Places Scrutiny Panel – 20 February 2013
PRESENT: Councillor T Foster in the chair.
Councillor Whiteley attended the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 1.37 (b).
The panel met at the Civic Centre, Scunthorpe.
235 DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – There were no declarations of pecuniary or personal and prejudicial interests.
No whip was declared.
236 MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of this panel held on 30 January 2013, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and signed by the chairman.
237 PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAK – There were no requests received.
238 (27) POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER FOR HUMBERSIDE – POLICE AND CRIME PLAN – Further to Minute 233, the Director of Policy and Resources circulated the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioners draft Police and Crime Plan for April 2013 to March 2017. The plan was currently out for consultation, and the Commissioner was inviting as many interested groups as possible to comment on the document.
Following the previous meeting of the panel, the Police and Crime Commissioner had been invited to attend and discuss his plan. However, due to the Commissioner’s diary commitments, he was unable to attend. The Commissioner did, however, agree that Mr Neil Kingston, Deputy Chief Executive of the Police and Crime Commissioners office, would attend the meeting to discuss the Plan.
Mr Kingston guided members’ through the Plan, before the Chairman invited panel members to question the Deputy Chief Executive of the Police and Crime Commissioners office on the plan.
Resolved – (a) That members’ comments on the plan made at the meeting be incorporated into a formal response to the Commissioner; (b) that once the Police and Crime Panel signs off the Plan, panel members’ receive the final version of the document, and (c) that Mr Kingston be thanked for his attendance, presentation and for answering members’ questions.
239 DOMESTIC ABUSE IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE – The Chairman welcomed Stuart Minto and Debbie Winning to the meeting, the council’s Head of Safer Neighbourhoods and Domestic Violence Strategy Manager respectively. Mr Minto and Mrs Winning had been invited to discuss the domestic abuse service in North Lincolnshire following the former Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny Panel review into domestic violence – service provision and areas of vulnerability.
Mr Minto and Mrs Winning guided members through the current service, identifying particular strengths and weaknesses of the service and any areas that the scrutiny panel could assist Safer Neighbourhoods.
The Chairman then facilitated a discussion between the panel and the Head of Safer Neighbourhoods and Domestic Violence Strategy Manager.
Resolved – (a) That the position be noted, and (b) that Mr Minto and Mrs Winning be thanked for their attendance, presentation and for answering members’ questions.
240 (28) NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE – The Director of Policy and Resources circulated the Executive’s action plan in response to the panel’s report into ‘neighbourhood watch in North Lincolnshire’. The Head of Safer Neighbourhoods was in attendance to answer members’ questions on the progress being made in implementing the action plan.
Mr Minto guided members’ through each action in turn, before responding to questions.
Resolved – (a) That the progress on implementation of the action plan be noted; (b) that the action plan be re-visited in April 2013 once all actions had been implemented; (c) that the Assistant Director Legal and Democratic Services be invited to attend the panel meeting on 13 March 2013 to discuss the implications of the Data Protection Act on the action plan, and (d) that the Head of Safer Neighbourhoods be thanked for his attendance, presentation and for answering members’ questions
241 ADDED ITEM – There was no added item for consideration at the meeting.