Issue - meetings

Please note that this item was deferred from the O&S Board meeting on 9 December 2024.

This paper sets out elements of development and delivery by the BCP Community Safety Partnership (CSP), ‘Safer BCP’ and its constituent agencies. It provides Members with an update since the last report to Overview and Scrutiny Panel in December 2023.

The Local Government Act 2000 includes crime and disorder scrutiny as one of the functions the council must ensure its scrutiny arrangements cover. Sections 19 and 20 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and related regulations require the Council to have a committee with the functions of reviewing and scrutinising decisions and actions in respect of the discharge of crime and disorder functions by “responsible authorities”. 

The specifics of the duty are set out in the Police and Justice Act 2006, which also allows members to refer any “local crime and disorder matter” raised with them by anyone living or working in their area, to the Crime and Disorder Committee. The Board designated as the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee must meet at least once every 12-month period to conduct the functions.

Guidance issued concerning how this role should be conducted include that:

•          the role should be one of a critical friend, providing constructive challenge at a strategic level.

•          the focus should be on the entire partnership and if issues arise that relate specifically to a particular partner agency, it may be more appropriate to refer such issues to the governing bodies of that organisation.

•          the scrutiny of partners should be “in so far as their activities relate to the partnership itself.”

In the BCP area, the Overview and Scrutiny Board undertakes this function each December.

The Portfolio Holder of Housing and Regulatory Services presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Public Report. This item was deferred from the O&S Board meeting on

9 December 2024.The paper set out elements of development and delivery by the BCP

Community Safety Partnership (CSP), ‘Safer BCP’ and its constituent

agencies. It provides Members with an update since the last report to

Overview and Scrutiny Board in December 2023.

The Local Government Act 2000 includes crime and disorder scrutiny as

one of the functions the council must ensure its scrutiny arrangements

cover. Sections 19 and 20 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and related

regulations require the Council to have a committee with the functions of

reviewing and scrutinising decisions and actions in respect of the discharge

of crime and disorder functions by “responsible authorities”.

The specifics of the duty are set out in the Police and Justice Act 2006,

which also allows members to refer any “local crime and disorder matter”

raised with them by anyone living or working in their area, to the Crime and

Disorder Committee. The Board designated as the Crime and Disorder

Scrutiny Committee must meet at least once every 12 month period to

conduct the functions.

It was reported there were lots of events organised around the town including 16 days of action and the white ribbon campaign.

The Board was advised that funding is a key issue the Community Safety Partnership face., Funding is going to arrive, although, there is no idea on when or how much will be coming.  Funding comes from the Home Office directly.  The Domestic Abuse fund had been approved.

As the representative from the Police was unable to attend the meeting a question was asked around crime reporting in the early hours which will be asked of the police and the answer will be passed onto the Board.

The Board congratulated the Community Safety Partnership on the valuable work they had done over the year.  The Board endorsed any efforts for the Community Safety Partnership to secure funding.

It was RESOLVED that:

i) Members note the progress of the Community Safety Partnership over the past year, to November 2024

ii) Members note the BCP Community Safety Partnership’s progress under the Serious Violence Duty which came into effect 31 January 2024

Voting: Unanimous

This paper sets out elements of development and delivery by the BCP Community Safety Partnership (CSP), ‘Safer BCP’ and its constituent agencies. It provides Members with an update since the last report to Overview and Scrutiny Panel in December 2023.

The Local Government Act 2000 includes crime and disorder scrutiny as one of the functions the council must ensure its scrutiny arrangements cover. Sections 19 and 20 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and related regulations require the Council to have a committee with the functions of reviewing and scrutinising decisions and actions in respect of the discharge of crime and disorder functions by “responsible authorities”. 

The specifics of the duty are set out in the Police and Justice Act 2006, which also allows members to refer any “local crime and disorder matter” raised with them by anyone living or working in their area, to the Crime and Disorder Committee. The Board designated as the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee must meet at least once every 12-month period to conduct the functions.

Guidance issued concerning how this role should be conducted include that:

•          the role should be one of a critical friend, providing constructive challenge at a strategic level.

•          the focus should be on the entire partnership and if issues arise that relate specifically to a particular partner agency, it may be more appropriate to refer such issues to the governing bodies of that organisation.

•          the scrutiny of partners should be “in so far as their activities relate to the partnership itself.”

In the BCP area, the Overview and Scrutiny Board undertakes this function each December.

Due to the number of items on the agenda and to allow sufficient time for consideration of time critical items it was agreed to defer further consideration of the report to the next scheduled Board meeting.