Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the Meetings held on Wednesday, 14^th and 28^th October, 2015 (previously circulated). 

The Minutes of the meetings held on 14^th and 28^th October 2015 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record. 

The Chairman declared an interest in respect of the Work Programme Report (minute 45 refers) relating to bus fares for over 16 year olds. 

It was noted that there had not been any requests for items to be considered in accordance with the Councillor Call for Action process.

It was noted that there had not been any requests for items to be considered in accordance with the Consideration of Petitions process.

Members were advised that the County Council was reviewing 3 Tier Forums, however there was currently no outcome to the review. 

Report of the Chief Officer (Environment). 

Issues included in the Committee’s Work Programme to be discussed at the meeting :

·         Update on the impact of the new Anti-social Behaviour Act 2014 on Ridge Square. 

·         Reviewing the City Council’s contribution to PCSOs and the provision received. 

·         Vandalism issues within City Council Parks. 

·         Safety on the Cycle Track. 

The Chairman welcomed Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Safety and Clean & Green and the Chief Officer (Environment) to the meeting.

The Chief Officer (Environment) gave the Committee an overview of the work undertaken by the Community Safety Partnership within the district. Members were given details of the structure of the Lancashire wide Community Safety Strategy Group which produced the Lancashire Community Safety Agreement 2014-16 which had been approved by Council the previous year.

The priorities set out for Lancashire were:

·         Anti-Social Behaviour

·         Child Sexual Exploitation

·         Domestic Abuse

·         Road Safety

·         Violent Crime

Each Community Safety Partnership agreed its own priorities for the district, the priorities for this area being:

·         Domestic Abuse

·         Substance Abuse

·         Road Safety

·         Violent Crime

·         Anti-Social Behaviour

These differed slightly from the pan Lancashire priorities as they were based on evidence and statistics specific for the district. 

A note had been provided by the Police on PCSOs prior to the meeting. 

It was noted that provision for the PCSOs was not included as part of the budget and if Members wished to continue this funding would have to be found from elsewhere, or compensatory savings found. 

The Committee went on to discuss CCTV that was provided by the City Council.  It was reported that the current system was in need of replacement and the City Council would have to decide, through the budget process, if it should be replaced and funding for it supported for future years. 

It was agreed that the Committee receive an update on CCTV at its January meeting, with further background information to include the latest proposals and position of other Lancashire councils. 

With regard to vandalism in local parks, Happy Mount Park was highlighted as vandalism had cause damage earlier in the year.  It was suggested that the community could get involved policing the park after hours.  The Chief Officer (Environment) raised concerns about the insurance and safety implications of this but welcomed the opportunity to work with the community in other ways.

Members went on to discuss safety on the cycle track which had been considered as an issue earlier in the year.  It was felt that the track was an excellent facility, however there were areas that could be considered by some as unsafe to the user. 

Resolved:-

(1)          That the report be noted. 

(2)       That the Committee receive an update on CCTV at the January meeting with further background information to include the latest proposals and position of other Lancashire councils. 

Cabinet Member with responsibility for:

·         Community Safety

·         Clean and Green

The Cabinet Member is also invited to discuss the potential for a Task Group to investigate Litter in the District.

Councillor Smith has been invited to the meeting. 

Councillor Smith gave the Committee an overview of his portfolio, namely Community Safety and Clean & Green.  As Community Safety had been covered in the previous minute, Councillor Smith focused on Clean and Green. 

Members were advised that an ongoing issue was that, as budgets were reducing, there was more pressure on the service in terms of refuse collection and recycling as there were so many new houses being built within the district. 

The Committee went on to discuss litter and how it was dealt with within the district.  Historically, there had been issues with litter on land that did not belong to the City Council but was owned and was the responsibility of other organisations. 

An informal Task Group had previously looked at the issue of litter.  It was agreed that this information would be circulated to Members of the Committee. 

With regard to waste collection and recycling it was reported that the City Council would lose £1.2 million from 2018/19 that came from Lancashire County Council via the cost sharing agreement.

Resolved:-

(1)       That Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Safety and Clean & Green and the Chief Officer (Environment) be thanked for their attendance at the meeting. 

(2)       That the information from the former informal Task Group, which had previously considered the issue of litter, be circulated to Members of the Committee. 

Report of Chief Officer (Governance). 

Members considered the Work Programme report.  A briefing note detailing the mileage and number of journeys between Lancaster and Morecambe Town Halls had been circulated to Members of the Committee prior to the meeting.  It was noted that the Budget and Performance Panel had discussed Business Travel Plans at its last meeting and it was suggested and agreed that the issue of car journeys be referred to the Budget and Performance Panel for consideration of any efficiencies and savings that could be made. 

It was reported that the Managing Director of Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire had agreed to attend the Committee meeting on 27^th January 2016 to discuss bus fares for school children aged over 16.  It was agreed that the Bus User Group be invited to the meeting. 

The Committee went on to discuss the possibility of a Task Group to consider the night time economy in Lancaster and Morecambe.  It was agreed that Members interested in the Task Group would meet with officers to scope the Task Group and report back to the Committee, if possible, at its December 2015 meeting. 

It was then suggested that a further Task Group should be scoped to investigate promoting the local economy.  It was agreed that this would be reported back to the Committee, if possible, in January 2016. 

Resolved:-

That the actions, as set out above, be agreed.