Agenda and minutes

Noted.

None.

(1)   The notes of the meeting held on 26 September 2011 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

(2)   The Partnership noted that the matter of representation on behalf of social landlords was still being pursued.

Action: Jim Parris

(3)   The Partnership noted that a report would be brought to the next meeting  on the outcome of the joint working group which had been tasked with drafting a funding mechanism to ensure appropriate resourcing of IDVA services and also to look at issues regarding location and management of those resources.

Action: Stuart Beaumont/Jim Parris

 Report by Stuart Beaumont, KCC Head of Community Safety and Emergency Planning

(1)   This report summarised performance to date in relation to the priorities and cross-cutting themes identified in the Kent Community Safety Agreement for 2011-14.

(2)   During the course of discussion Partnership members highlighted that, whilst this reporting should not become overly complex, it is linked to the monies available to support this work and so it is important to have a mechanism for measuring progress against the identified priorities, particularly in the context of the incoming Police and Crime Commissioner and future scrutiny of the role of the Partnership and the Community Safety Team.

(3)   The Partnership AGREED the format and content of the appended performance monitoring report, and NOTED progress against the identified priorities.

Report by Stuart Beaumont, KCC Head of Community Safety and Emergency Planning

(1)   This report provided an update on the delivery of Domestic Homicide Reviews across Kent and Medway, the financing of the review process and associated governance arrangements, and sought Partnership approval of a draft review report and a cross border action plan relating to a review completed by East Sussex County Council.

(2)   During the course of discussion Partnership members were particularly concerned about longer term funding arrangements for these reviews, and it was agreed that there would be further discussion at future Partnership meetings on this. There had still been no response from the Home Office on this issue, and one suggestion was to engage local MPs to keep the debate going over the true cost of these reviews.

(3)   The Partnership AGREED the following recommendations from paragraph 9 of the report (such agreement to include approval of the specific recommendations contained in paragraph 4 of the DHR1 Rochester review report (appendix A)) :

·        NOTE that a pooled budget has been established for delivering Domestic Homicide Reviews

·        NOTE that a small pool of suitably qualified independent chairs has been established to service Domestic Homicide Reviews over the forthcoming months

·        NOTE the progress being made on the five Domestic Homicide Reviews that have been commissioned

·        APPROVE the DHR1 Rochester review report (Appendix A) to enable the report to be forwarded to the Home Office for approval. (this to include APPROVAL of the specific recommendations made in paragraph 4 of the DHR1 Rochester review report )

·        APPROVE that NHS Kent & Medway and KCC Families and Social Care be asked to devise action plans to meet requirements highlighted as part of the East Sussex Safer Communities Steering Group Domestic Homicide Review (Appendix B)

Report by Kent Community Safety Team

(1)   This report was accompanied by a short presentation from Stuart Beaumont, and outlined the roles and responsibilities of the Police and Crime Commissioners and Police and Crime Panels. The report recommended that the Kent Community Safety Team be tasked with drafting a range of options to ensure positive relationships and engagement with these new bodies, for consideration by the Partnership at the next meeting in July.

(2)   During discussion it was highlighted that the first shadow meeting of the Police and Crime Panel had been intended for March but no arrangements were in place.

Action: KCC Democratic Services

(3)   Partnership members were concerned that there needs to be clarity about the mandate of the Police and Crime Commissioner so that the Partnership can feed into this and ensure that their products are commissionable. As the person who will support the new Police and Crime Commissioner, Graham Hooper reassured the Partnership that all emerging thinking around the Police and Crime Commissioner will be shared with the Partnership, and highlighted the need for constant dialogue with him over the coming months. 

(4)   Stuart Beaumont advised the Partnership that he would be happy to take this report to the Criminal Justice Board, and any other Boards, but that there was time to bring a final report back to the Partnership in July for approval before doing so.

(5)   The Partnership AGREED that the Kent Community Safety Team should be tasked with looking at the specific matters raised in paragraph 5.3 (a-f) of the report as follows, and to report back to the Partnership at the next meeting in July:

(a)  evaluate the partnership-working arrangements in Kent & Medway, with a view to simplifying and if necessary, streamlining the existing complex partnership structures in order to provide a single access point for engagement for the PCC

(b)   initiate a joint communications campaign on behalf of all Kent CSPs to ensure PCC candidates are aware of CSP’s capabilities, achievements, priorities and planning cycles.

(c)    produce a welcome pack of information relating to community safety for the PCC

(d)    the development of a joint commissioning framework across the force area

(e)    design a single, joint strategic assessment or force wide summary document– considering partnership priorities, and the potential involvement and interests of the PCC

(f)    Identify how CSP scrutiny and PCPs will relate to each other and to ensure they do not duplicate each other’s work

Action: Kent Community Safety Team

Report by Meradin Peachey, KCC Director of Public Health

(1) This report provided a summary of current and future NHS structures and health issues relating to the agenda of the Partnership, and describes both the public health and NHS health service issues affecting both victims and perpetrators of crime and the changes to the commissioning architecture that may impact on the community.

(2) The Partnership NOTED the report.

Report by Angela Slaven, KCC Director of Service Improvement

(1)   This report was provided to the Partnership for information having previously been presented to the Kent Drug and Alcohol Action Team Board on 19January 2012. The report detailed progress in relation to the retendering of substance misuse services across the Kent prison estate, Dover Immigration Removal Centre and Rochester Prison on behalf of Medway Council.

(2)   The Partnership NOTED the report.

Report by Angela Slaven, KCC Director of Service Improvement

(1)   This report was provided to the Partnership for information having been presented to the Kent Drug and Alcohol Team Board on 18 October 2011 where the Board had agreed to the implementation of a Drug testing on Arrest pilot in Thanet.

(2)   The Partnership NOTED the report.

Report by Chief Superintendent Steve Corbishley, Kent Police

(1)   This report summarised the challenges faced, and partnership arrangements, in relation to the continued provision of public safety CCTV systems in Kent.

(2)   During discussion Partnership members highlighted the key issue of maintaining investment when full costs have to be met locally. There was reference to examples set in Sussex and Rotterdam, and also confirmation that formal partnership arrangements were now in place between Medway, Gravesham and Maidstone as referred to in paragraph 2.6 of the report.

(3)   The Partnership NOTED the report and AGREED that an update report should come back to a meeting later in the year.

Report by Chief Superintendent Steve Corbishley, Kent Police

(1)   This report provided details of 2012/13 Policing Plan measures and targets.

(2)   The Partnership NOTED this report.

(1) Sarah Billiald advised the Partnership that a report will be tabled at the July meeting regarding reducing re-offending.

Action: Sarah Billiald

Tuesday 3 July 2012 - 2pm, Darent Room, Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone.