Issue - meetings

Briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Nilgun Canver, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Safer Communities.

The Committee received a briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Canver, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Safer Communities.

The importance of promoting good news stories about falling crime rates in the borough was emphasised; the Committee noted the work currently being done on this, and acknowledged that it was an ongoing process. Concerns were expressed regarding the reduction in the pooled treatment budget; it was reported that this was an issue the Council was continuing to lobby the Government on and the possibility of voluntary sector organisations continuing with some of the activities that would no longer be funded was being explored.

It was reported that the number of social clubs in Green Lanes remained constant, although the number of non-compliant, problem social clubs was very small and had fallen. The Committee noted the way in which these businesses were monitored, and welcomed the news that the borough’s methods for tackling problem social clubs had been short-listed for an LGC award.

The position regarding the Planning Enforcement Action Plan was clarified; it was reported that there was no current backlog of cases and that the remaining actions from the Action Plan were now being monitored by other management processes. Planning enforcement updates were provided regularly to both the Planning and Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

The Committee expressed concern regarding Police responses to reported burglaries; Cllr Canver agreed to raise this matter with the Borough Commander directly.

The Committee asked for an update on the protocol for using knife-detecting equipment in schools. It was reported that general guidance had been sent out to schools, and that schools were in the process of consultation on how they wished to proceed individually. Concern was expressed that it was not clear to schools that it was their responsibility as an individual school to determine their own procedures, and a briefing note to clarify the precise status of the guidance circulated to schools by the Council was requested. It was agreed that Felicity Kally would be provided with Youth Crime figures outside the meeting.

The Committee thanked Cllr Canver for her briefing.

RESOLVED

i)                    That the Committee be provided with a briefing note to clarify the status of the guidance circulated to schools in relation to the use of knife-detecting equipment.

ii)                  That the briefing and answers to questions be noted.