northlincs.gov.uk

PRESENT:  Councillor T Foster in the chair.

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

Councillor Whiteley attended the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 1.37 (b).

The panel met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.

58  DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – The following members declared personal interests –

No whip was declared.

59  MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of this panel held on 31 October 2011, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and signed by the chairman.

60  PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAK– There were no requests received.

61  (15)  TREES AND WOODS AND THE WORK OF THE WOODLAND TRUST – The Chairman welcomed Nick Sandford, Regional and Local Government Officer and Liz McLelland, Regional Development Officer from the Woodland Trust to the meeting.  In addition, Tim Allen, Environment Team Manager for North Lincolnshire Council was also in attendance.  Nick, Liz and Tim had been invited to the meeting to deliver a short presentation on the policies of the Woodland Trust, their “Trees or Turf” report and the forthcoming Jubilee Woods project.

The representatives of the Woodland Trust explained that they were seeking community involvement in a host of projects for 2012.  The highlight of 2012 was the Queen’s Jubilee project, which would see six million trees planted by over two million people across the United Kingdom.

Locally, the Woodland Trust would like schools, community groups and local organisations to assist in planting trees.  Schools could apply for up to sixty trees to plant within their boundary.  These were accessible via the Woodland Trust’s website.

Following the completion of the presentation, the Chairman invited members of the panel to put questions to the representatives of the Woodland Trust and the council.

Resolved – (a) That the presentation be received with thanks, (b) that the Chairman write to all Headteachers in North Lincolnshire encouraging them to take up the Woodland Trust’s offer of free trees to be planted in their grounds, (c) that a similar presentation be delivered to the Town and Parish Council Liaison meeting in early 2012, and (d) that Nick Sandford and Liz McLelland from the Woodland Trust and Tim Allen from the council be thanked for their attendance and for answering members questions.

62  CABINET MEMBER AND SERVICE AREA PRIORITIES – The Chairman welcomed Councillor Briggs and Peter Williams to the meeting, the council’s Cabinet Member for Asset and Estate Management and Sport, Leisure and Culture and Director of Infrastructure Services respectively.  Councillor Briggs and Mr Williams had been invited to the panel meeting to update members on any key decisions, important business or key developments which had occurred during the last quarter.

Discussion centred around the following –

•  Forthcoming council review of Leisure Services
• The Pods
• The opening of the Baths Hall including recruitment of staff

Resolved – (a) That the council’s Director of Infrastructure Services and Cabinet Member for Asset and Estate Management and Sport, Leisure and Culture be thanked for their attendance, oral update and for answering members’ questions; and (b) that the findings from the Leisure Services review and opening of the Baths Hall be presented to this scrutiny panel for information.

CO-ORDINATION OF THE NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK – The Chairman welcomed the council’s Director of Corporate and Community Services, Assistant Director Community Safety and the Head of Crime Reduction, Safer Neighbourhoods to the meeting to discuss the panel’s review into the ‘co-ordination of the North Lincolnshire Neighbourhood Watch network’.

Members engaged in a discussion with the officers on the number, success and merits of Neighbourhood Watch in North Lincolnshire, as well as seeking clarification as to whether they could have access to the contact details of co-ordinators in individual wards.

63  Resolved – (a) That the Director of Corporate and Community Services, Assistant Director Community Safety and the Head of Crime Reduction, Safer Neighbourhoods be thanked for their attendance and for answering members questions, (b) that the responses be noted, and (c) that the Chairman and Vice-Chair meet the Assistant Director Democratic and Legal Services to clarify the implications of the Data Protection Act with regards to Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators contact details.

Members then engaged in a discussion on the panel’s proposed questionnaire to be circulated to all Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators.

64  Resolved – That consideration and submission of the questionnaire be deferred until after the Chairman and Vice-Chair have met with the Assistant Director Democratic and Legal Services.

65  SUBSTANCE MIS-USE – PERFORMANCE – The Chairman invited the Assistant Director Community Safety to update members on the performance of the substance mis-use division of Safer Neighbourhoods in relation to benchmark authorities and all Community Safety Partnerships in the country.

Following the oral presentation members questioned the Assistant Director on the performance statistics.

Resolved – That the update be received with thanks.

66  FEAR OF CRIME IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE ACTION PLAN – The Chairman questioned the Assistant Director Community Safety as to the progress being made in drafting an action plan in response to the review undertaken by the former Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny Panel.

Resolved – That the Assistant Directors Community Safety and Communications respectively be invited to a future meeting to guide members through the Fear of Crime in North Lincolnshire action plan.

67  (16)  POLICE REFORM AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BILL – The Director of Corporate and Community Services updated members on the developments in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill, paying particular attention to the recently published Local Government Association and Centre for Public Scrutiny guidance on Police and Crime Panels as well as Local Government Briefing Note 73/2011 on Police Reform and Social Responsibility.

Resolved – That the guidance and briefing note be noted.

68  DEVELOPMENTS LOCALLY – UPDATE – The Director of Corporate and Community Services updated members on some key developments locally, including recent reports considered by Humberside Police Authority Policing Committee.

Resolved – That the update be noted.

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