Meeting documents

To receive a presentation from Francis Habgood - Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police

Councillor H Wallace arrived during this item at 6.38pm.

 

The Chairman welcomed and introduced Francis Habgood, Chief Constable and Yvette Hitch, Chiltern & South Bucks Local Police Area Commander.

 

The Chief Constable attended the meeting to provide a presentation to members on the current performance and strategic objectives of the Thames Valley Police; while providing members with the opportunity to raise questions on the work of the Police.

 

The Chief Constable provided a detailed and informative presentation which outlined the following key areas:-

 

Thames Valley Police commitment:

·       An emergency service that keeps people safe and brings offenders to justice

·       Working together to build stronger, more resilient communities

·       A modern police force that meets the needs of our communities

·       A skilled and trusted workforce

 

Priorities for 2016/17 - Operational

·       Cut crimes of most concern

o   Burglaries, Violence, Rural Crime, Serious and Organised Crime

·       Protect Vulnerable People

o   Repeat victimisation of domestic abuse, response to hate crime, CSE, FGM, HBA, FM

·       Bring offenders to justice

o   Quality of files

·       Reduce repeat demand

 

Chiltern priorities

•        Burglary (dwelling) remains a high priority

•        Supporting the aging population

•        Rural Crime

•        Street Triage

•        Early Help Panels

•        Op Garrison

 

The Chief Constable invited questions from Councillors; and the following questions were received:

 

Councillor Graham Harris

“In view of the cuts to the police budget, what will be the shape of policing in the Chiltern area after March 2017 and will the present level of neighbourhood policing be maintained?”

 

The Chief Constable responded that it was key to invest in neighbourhood policing and build community resilience.  A priority was to continue to seek the most effective way to use resources.  The budget for 2017/18 was not yet confirmed but the police would need to continue to make savings and invest in technology.                                   

 

Councillor Peter Hudson

“Chiltern District Council was currently reviewing its fixed CCTV provision and recognised the need to work in partnership with the police to secure the best provision. The review had identified the need to access information locally, to aid district investigations as to enviro-crime as well as to support police investigations. This required the modernisation of the CCTV provision and a move away from fixed CCTV locations to more mobile and flexible CCTV systems.

 

Are there opportunities to extend the TVP wide review of CCTV to include the procurement of CCTV surveilance equipment at a local level and consider the advantages of the economies of scale?“    

 

The Area Commander responded that this work supported the work of Op Garrison and the police continued to work with partners to ensure fairness of funding, location of cameras and maximising technology was maintained to assist the police and other bodies.        

 

Councillor Caroline Jones

“The Council and Thames Valley Police had over many years worked to improve community resilience and communication through holding community events, supporting neighbourhood meetings, and working with minority groups to ensure inclusion and their participation in community activities.  In view of the nationally reported heightened tensions around racism and xenophobia and hate crimes, had there been a reported increase locally and what joint activities could be undertaken to address this?”                                                                                           

 

The Chief Constable responded that four cases had been identified locally of hate crime that were linked to the result of the EU Referendum.  The aim of the police was to build resilience to stop hate crime taking place and to develop a zero tolerance of this behavior.

 Councillor Peter Jones

“I have been very impressed with the "You Said, We Did" section of the Chesham NHPT Neighbourhood Policing Newsletter. A recent newsletter highlighted that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) was to be utilised around many of the villages and key roads, and that this operation will continue over the forthcoming months. At this early stage, what effects have been noticed from this scheme?”

The Chief Constable responded that he was pleased with the visability and the effectiveness of the use of ANPR cameras.  The Area Commander added that a really good network was building up with signage and improved links with neighbouring counties through use of technology.  It was reported that this project had resulted in 3,000 vehicle hits of which 82 vehicles had been of interest and 20 had led to information on crimes.

 

Councillor Jane Macbean

“With increasing concerns over gun crime and serious incidents what is the policy on responding to reported incidents, in terms of speed and force of response and community reassurance? “

 

The Area Commander responded that sufficient resources were available across the County, with officers carrying tasers and due to the heightened terrorist threat there was sufficient resources to deal with local issues and potential terrorist issues.

 

Councillor Don Phillips

“With integrated joint working between agencies there will be an opportunity to dispose of capital assets. Would TVP consider opportunities to work in partnership to ensure partner’s priorities, such as the delivery of affordable housing, which would also be of benefit the wider community safety agenda and obtain the best outcome for the community? Could TVP consider adopting a policy when disposing of assets to developers, that the sale must to deliver a significant percentage of affordable housing?”

 

The Area Commander explained that there were strict rules in respect of disposal of property but where possible development opportunities were considered, but this was under the remit of the Police & Crime Commissioner.

 

Councillor Heather Wallace

“What are the causes of the increased violent crime that is impacting on the district and what partnership arrangements can be undertaken to reduce such crime?”

 

The Chief Constable responded that Chiltern area did not have a hot spot of night time economy and large volume of crime was due to domestic violence.  The Area Commander added that the police continued to work with crime partnerships and had recently employed a Domestic Abuse Officer which was part funded by the District Councils and the police.

 

Councillor Fred Wilson

“Is there an issue in respect of radicalisation in the Chiltern area?”

 

The Area Commander responded the current threat around terrorism did raise some concern in respect of radicalisation but the police worked with the Channel Panel which was a multi agency group that deployed intervention methods when there was a risk or actual radicalisation.

 

The Chairman thanked the Chief Constable and Area Commander for the informative presentation and responses to the questions presented to them.

 

To present the Leofwine Shield to Gordon Patrick, Chairman of Chalfont St Giles Parish Council on behalf of Chalfont St Giles village. The Shield is awarded annually to the Town or Parish Council in Chiltern District achieving the highest mark in the Best Kept Village Competition. Chalfont St Giles is the 2016 winner.

 

The Chairman was pleased to present the Leofwine Shield to Parish Councillor J Bradley, representing Chalfont St Giles Parish Council, in recognition of Chalfont St Giles’ achievement of obtaining the highest marks in Chiltern District in the Best Kept Village Competition.  Councillor J Bradley thanked the Council for the award.

 

To approve as a correct record and to sign the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 12 July 2016.

The Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 12 July 2016 were approved as a correct record.

 

To receive any announcements from the Chairman, Cabinet Leader or the Head of Paid Service.

(a)       Chairman’s Engagements

 

A list of Engagements carried out by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Council between 12 July and 8 September 2016 had been circulated. 

 

(b)       Chairman’s Announcements

 

The Chairman announced that she had purchased a DVD for each of the Parish Councils in Chiltern District Council area which was titled County at War and proved an informative history of the County.  The DVD’s would be circulated to Parish & Town Councils.

 

(c) Announcements from the Leader of the Cabinet

 

The Leader of the Cabinet had no announcements to make.

 

(d) Announcements from the Head of Paid Service

 

The Chief Executive had no announcements to make.

 

(e) Petitions

 

No petitions were submitted.

 

Consideration was given to the report arising from the Democratic and Electoral Services Shared Service Review.

 

It was moved by Councillor M J Stannard, seconded by Councillor I A Darby and

 

RESOLVED -

 

That the Minutes and Resolutions of the Joint Committee held on 2 August 2016 be received and approved as follows:

 

i)       That the case for a Shared Democratic & Electoral Service is proven, and that both Councils should proceed to establish a Shared Democratic & Electoral Service;

 

ii)    That, subject to consultation with staff and a formal agreement between the Councils, the services of staff in Chiltern District Council’s Democratic and Electoral Service be put at the disposal of South Bucks District Council under Section 113 of the Local Government Act 1972 so they can work across the two local authority areas; and

 

iii)  That the Acting Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Leader and Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to finalise the terms of any legal documentation required to give effect to recommendation 2 above.

 

 

The Planning Committee, at the meeting held on 18 August 2016, considered a report relating to an application for Listed Building Consent to replace a section of Council-owned damaged brick boundary wall to the front of the public conveniences’ in High Street, Chalfont St Giles.  In accordance with the Council’s Constitution the Planning Committee was required to consider the application and make a recommendation to Council where applications relate to Council owned land.

 

Having noted that no new points of objection had been received during the advertisement period it was moved by Councillor D W Phillips, seconded by Councillor A J Hardie and

 

RESOLVED -

 

That  consent be granted for Application CH/2016/0949/HB subject to the 4 conditions set out in the Head of Sustainable Development’s report to  the Planning  Committee held on 18 August 2016

 

To receive and consider the recommendations of the Cabinet for the meeting held on 6 September 2016 and to receive questions and answers on any of those recommendations in accordance with Rule 8 of the Procedural Rules.

At the meeting of Cabinet held on 6 September 2016, approval was sought to increase the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) capital programme for 2016/17 to meet increased demand.

 

It was moved by Councillor G K Harris, seconded by Councillor C J Jackson and

 

RESOLVED -

 

That the Minutes and Resolutions of the Cabinet held on 6 September be received and the recommendations contained in Minute   be adopted as follows:

 

i)       That the Council’s contribution to the overall Disabled Facilities Grant capital programme be increased to £100,000 enabling a funded programme of £546,000 to be delivered in 2016/17;

ii)    That the Capital Programme be further increased to reflect any additional funding received via the Better Care Fund; and

iii)  That, subject to annual review, the Council, increased its contribution to the annual Disabled Facilities Grant programme to £100,000 per annum to meet future demand.

 

To receive and consider reports from the Cabinet Leader, Cabinet Members or Chairman of a Committee and receive questions and answers on any of those reports in accordance with Rule 9.1 of the Procedural Rules.

a) Councillor I A Darby - Local Government Review

 

Councillor Darby reported that Bucks County Council had published a draft report on proposals for Local Government Review in Buckinghamshire.  The Buckinghamshire District Councils ere also producing a report which would be available shortly.  In response to a question from Councillor Berry, Councillor Darby advised that a budget of up to £50K had been allocated to assist with the work on the Local Government Review report.

 

b) Councillor I A Darby. - Parliamentary Boundary Review

 

Councillor Darby reported that the Boundary Commission had recently published a report for consultation on proposals for change to Parliamentary Boundaries across the country.  This did have implications for Chesham and Amersham constituency and if members wished to have further information to consult the Boundary Commission website https://www.bce2018.org.uk/

 

c) Councillor P E C Martin - Local Plan

 

Councillor Martin reported that on the progress of the Local Plan timetable to date and forthcoming consultation events.

 

Councillor Wertheim left the meeting at 7.40pm

 

d) Councillor M J Stannard - Chiltern Pools

 

Councillor Stannard reported that the consultant appointed to review the future leisure provision in the Chiltern areas has been requested to report to the next Leisure Members Working Group meeting on 19 October 2016.  In response to a member’s question, Councillor Stannard reported that any firm plans on replacement of a pool were still at consultation stage.  The minutes of the working group meeting were available to Councillors if requested.

 

e) Councillors N M Rose and J L Gladwin - HS2

 

Councillor Rose and Gladwin reported a brief update on the progress of HS2 with relevant organisations and HS2 Limited.

 

f) Councillor D W Phillips - Affordable Housing Member Working Group

 

Councillor Phillips reported that good progress was being made with discussions through the Affordable Housing Member Working Group and all members were invited to attend the next meeting of the Working Group on Monday 3 October if they wished to.

 

 

To receive questions and answers of the Cabinet Leader, Cabinet Members or Chairman of a Committee (if any) in accordance with Rule 9.2 of the Council Procedure Rules.

To receive questions without notice from any Member of the Council to the Cabinet Leader, Cabinet Members or Chairman of a Committee (if any) in accordance with Rule 9.1 of the Council Procedure Rules.

 

There were no questions without notice.

 

To receive petitions and/or deputations (if any) from members of the public including provisions allowing members to ask questions of clarification at the discretion of the Chairman and restrictions on deputations covering the same subject or by the same speakers.

There were no petitions submitted.

 

To receive reports about and receive questions and answers relating to any joint arrangements or external organisations.

No Motions had been received.