Meeting documents

To receive a Community safety Accreditation Scheme presentation.

The PAG received a PowerPoint presentation from Superintendent Hitch regarding the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS), through which persons working in community safety type roles undertake training to aid the police in tackling low-level crime and disorder.

The CSAS permits these persons to be given targeted police powers to cope with instances such as anti-social behaviour, disorder and nuisance. The 'Accredited Persons’ (APs) can also act to inform the police of issues within the local community, including littering, underage drinking and graffiti. 

The presentation further detailed to the PAG the incidents that APs would be able to deal with, alongside their Accredited Powers, which included Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs), and gave examples of Police forces who had already implemented the scheme, and the differences in their implementation of it.

During a question and answer session members indicated that there were a number of areas (e.g. dog fouling, obtaining names and addresses, drinking in designated places) where participation in the Scheme and use of targeted powers would be of benefit to the Council and residents.

Following the advice of the PAG, which supported the Scheme in principle, the Portfolio Holder asked for a further report detailing how the Scheme could be developed in SBDC and the costs.

To receive the minutes of the PAG from the 3 December 2015.

The minutes of the PAG held on 3 December were agreed.

Mr Pepler circulated at the meeting a report of the meeting of the Bucks Healthcare Trust he had attended on 25 November 2015.

To consider the report of the Head of Healthy Communities.

The PAG received a report providing an update on issues falling within the Healthy Communities Portfolio.

During the discussion the PAG particularly noted the following:

·         Shared Housing Service: The intention to submit a report to a future meeting of the PAG on housing following the Member Workshop on 3 February 2016.

·         Affordable Housing: The decision to allocate £235K from the commuted sums to facilitate the provision of 12 affordable rented properties on the STG site, Taplow.

·         Licensing: The intention to submit a report to Licensing Committee on 23 March 2016 on a draft taxi and private hire policy.

·         Environmental Health: following a question regarding the Food Hygiene Scoring system Members were advised that premises are assessed and if found to be poor are subject to support and assistance or enforcement action. Following a poor rating a premises owner may request a repeat Food Hygiene Scoring after 3 months

·         Community Safety: Whilst South Bucks remains a very safe place with low levels of crime there had been an increase in crime for the rolling 12 month period with burglary dwelling crimes up 7% and non-dwelling crimes up 8%. Thefts from vehicles were however down 9%.

To consider report of the Director of Services.

The PAG received and considered a report seeking authority to carry out a mechanical, electrical and structural survey at the Beacon Sports Centre and Theatre.

The last survey of the Beacon Centre was carried out in June 2006, and as South Bucks District Council was responsible for the external maintenance of the Beacon Centre, a survey would enable staff from GLL and SBDC to develop a joint maintenance plan.

The survey would also facilitate future capital budget preparation for any maintenance works, thereby reducing unexpected maintenance issues. The estimated cost for carrying out the necessary structural survey is between £20k and £30k, Tenders would l be sought by the Property and Contracts team in accordance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules. 

Having considered the advice of the PAG, which supported the proposal, the Portfolio Holder has AGREED in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation to Cabinet Portfolio Holders, that a mechanical, electrical and structural survey of the Beacon Sports Centre and Theatre be carried out at an estimated cost of £30k - to be met from the capital budget.

To consider report of the Director of Services.

Councillor Walters declared a personal interest in this matter – being a representative on Padstones – but had left the meeting by the time the report was considered by the PAG.

Councillor Pepler declared an interest in this matter, being a trustee of the Burnham Youth Centre.

The PAG considered a report detailing the requests for subscriptions and donations received from community organisations for financial year 2016-17, alongside the sums requested.

The proposed budget for Subscription and Donations in 2016/2017 is £31,680, and with £8,708 having already been designated for the Bucks Infrastructure Contract (approved by members on 3^rd March 2015), £22,972 remained for allocation to the voluntary and community sector organisations. The amount requested from the Subscriptions and Donations budget totalled £64,841.98 from 18 applicants. The funding recommended in the report, having regard to the Council’s funding criteria and priorities, totalled 22,850.

Members of the PAG noted that the application from each community organisation had been reviewed, and that the recommended levels of funding were based on how the application met the funding criteria, how it benefitted the community, and whether it met the Council’s priorities, in conjunction with the strategy recommended by the PAG as set out in paragraph 4.2. In accordance with practice, funding is awarded ahead of the financial year in order that the community and voluntary groups can plan for a full year of service.

During the discussion the PAG asked that in future the comments of members should be included in the report without attributing names.

Following the advice of the PAG, which supported the recommendations in the report, the Portfolio Holder has agreed in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation to Cabinet Portfolio Holders that grant payments be made to the following community organisations in financial year 2016-17 in the sum stated:

None.