Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2018 were an accurate record and that they be signed by the Chairman. 

1.    In response to a question Mr Watts explained that inevitably extending the timetable of the Pupil Premium Select Committee had delayed the start of Social Isolation but everything possible was being done with the available resources to progress the Social Isolation Select Committee topic.

RESOLVED that:

-       the progress of the Select Committee on Pupil Premium be noted;

-       work begins to establish the Select Committee on Social Isolation in May 2018 and;

-       a timetable for the review be presented to the Scrutiny Committee at its next meeting for consideration and approval.

1.    Mr Hill introduced this item, he had been the Chairman of the Kent Community Safety Partnership since its inception in 2007.  Mr Hill explained that he had been very pleased with the progress of the Community Safety Partnership, it had run some excellent conferences, there had been some key achievements in Domestic Abuse and DHRs and the Community Safety Team had been integrated with Kent Police and Kent Fire and Rescue and was working out of one building. 

2.    Mr Peerbux, Head of Community Safety, KCC gave Members a presentation which is available online here. Members also heard from:

·         Chief Superintendent Tom Richards, Kent Police,

·         Chief Inspector Tim Cook, Kent Police,

·         Ian Thomson, Assistant Director, Kent Fire and Rescue Service

·         Jess Mookherjee, Consultant in Public Health, Kent Public Health. 

3.    The Chairman then invited questions from Committee Members.

4.    In response to a question Mr Richards explained that specialist tactical advice was available should a chemical incident occur. 

5.    Members discussed domestic abuse and the correlation between deprivation and domestic violence.  There was no doubt that there was a link between the two, however it was not as simple as a direct correlation.  Kent Police were working in partnership and there was a multi-agency team assisting people with drug dependence, housing issues and financial and benefit requirements.   

6.    A Member asked about Serious Organised Crime (SOC) and Gangs, Mr Richards explained that gangs were a significant priority for Kent Police and work was being done with families and schools.  In response to a question about the use of housing association properties by criminal families Kent Police explained that they worked closely with housing associations and that the Community Safety Partnerships worked hard with housing providers and had effective relationships.  Legislation provided local authorities with responsibilities to house people, particularly those with children.  It was considered that CCTV was an effective tool, it was used a lot in the UK but it needed to be a balance.  A Member explained that there would be a future briefing on Kent’s Gang Strategy to which all Members would be invited.

7.    In relation to road safety and lorries on Kent Roads, Mr Thomson explained that there was no evidence to show that the large numbers of lorries translated into accidents resulting in people being killed or seriously injured.  However, Kent was disproportionately affected by freight lorries and work was underway to influence driver behaviour.

8.    In response to a question Mrs Mookherjee explained that once drug users were identified they did have to give permission to be treated although if an individual was convicted they would have to have drug treatment.    Agencies worked together to ensure that individuals had the best chance of recovery. 

9.    In response to a question about Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) there was good coverage across Kent with a robust strategy.  This did not link to speeding enforcement, the technologies used were different and it was currently cost prohibitive to link the two issues.  There was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

That, under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED that under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

EXEMPT ITEM

(Open minute of exempt item)

RESOLVED that Members note the update provided by the Cabinet Member and Senior Officers on Property Income Management following the Governance and Audit Internal Audit Report.