussion, the recommendation should be read that officers would progress plans with the Committee happy to approve them, with reference to an update to the Committee as the plan progressed.

 

Councillor Piccolo requested figures regarding paragraph 2.4 of the report, and also the figures for quarter 3 so Members could make a comparative assessment.  He noted that, in reference to paragraph 2.5 of the report, the fortnightly meetings were never attended by representatives from organisations such as Neighbourhood Watch and proposed they be invited from time to time to give an insight into residents’ perception of issues, regardless of the statistical data.

 

 

RESOLVED:

 

1)    That the Committee support the concept of a co-located community safety partnership hub.

 

2)    That the Committee work with Essex Police command team to agree a mutually suitable agreement.

 

The Chair reminded Members that this was the last scheduled meeting of the Cleaner, Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the municipal year and as such there was no work programme item listed on the agenda.  He outlined that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.