Agenda and minutes

Councillor Cherry Beath took the Chair for this meeting due to absence of Councillor Robin Moss.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Democratic Services Officer will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 6.

Councillors Robin Moss had sent his apology to the Panel.

Councillor Andrew Furse has sent his apology to the Panel.  Councillor Katie Hall was substitute for Councillor Furse.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest,  (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officer before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

The Chair informed the meeting that members of the public and Councillors may ask their questions to Sue Mountstevens (Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner) after the introduction of agenda item 8 (Annual Report of the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner).

The Chair informed the meeting that two members of the public will address the Panel at this stage of the meeting with their statements.

The Chairman invited Lin Patterson, from Save Our Larkhall Public Toilets group, to address the Panel with her statement.

Lin Patterson read out the statement where she asked the Panel to agree that closing public toilets, without the viable alternative, is seriously reducing quality of life for some people and it is outing the community in the risk of economic deterioration.

Lin Patterson also said that there is currently no alternative provision for public toilets in Larkhall and may it not be by April 2014 (the new date for closure).  The Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) from September 2012, section 1.3 states that there will be provision where there is no provision.  Weston toilets will remain open until an alternative is agreed so why the same doesn’t apply to Larkhall.

Lin Patterson concluded her statement by highlighting the impact on the economy and potential increase in crime if the toilets in Larkhall are closed. The Save Our Larkhall Toilets group members spoke at six committees in two weeks and felt that they were fobbed off.  Lin Patterson said that the campaign to save the toilets will escalate with 534 residents so far signing the petition.

A full copy of the statement from Lin Patterson is available on the Minute Book in Democratic Services.

The Chair thanked Lin Patterson for her statement.

The Chair said that the statement will be passed to the relevant Cabinet Member for consideration.

The Chairman invited Susan Charles (Honorary Chair of the Access BANES Group) to address the Panel with her statement.

Susan Charles explained that she was speaking on behalf of the Access BANES Group with the request for a support that the disabled access to the rear of Keynsham Leisure Centre be reinstated.

Susan Charles said that she received officer’s response that no access will be provided until the new leisure centre is built.  Susan Charles said that response was not good enough considering that the current access is not adequate for people with disabilities and also there are no parking spaces agreed. 

Susan Charles concluded her statement by saying that she contacted the Divisional Director for Environmental Services on Tuesday 16^th July with her concerns and asked the Panel for the support on this matter.

A full copy of the statement from Susan Charles is available on the Minute

The Chair thanked Susan Charles for her statement.  The Chair expressed her hope that Susan Charles will receive a response from the Divisional Director soon.  The Chair also said that the Panel will consider this issue at their meeting in September 2013 when Leisure Strategy is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

To confirm the minutes of the above meeting as a correct record.

The Panel confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting as a true record and they were duly signed by the Chair.

The Panel are asked to consider the report from Sue Mountstevens (Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner).

The Panel and the public will be invited to an open question and answer session after the introduction of the annual report.

The Chair welcomed Sue Mountstevens (Avon and Somerset Police and crime Commissioner), Daniel Howitt (Planning and Performance Officer for Police and Crime Commissioner) and Simon Ellis (Chief Inspector for bath and North East Somerset) to the meeting.

The Chair invited Sue Mountstevens to take the Panel through her report.

Sue Mountstevens thanked the Chair and the Panel for an invite to this meeting.  Sue Mountstevens explained that Daniel Howitt is here to answer some planning and performance questions and Simon Ellis for operational questions.

Sue Mountstevens took the Panel through the report by highlighting the following points:

INTRODUCTION

Sue Mountstevens provided an overview of her work since being elected as Avon and Somerset’s first Police and Crime Commissioner in November 2012.

While the Chief Constable retains operational independence of policing, the Commissioner’s new role has responsibility for:-

More specific duties set out by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 include:-

ACTIVITY TO DATE

Issuing the Police and Crime Plan –

• Based on extensive consultation with communities
• This led, alongside a partnership assessments of issues, risks and threats led to four force wide priorities being identified:-
  • Anti-social behaviour
  • Domestic and sexual violence
  • Burglary
  • Putting victims at the heart of the CJ system

• Six local authority level plans were published, which included the first Police and Crime Plan for BaNES.
  • This set out What the police and crime objectives mean for the people of BaNES and how local people can get involved in supporting the plan.  It also included the locally-specific priorities of road safety, and improving police accessibility.

• The Commissioner also set performance aspirations as part of the plan to improve year on year and be a top ten performing force across all of the priority areas by 2017. More specifically, the Commissioner aims to improve:-
  • Victim satisfaction for ASB and the proportion of cases fully resolved
  • Reported domestic and sexual violence
  • Detection rates for serious sexual violence and burglary
  • Burglary reduction
  • Victim satisfaction and criminal justice outcomes

In her first six months in office, the Commissioner has also:-

• Set the police budget
• Appointed Chief Constable Nick Gargan
• Established a Business Crime Forum to give businesses a voice in policing and share best practice
• Issued Community Safety, youth offending and drug intervention grants and made preparations for the commissioning of local victim services from October 2014.
• Launched a Community Action Fund of £200,000 in 2013/14 which grants community projects with up to £5000 to tackle local issues related to the plan.  There have already been 50 applicants in quarter 1.
• Listened extensively to communities through consultations and ‘out and about’ events  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

The report illustrates the extent and nature of domestic violence and abuse within Bath and North East Somerset.  It sets out the main aims of the Domestic Violence and Abuse Profile and what this means for Bath and North East Somerset Council and the Community Safety Partnership.

The Panel will receive a presentation on the 2012-2013 Domestic Violence and Abuse Profile, involving a clear analysis of data assembled from various agencies and key services. There will also be an opportunity to hear about the work of the Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs), working in and with our communities to support victims and families.

The Panel will be invited to an open question and answer session at the end of the presentation.

The Chair invited Sue Dicks (Community Safety Manager) and Natalia Urry (Research and Intelligence Officer) to give their presentations to the Panel.

Natalia Urry gave her presentation ‘Domestic Violence and Abuse Profile’ (attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes) where she highlighted the following points:

·  Domestic Violence and Abuse (DV&A) definition

·  Overall rates and trends

·  Abuse characteristics (including the map with the number of domestic abuse related calls received by the police per 1000 of the population in B&NES  from April 2010-October 2012 by Ward)

·  Offender profile

·  Victim profile

·  Understanding and recording domestic abuse

Sue Dicks gave her presentation ‘Behind Closed Doors’ (attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes) where she highlighted the following points:

·  Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVA) – what they offer?

·  IDVA in B&NES

·  Southside – helping local people in their communities

·  Future plans

·  Number of agencies/organisations involved in helping victims

·  What the victim thinks initially?

·  Lisa’s story – short video from the Southside project

·  Tina Nash’s case

·  Domestic abuse has a lifetime impact on children

·  Some common Myth busters

·  What was learned? What is the Community Safety doing about it?

·  Diagram of organisations involved

·  Community Safety Partnership

·  Support contacts

The Chair thanked Sue Dicks and Natalia Urry for their presentations.

The Panel made the following points:

Councillor Katie Hall mentioned that in Hackney there was afternoon session with the GPs to train them in recognising the signs of DV&A.  Councillor Hall asked if that is something that this Council could pursue.

Natalia Urry responded that the example from Hackney is from the same IDVAs project, pilot that is set up in Hackney and Bristol.  Natalia Urry said that she is in contact with some of the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) members on this matter and also there will be report presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) in November.

Sue Dicks added that there is on-going training with the GPs on DV&A.

Councillor Hall asked if the AWP have their information on DV&A.

Natalia Urry responded that the AWP may do have information on DV&A though getting that information from the GPs is difficult and takes quite long time.

Councillor Hall asked what specific action/s could be taken to reduce the abuse of elderly and people with disabilities.

Sue Dicks replied that this issue is part of the Adult Safeguarding Board remit which will be linked with the Health and Wellbeing Board work.

Sue Mountstevens suggested the following actions to be considered by the Council:

·  Council to look into having some sort of DV&A co-ordinator at A&Es.  This has been done is some parts of the country and it would be useful to separate couples in situations where DV&A was apparent.

·  Sue Mountstevens will have a meeting with the AWP Chief Executive on Monday 22^nd July so she could ask about the information on DV &A that they have.

·  Council to check if all their schools have secure emails.  The reason for this is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

This report presents the latest workplan for the Panel (Appendix 1).

It was RESOLVED to note the workplan with the following amendments:

·  Alcohol Strategy to be removed from the workplan as it will presented to the Wellbeing PDS Panel in September.