Agenda and minutes

Please note that this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method. Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting. Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on. 

By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

The chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

The Chair referred Members present to agenda Item 1 as shown on the agenda in respect of filming.  Members noted the information contained therein.

An apology for absence was received from Mr Sygrave.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of urgent business (late items will be considered under the agenda item where they appear. New items will be dealt with as noted below).   

None.

None.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Part 4, Section B, Paragraph 29 of the Council’s Constitution.

None.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of 26 June 2017.

Panel Members requested that the further information regarding responsibility for the removal of abandoned bicycle parts from cycle stands that had been circulated following the last meeting of the Panel be re-circulated.

In respect of the review of the services commissioned from Kingdom, as referred to under item 11 (Cabinet Member Questions), the Panel noted that this would be looking, amongst other issues, at the type of fines levied.  The services that they provided were separate from the Council’s enforcement function.   In respect of item 12 (Waste, Recycling and Street Cleansing Data) Panel Members also requested information on what the level of recycling would be had there not been an increase in the number of loads rejected.  Councillor Ahmet, the Cabinet Member for Environment, stated that it was undoubtedly a contributory factor in targets not being met and agreed to obtain further information for the next meeting.

AGREED;

1.    That further information about the impact of change in government regulations regarding contaminated loads on the Council’s recycling performance be circulated to the Panel; and

2.    That the minutes of the meeting of 26 June 2017 be approved.

An opportunity to question the Cabinet Member for Communities, Councillor Eugene Ayisi, on developments within his portfolio.

Councillor Eugene Ayisi, the Cabinet Member for Communities, reported on developments within his portfolio as follows:

·         Consultation had taken place on proposals in respect of the Police estate.  As part of this, it was proposed that that there would no longer be a Police contact centre in the west of the borough, However, there would still be a 24 hour presence at Tottenham Police station.  The proposal had been discussed at the Community Safety Partnership and there had also been a public meeting to receive the views of local residents.   Concerns had been expressed regarding the visibility of the Police but an average of only 1.5 crimes were day were currently reported to Hornsey Police station.  By contrast, approximately 34 crimes per day were reported at Tottenham Police station.  The way that people reported crime had changed and people now tended to telephone.  In addition, they could now report on-line.  Police officers would soon also be able to input crime data directly into the system without the need to return to the Police station.  Maintaining the physical space would cost the borough 8 Police officers.  There was a need to communicate the new arrangements effectively to residents.  A range of public spaces could also be used to increase the visibility and accessibility of the Police;

·         In respect of the voluntary sector, there had been a meeting of relevant community organisations last November.  Good progress had been made since then and there was now greater clarity regarding where decisions were made.  As a result of this, community organisations could now bid more confidently for grants and could operate more strategically;

·         On 30 November, the annual Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) White Ribbon Day would take place.  Men were a key component of the work to prevent VAWG as they were often the perpetrators and therefore needed to take ownership of the issue.  The aim of White Ribbon Day was to highlight the issue, particularly within organisations;

·         Communities had highlighted the need for young people to have somewhere to go in order to divert them from anti-social behaviour.  The proposal to develop a Youth Space could provide an opportunity to address this as part of an improved offer for youth within the borough;

·         In response to the terrorist incident that had occurred in Finsbury Park, the Faith Forum was being launched and work was being undertaken to develop resilience within communities.

In answer to a question regarding the large increase in gun crime within the borough and its relationship to young people, the Cabinet Member reported that similar increases had been reported across London.   The issues that could lead to gun crime started from a young age and early intervention could assist in addressing them.  A high percentage of young people who became involved in knife crime had been exposed to domestic violence.  They could also be coerced into crime.  There had been a stripping out of services for young people in the past few years.  Work was taking place with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

To consider and comment upon the following:

·         Crime Performance Statistics in respect of Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC)  priority areas plus commentary on emerging issues; and

·         Hate crime statistics for the borough.

Mr Malcolm reported that the funding available from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime to fund work to address priority crimes would be reduced from £781k in 2017/18 to £518k in 2018/19.  This currently financed a range of programmes within the borough.  In terms of performance in the past year, the increase in total notifiable offences had been slightly higher than the average for London and was higher in the east of the borough. 

There had been a significant increase in hate crime.  It was thought that this had been influenced by the Brexit vote as well as recent terrorist incidents.  Increases in the rate of reporting were nevertheless welcome as they could demonstrate a greater level of confidence in the response to crimes.  There was particular under reporting of homophobic crimes and it had been estimated that only 1 in 5 offences were reported nationally.   Whilst there had been no increase in anti-Semitic offences reported, it was possible that this was due to under reporting. 

The Cabinet Member for Communities commented that there were concerns regarding Islamophobic crimes against women, who were more visibly Muslim and therefore more likely to be victims.  However, engagement with them in order to provide support and reassurance was not always easy.

Christina Andrew, Strategic Lead for Communities, reported that those hate crimes that were reported were likely to be just a fraction of total offences.  Work was planned to improve levels through hate crime awareness.  In particular, an event was being planned that would be aimed specifically at women. 

Ms Haines commented that the Police viewed the increase in reporting of hate crime as positive.  It was bigger than the London average and could show that the level of under reporting in Haringey was not as great as elsewhere.  An Engagement Officer from Counter Terrorism was now working within the borough and was undertaking work to develop third party reporting. 

A Panel Member commented that statistics that showed trends over a period of time would enable Members to make a clearer judgement regarding progress. Statistical changes were not necessarily always significant as there was an in-built degree of variability.   Ms. Haines agreed to take this issue back for further consideration with partners. 

In answer to a question, Ms Haines stated that there had been successful prosecutions of people for hate crimes in the borough.   Perpetrators were being caught and charged but more work was needed to keep the local community informed.  She did not have access to data on detection rates but could bring such information to a future meeting.

Mr Malcolm reported that there had been a 32% increase in personal robbery, which was above the average of 29% for London.  Much of this had been due to theft of mobile phones.  Young knife injury victims had reduced by 12.4%, compared to a London wide increase of 14.7%.  There had been an increase of 220% in firearm discharges.  These had mainly occurred in the east of the borough. There also had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

To receive an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the Panel’s review on community safety in parks.

Simon Farrow, Highways, Parking, Parks and Open Space Manager, reported on progress with the implementation of recommendations from the Panel’s review on community safety in parks as follows:

·         Crime in parks had not increased, although there had been issues at Ducketts Common.  This had now been addressed, although there was some evidence of it being displaced to Finsbury Park;

·         As part of the changes brought about by the Council’s new branding, new signage had been introduced including emergency contact information;

·         It had not been possible for the Police to establish a team of Special Officers to patrol in parks due to budget cuts.  Additional Police patrols had taken place in Finsbury Park though.  Action had been taken in parks by the Police to tackle dumping and rough sleeping, especially in the Paddock.  These actions had also involved the Council and other partners;

·         In terms of vehicular access, a lot of work had been undertaken in Finsbury Park.  Traffic was now segregated and there was now a curfew before and after school.   New powers were awaited that would allow enforcement without parking bays. There were currently issues with cyclists not observing speed limits when crossing the park;

·         The locking of parks was still being considered.  There were also issues in respect of deterring access by groups of travellers that needed to be addressed;

·         Work was taking place on Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO), which were felt to be a more effective means of enforcement than replacing antiquated by-laws;

·         Unlawful camping and rough sleeping were still issues for the borough.  In addition, there were also concerns regarding travellers entering parks and commercial waste dumping.  These could be very costly for local authorities to deal with;

·         Community payback was now being used extensively in Haringey; and

·         There was a strong relationship with Friends groups and a number of new groups had been established.  The had played an important role in maintaining and developing facilities in parks.

Mr Malcolm reported that Enfield had obtained a three year green space preventative injunction that provided a faster mechanism to move Travellers on.  The use of PSPOs was also being looked at.  Mr Farrow commented that even if parks were unlocked, they still needed to be made secure.

In respect of litter in parks, this was costing circa £250k per year.  There had been issues with bins being full.  Larger compacting bins that could hold six times more waste were being brought in.  These would include sensors that would indicate when bins were full.  Education, information and enforcement were also being used.  If the amount of litter could be halved, this would be enough to pay for 5 additional gardeners. 

To receive an update on financial performance relating to Corporate Plan Priority 3. 

Funmi Olagbaiye from Corporate Finance reported that there was currently an overspend of £1 million relating to the budget for Priority 3 of the Council’s Corporate Plan and efforts were being made to mitigate this.   There were particular issues with parking income due to the temporary move of Tottenham Hotspur to Wembley Stadium, which had caused a shortfall in income from parking penalties.  In addition, the move to cashless parking had not delivered the savings anticipated.   Despite this, £2.5 million of savings had been delivered.  In terms of capital, there was a £2.1 million underspend relating to the refurbishment of CCTV cameras, which was to be deferred to 2018/19.   Despite the overspend, there was nothing within the plan for the year that was severely off track or unachievable.

To consider appropriate conclusions and recommendations for the Panel’s review on street sweeping.

The Panel considered the evidence that had been received to date as part of the review on street sweeping.  It was felt that a greater degree of flexibility was needed within the contract in order to ensure that there was a consistent level of cleanliness across the borough.   A needs or outcome based model might therefore work better than rigid schedules, which did not appear to be working everywhere.  This needed to be underpinned by a guaranteed level of cleanliness for all areas with robust monitoring to ensure that this was taking place.  In addition, the greater use of machinery should also be considered.

AGREED:

That the Panel recommend that a more flexible system of street sweeping be established, underpinned by a minimum standard for all streets, and that the greater use of machinery be considered.

To consider and comment upon the latest update of the Panel’s workplan for 2017/18.

AGREED:

That the work plan for the Panel be approved.