Places Scrutiny Panel – 11 July 2011

PRESENT:  Councillor T Foster in the chair.

Councillors Davison (Vice-Chair), Armitage, Clark, Collinson, England and Ogg.

Councillors Glover, Marper, Rowson and Whiteley attended the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 1.37 (b).

The panel met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.

12  DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – There were no declarations of personal or personal and prejudicial interests.

No whip was declared. 

13  MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of this panel held on 13 June 2011, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and signed by the chairman. 

14  PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAKThere were no requests received.

15  (5)  SAFER NEIGHBOURHOODS BUDGET 2011-2012 – The Chairman welcomed Stuart Minto, the council’s Assistant Director Community Safety and Ian Welch, the council’s Deputy Head of Safer Neighbourhoods to the meeting. The Assistant Director delivered a presentation providing members with an overview of the partnership; an update on crime performance and work on going to tackle anti-social behaviour; substance mis-use; offender management; Neighbourhood Action Teams and an update on the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.

Following the presentation, the Chairman facilitated a discussion between the members and the Assistant Director and Deputy Head of Safer Neighbourhoods.

Resolved – That the presentation be received with thanks.

16  CO-ORDINATION OF THE NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK – Further to Minute 10, the Chairman invited the Assistant Director Community Safety to elaborate on why he suggested that the members added the ‘co-ordination of the North Lincolnshire Neighbourhood Watch Network’ to its work programme. The Assistant Director informed members that following the demise of the Humberside Association of Neighbourhood Watch Groups (HANWaG) in December 2010 with the council now taking over the management of Neighbourhood Watch locally, it was now an opportune time to independently review how the service was operating and if it was fit for purpose.

The chairman then facilitated a discussion on the merits of conducting a review into the ‘co-ordination of the North Lincolnshire Neighbourhood Watch Network’.

Resolved – That members commence a review into the ‘co-ordination of the North Lincolnshire Neighbourhood Watch Network’.

17  VISIT TO SAFER NEIGHBOURHOODS – The chairman enquired with the Assistant Director Community Safety when it would be convenient for members of the scrutiny panel to visit Safer Neighbourhoods at Shelford House.

Resolved – (a) That the Assistant Director Community Safety forward convenient dates and times for the visit to Safer Neighbourhoods to the Director for Corporate and Community Services, and (b) that the Assistant Director Community Safety and Deputy Head of Safer Neighbourhoods be thanked for their attendance and for answering members questions.

18  VISIT TO HUMBERSIDE PROBATION TRUST – The chairman informed the members that the Director of Probation had invited panel members to their Park Square Offices on Laneham Street, Scunthorpe on Tuesday 26 July 2011. The visit would consist of a light lunch, followed by a tour of the premises and numerous presentations on the work of the Trust. All members were invited.

Resolved – That members confirm with the Director of Corporate and Community Services whether they are able to attend the visit to Humberside Probation Trust.

19  (6)  THE DECLARATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE COUNT FOLLOWING THE DISTRICT ELECTION AND NATIONAL REFERENDUM HELD ON THURSDAY 5 MAY 2011 – The Director of Corporate and Community Services circulated a scrutiny brief for the review, draft questionnaires for elected members and those employed by the council to administer the count and a copy of the Electoral Commission guidance on administering the verification and count for members discussion and agreement.

The chairman then invited comments from members on all the aforementioned documents.

Resolved – (a) That the questionnaires be amended, incorporating all the comments made at the meeting, (b) that the questionnaires be re-circulated to all members electronically once amended for any comments, (c) that once amended, the questionnaires be circulated to all elected members, candidates, election agents and all staff employed by the council to work on the count on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 May 2011, (d) that the scrutiny brief be approved, (e) that the questionnaire responses be considered by the panel at its meeting on 5 September 2011, and (f) that following a unanimous agreement of the members, a special meeting of the panel be called on Monday 12 September 2011, commencing at 2.00 pm to enable the stakeholder interviews to be held.

20  POLICE REFORM AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BILL – The Director of Corporate and Community Services updated the members on the developments in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

21  DEVELOPMENTS LOCALLY – UPDATE – The Director of Corporate and Community Services updated members on some key developments locally.

Resolved – That the situation be noted.

22  ADDED ITEM – There was no added item for consideration at the meeting.