To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from the Lead Member for Environmental Services.

To receive declarations of interests from Members of the Panel in respect of

any item to be considered at the meeting.

None.

To note the Part I minutes of the Crime & Disorder Overview & Scrutiny Panels held on the 21^st November 2017.

The Part I minutes of the meeting held on the 21 November 2017 were agreed as a correct record.

Cllr Werner mentioned that it was disappointing not to be discussing the Community Wardens paper at this meeting.

To comment on the report being considered by Cabinet on the 8^th February 2018.

Mark Lampard, Finance Partner - Corporate Services & Operations gave the Panel a presentation on the 2018/19 Budget. The main points of the presentation were as follows:

Key messages:

·         Lowest council tax outside of London

·         Resident parking remain free in contrast to neighbouring authorities

·         Keeping all 14 libraries open, some with increased opening hours

·         86% of schools in the Borough were good or outstanding

·         Maintained £330k grant funding to community organisations and increased support for the Citizens Advice Bureau

·         Inflation of RPI 3.9%

·         Indicative fees and charges increased by up to 3.9% or more where justified market benchmarks were higher

·         Increase in core council tax of 1.95%

·         Adult social care precept of 3% applied for the final year

·         Major Capital investment of £65m – due to the regeneration in Maidenhead

·         Ongoing programme of £5.4m savings and additional income

·         CCTV upgrade and expansion

·         Car Parking charges benchmarked and increased below the benchmark figure.  Advantage card holders will not pay any increase.

Annual Capital programme £7m net:

·         Replacement parking card equipment £775k

·         Commercial and operational estate repairs and maintenance £1.045m

·         Replacement equipment at Windsor Leisure Centre £540k

·         Dedworth Road £350k

·         New London Road roundabout £250k

·         Voluntary organisations grants maintained £200k

Capital investment net £65m net:

·         Braywick Leisure Centre £15.8m

·         Temporary parking facilities £10m

·         Schools expansions £4.9m

Cllr Werner informed that he was glad to see CCTV improvements included following the views of this Panel, that projected borrowing levels should be shown leading up to 2025 and that he could not see investment into community wardens.  Cllr Werner was disappointed that the warden report was not being considered at this meeting and recommended that a Task and Finish Group be established.

Parish Cllr MacDonald mentioned that it was said that advantage card holders would not be effected by the increased car parking charges yet there was no advantage card discount when parking in the Grove Road car park for over 4 hours.   The Panel were informed that advantage card tariffs would be introduced where they were not currently available.

Resolved unanimously: that the Panel unanimously endorsed the recommendations.

To comment on the report being considered by Cabinet on 22 February 2018.

David Scott, Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnerships introduced the Cabinet report regarding rough sleeping and anti-social behaviour strategy. 

The Panel were informed that the report sought to establish a Rough Sleeping Support and Antisocial Behaviour Strategy; to both strengthen the current offer of support afforded to those rough sleeping, and at the same time ensuring there are consequences for those who behave antisocially and or fail to engage with the support offered.

The strategy proposed a multi-agency approach to increase the support available to

include outreach workers, housing support officers and a team of enhanced

community wardens and a Make Every Adult Matter (MEAM) Coordinator, in addition to external partners including Thames Valley Police (TVP). The strategy being developed so that the benefits for the vulnerable individuals can be realised as soon as possible.

The challenge was that there were a range of individuals with complex needs that needed support as well as an increase in anti-social behaviour. There were also individuals entering the borough to take advantage of footfall in the borough.

An enforcement approach including Community Protection Notices (CPN) and a revised Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) would also be considered to back up the support being provided.  The role of community wardens would also be enhanced and the report recommended increasing fixed penalty notices to a maximum of £100.

The issues raised within the report had been discussed with other overview and scrutiny panels, in particular Corporate Services O&S Panel.  Over the last five months  a framework was put in place to help individuals with 1 to 1 support being provided.

In response to questions the Panel were informed that to introduce a new PSPO there would be a consultation period and that the proposed fixed penalty notices were not just for rough sleepers but for anti-social behaviour.

The Chairman informed that he had met with the chief constable and that he had been informed that aggressive begging would be dealt with.

Cllr Werner raised concern that the report had been circulated late, that there was insufficient evidence and that it lacked detail. There was no evidence of aggressive begging and was a concentration on homelessness. These people often had complex issues so he was pleased to see mental health was being looked at, however it was a concern that they could also be finned.

Cllr Quick mentioned that there had been concern raised about aggressive begging and questioned how we would be defining this and how it would be judged.  A lot of residents had contacted her with regards to the issues raised as well as concerns regarding security with bags being left on streets. 

Thames Valley Police informed that the Police had no powers to remove belongings left on the street.  Items could be removed from train stations as they were on private property. Counter terrorism does deem property left by the homeless to be a security risk.  With regards to aggressive begging evidence was required for convictions; we need to show that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 125.

Item withdrawn.

Item withdrawn.

·         Monday 16 April 2018.

It was noted that the next scheduled meeting of the Panel was 16^th April 2018.