Meeting documents

Venue: The Paralympic Room - AVDC. View directions

Contact: Chris Ward; Email: cward@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 84 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 2018.

Minutes:

RESOLVED –

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 2019 be approved as a correct record.

2.

Community Safety Update and Annual Plan pdf icon PDF 124 KB

For Members to consider the attached report.

 

Contact officer: Chris Oliver 01296 585005

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report which informed Members of current crime levels, a summary of activity on the delivery of the Aylesbury Vale Community Safety Partnership (AVCSP) Plan 2018/19 and also updated on some of the recent and future changes taking place in connection with community safety. In summary, total recorded crime for the year to date showed an increase of 3% which equated to an increase of 318 crimes, as compared with the same period 2017/18. This upward trend was in keeping with national statistics which had increased for the second year running. The report detailed completed activities from the AVCSP 2018/19 action plan and provided an update on legislation relating to anti-social behaviour (ASB) intended to deter offending that impacts communities. There was also a table that provided year to date figures of crime categories and the percentage increase/decrease when compared to the same point last year.

 

Violent crime was of particular national interest currently and recent homicides amongst younger people involving knives had prompted debate on police resourcing and cuts to Local Authority spending. The incidence of knife crime in Aylesbury Vale remained low. However the exploitation of young people in dealing and handling illegal drugs was of concern. There had been an increase of domestic homicide of one compared to last year. In such cases, the Community Safety Partnership would conduct a Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) to investigate the circumstances of the deceased prior to their death. This review process was outlined in the report. There were currently three DHRs in progress with a fourth set to conclude and report to the Home Office. The cost and administrations of DHRs were covered by AVDC, with some funding secured through the PCC’s annual community safety grant, however the administration had utilised considerable officer time. The cost of each DHR was a minimum of £6,000 and it was noted that the number of concurrent reviews was unprecedented locally.

 

AVDC’s partnership working with the police and the Community Safety Partnership continued to focus on organised crime and a TVP initiative called Operation Stronghold. This initiative aimed to achieve better knowledge sharing and suitable resourcing to disrupt and prevent the work of organised crime gangs and provide safeguarding to the innocent victims caught up in the middle. Burglary to homes and thefts from work vans were often products of organised crime groups. It was felt that a recent seizure of two containers full of stolen power tools had made a huge impact and led to a temporary reduction in this crime type. Modern slavery remained a focus and a joint initiative called Hotel Watch had proven successful to raise awareness amongst staff and managers in premises that may be used to commit exploitative crimes against young people. There was also a focus on Hate Crime which was being addressed by a new Interfaith Network made up of representatives from nearly all recognised religions groups in Aylesbury Vale. At a recent breakfast meeting hosted at the Gateway, the groups acknowledged that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Safeguarding Report pdf icon PDF 51 KB

For Members to consider the attached report.

 

Contact officer: Chris Oliver 01296 585005

Additional documents:

Minutes:

An internal audit had been carried out on AVDC’s safeguarding policies and procedures. Since then, officers had been working to highlight the responsibility officers and members had in relation to Safeguarding. New, mandatory training had been rolled out to officers, with completion pushing 90%, and Members had received a presentation at full council in 2018. Since the training’s introduction, referral numbers had increased. The training had also included the waste crews as they visited every household across the Vale. 

 

Officers also recommended that a new Modern Day Slavery statement be adopted by the council and publicised. The statement also included procurement in relation to contractors and service providers. Where the council awarded a new contract for goods services or works in which there was a significant risk of modern slavery abuse, AVDC would seek reassurance that the contractor had policies, procedures and training in place to detect and deter such abuse. There was a risk assessment process relating to larger contracts included within the procurement process. Officers advised that the statement had been drafted diligently and so that it could be followed rather than be a token gesture. The full safeguarding policy and full statement on modern day slavery were included in the report pack.

 

Following the officer presentation, Members sought more information and were advised that:-

 

        i.        TVP carried out operations and investigations of businesses that may be linked to modern slavery such as car washes and nail bars. An operation had recently been carried out in Milton Keynes in late 2018 regarding car washes. The CSP were aware of potential public concerns about certain industries but did want to know any specific cases that individuals could refer.

 

Members were supportive of the safeguarding policy and the modern day slavery statement and had no further comments to add.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the Committees comments be noted and referred to Cabinet for consideration.

4.

Thames Valley Police LPA Commander Annual Update pdf icon PDF 49 KB

For Members to consider the attached report and presentation at the meeting,

 

Contact officer: Will Rysdale - 01296 585561

Minutes:

Thames Valley Police were a key partner in the Council’s joint working including the Aylesbury Vale Community Safety Partnership. Thames Valley Police Superintendent Tim Metcalfe, the Local Police Area Commander Aylesbury Vale, attended to update the Committee on the last year’s local police operations and provide an overview on current and future priorities.

 

April – June 2018 had been a busy quarter for TVP with various events including the Royal Wedding in May and the visit of President Trump. Officers had been deployed from Aylesbury and Buckingham to Windsor and London. The quarter had also seen the carrying out of Operation Armenia which was targeting drug dealing. After considerable covert activity, there were six arrests, one kidnap victim rescued and one kidnap victim safeguarded. Weapons were also recovered and a vast amount of evidence was gathered. All six arrests were charged and given considerable custodial sentences. The Superintendent commented that the Vale was safer without these individuals in public. The quarter also touched on youth knife crime in Aylesbury in relation to the Walton Road attack in June 2018. This had received national media coverage; it was noted that the perpetrators were youths outside the education system.

 

The quarter July – September 2018 saw the carrying out of Op Advance in August which related to drugs in Southcourt. 22 street dealers were arrested in five days with the suspects having links to Birmingham. This operation was still ongoing. TVP Aylesbury Vale posted updates on social media regarding the operation which had been received positively by residents.

 

In the quarter October – December 2018 there had been cases of murder in Maids Moreton and attempted murder on North Drive, Aylesbury. Burglary enforcement was also highlighted and various cases were touched upon in Buckland, Wendover, Cheddington, Ivinghoe Aston and Stewkley. An arrest of three people in November 2018 was linked to total of 367 burglaries nationally. Burglary was often driven by substance abuse and the cases discussed by the Superintendent for this quarter were from perpetrators living outside the Vale which was an example of cross-border activities. The borders between Bedfordshire and Northants were common areas of movement. The Superintendent also updated Members on convictions for violence and GBH in this quarter. Drugs, gangs and vehicle theft interventions were also discussed. The interventions were often proactive police work.

 

The Superintendent touched upon engagement activity and the power of social media to reach out to people. Posting updates on activities were received positively by residents and had the ability to reach tens of thousands of people. An example was provided whereby one TVP Aylesbury Vale post engaged with 22,427 people and was reached by 72,188 people. March 2019 had seen the carrying out of Rural Crime Week whereby TVP organised events in communities in Northants, Bed/Herts/TVP Eastern Borders, Winslow, Buckingham, Haddenham, Long Crendon and Waddesdon.

 

A performance summary 2018-19 showed that:

 

·         All recorded crime in Aylesbury Vale had increased 3% compared to 10% increase in TVP

o   Within that, victim based crime  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Work Programme

To consider the future work programme. Meetings are scheduled as follows:-

 

25 June 2019:                        BCC Highways update

                                                HMO Licensing

                                                Leisure Supplementary Guidance

Car Parking Strategy for Buckingham, Winslow & Wendover

 

24 September 2019:              Update on Housing & Homelessness Strategy 2019-                      2022

Built Facilities Strategy

 

3 December 2019:                 No items as yet

 

Members have expressed an interest in the following coming to Committee:

 

·         Aylesbury Garden Town update

·         Update on HS2 infrastructure work

Minutes:

The Committee considered the work programme that had been included on the agenda. Members saw merit in an enforcement update coming to committee which should also include information from the Environment team regarding fly tipping following the charges introduced at County household recycling centres. It was felt December would be a suitable time for this update.

 

The Committee were advised that a final report on would VAHT be scheduled into the work programme.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the work programme be noted.