Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors W H Gray and K E Lee.

It was reported that, under Regulation 13 of the Local Government (Committee and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 that Councillor N Sear had been appointed as the replacement member for Councillor W H Gray, for this meeting only.

Apologies for absence had also been received from Councillor Mrs Sue Woolley, (Executive Councillor for NHS Liaison, Integrated Care System, Registration and Coroners) and Martin Samuels, (Executive Director – Adult Care and Community Wellbeing).

No interests were declared at this point in the proceedings.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 30 January 2024 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

No announcements were received from the Chairman, Executive Councillors or Chief Officers.

(To receive a report from Jade Thursby, Domestic Abuse Business Manager, which provides the Committee with an update on progress made in the last two years of the Domestic Abuse (DA) Strategy 2021-2024, the duties introduced by the DA Act 2021, and the key areas of focus for the DA in the next 12 to 18  months)

SITTING AS THE CRIME AND DISORDER SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

Consideration was given to a report from the Domestic Abuse Business Manager, which provided the Committee with an update on progress made in the last two years of the Domestic Abuse Strategy 2021-2024, the duties introduced by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, and the key areas of focus for the Domestic Abuse Partnership in the next 12 to 18 months.

The Committee noted that it was the intention to develop and publish a new strategy in January 2025 to reflect the priorities for the Domestic Abuse agenda in Lincolnshire for 2025-2028.  It was noted further that this strategy would be a collaborative approach with all partners being engaged in the process and that an engagement plan would be developed to ensure that key stakeholders were driving this agenda forward.

During discussion of this item, some of the following comments were noted:

·       Confirmation was provided that information was shared in a sensitive way through the Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Partnership. It was noted the information normally would be shared with the Domestic Abuse Strategic Group and then information would be shared at an operational level where it was needed.  The Committee noted that the partnership also looked at police and health data.  There was however recognition that access to data could be improved;

·       That the strategy needed to refer to male genital mutilation.  Officers agreed to add this to the policy and for it to be included in the strategy when it was republished in 2025;

·       The Committee was advised that the recommission of safe accommodation would be looked at with partners, as part of the needs assessment. It was noted that six new ‘Move on’ units had been introduced in the last two years;

·       It was reported that on occasions for safety reasons, families were moved out of county.  It was however noted that such a move would be dependent on the wants of the person/family;

·       Some concern was expressed that domestic violence appeared to be increasing.  It was however highlighted that through the work being carried out by the partnership, there had been an increased awareness of the different types of domestic abuse.  It was noted that the increase in the number of incidents did not present a positive picture, but it was felt that the increase was due to better reporting and that by knowing this more was able to be done to support individuals;

·       That female genital mutilation (FGM) was included within the report as it was part of the national definition of domestic abuse.  It was noted that in Lincolnshire FGM and the processes were monitored through the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership.  Reassurance was provided that processes were in place regarding the reporting of FGM.  Officers agreed to work with the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership regarding the reporting of this matter to the Committee going forward;

·       The Committee was advised that there was appropriate safe accommodation in Lincoln, which was undergoing some refurbishments at present.  It was noted that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

(To receive a report from Zoe Walters, Business Manager, Safer Lincolnshire Partnership and Angela Nauth, Serious Violence Coordinator, Safer Lincolnshire Partnership, which provides the Committee with an introduction to the application of the Serious Violence Duty (2022) in Lincolnshire)

The Committee considered a report which provided an introduction to the application of the Serious Violence Duty (2022) in Lincolnshire.

The Chairman invited the Business Manager, Safer Lincolnshire Partnership to present the item to the Committee.  The Serious Violence Coordinator, Safer Lincolnshire Partnership was also in attendance for this item via Teams.

The Committee was advised of a broad range of activities that were taking place across the county to address the issues of serious violence.  It was noted that learning from the comprehensive needs assessment had enabled the partnership to target interventions for maximum impact, and that regular monitoring of these interventions would enable the partnership to report on the outcomes achieved.

During consideration of this item, the Committee made some of the following comments:

·       Reassurance was provided that work had been ongoing delivering the projects highlighted in the report for the last two years, despite the strategy only being published in January 2024;

·       It was noted that CCTV would always be a deterrent in tackling crime.  The Committee noted a project was being looked at involving the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and District Councils to combine CCTV equipment to utilise technology better as a preventative measure;

·       The challenge of removing/changing a perception of a particular town/area in Lincolnshire, when evidence suggested otherwise.  The Committee noted that the challenge was raising confidence levels through media engagement campaigns with input from statutory organisations;

·       The Committee noted that having a uniform presence in hotspot areas appeared to drive down activity.  It was noted further that this did not need to be a police presence.  It was reported that Summertime policing of St John Ambulance Safe Haven pilot project situated in Skegness provided several services, including preventative engagement, medical intervention, or a safe place for those who are vulnerable.  It was noted that further information would be available regarding this pilot in due course; and

·       The Committee was provided with a brief introduction to the Happening Project, an initiative hosted at the Sleaford Police Station.  It was noted that the aim of this project was to prevent and divert young people (aged 10-19) away from carrying a knife, using a multi-agency approach.

The Chairman on behalf of the Committee extended his thanks to the presenters.

RESOLVED

That the Introduction of the Serious Violence Duty in Lincolnshire report presented be endorsed and that support be committed by the Committee by raising awareness of the work of the SLP Serious Violence Core Priority Group as it establishes its priorities in Lincolnshire to positively impact on our communities, and that a follow-up report be requested in 12 months’ time.  

(To receive a report from Steve Batchelor, Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership Senior Manager, which provides the Committee with an update on fatal, and killed and serious injury (KSI) casualty figures for Lincolnshire, and data on trends, comparison and areas of priority)

SITTING AS THE PUBLIC PROTECTION AND COMMUNITIES SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

The Committee considered a report from the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership (LRSP) Senior Manager, which provided an update on fatal, and killed and serious injury casualties figures in Lincolnshire, and data on trends, comparisons, and areas of priority.

The Committee noted that there continued to be a steady decrease in the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads (426) in 2023, which was the lowest figures seen since 2015.  It was however highlighted that there were 48 people who had lost their lives in 2023, which demonstrated that there was still more work to do. 

Reference was made to the work being done by the LRSP which included current activity and services, the delivery of education, training and publicity to schools and colleges; and the planning for the 2025 Road Safety Strategy.

During consideration of this item, the Committee made the following comments:

·       That more action needed to be taken relating to drug testing in local businesses to help prevent accidents. The Committee was advised that Lincolnshire Police was a significant partner within the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership and that sharing information, outlining key issues, trends, problems, or particular issues that had occurred in recent fatalities was something that happened on a day-to-day basis, which ensured that tasking was effective going forward, particularly within the policing environment.  It was highlighted that the issue of ditches and water was clearly a significant problem in Lincolnshire.  It was highlighted that the team worked with big corporations and businesses to deliver education and training within their facilities to try and address any specific issues and problems;

·       It was reported that drug driving was an increasing problem and was now referred to in education, training and publicity material; 

·       The experience of parish councils gaining assistance concerning speed reduction.  Clarification was provided that for action to be taken regarding speed reduction there needed to be some collisions within the area concerned alongside evidence of speeding before the installation/use of speed cameras would be considered.  It was highlighted that there did not need to be a fatality for speed reduction to be installed/used. It was noted that there were plenty of locations where there were speeding problems and collisions and that these were prioritised. The Committee noted that speed cameras were not the only tool for reducing speed, reference was made to where there was evidence of speeding, police enforcement could be applied; as well the implementation of the community speedwatch scheme;

·       The Committee noted that the mobile camera units currently operated a shift pattern between 7.00am to 9.00pm, and that operation would be a range of times within that shift.  It was highlighted that there was not a limit on the number of sites based on the current criteria.  It was noted that over time steps would be taken to look into increasing the amount of people doing the role, so that more sites could be covered;

·       Confirmation was provided that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

(To receive a report from Martyn Parker, Assistant Director – Public Protection Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, Mark Baxter, Chief Fire Officer, Nicole Hilton, Assistant Director – Communities, Steven Batchelor, Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, Senior Manager and Lee Sirdifield, Assistant Director – Corporate, which provides a summary of the Service Level Performance against the Success Framework 2023-2024 for Quarter 3)

Consideration was given to a report from the Assistant Director - Public Protection, the Chief Fire Officer, the Assistant Director – Communities, the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, Senior Manager and the Assistant Director – Corporate, which provided the Committee with a summary of the service level performance against the success framework 2023-2024 for Quarter 3.

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer and the Head of Culture were also in attendance for this item.

During discussion, the Committee raised the following comments:

Community Safety

·       The Committee was advised that in relation to PI 176 ‘Time to inquest taking place’ a lot of mapping work had taken place and that as of February 2024, the figure was at 26 weeks to inquest and that for the next report this figure would be reduced further;

·       It was reported that the target of registering a death was still not being met. It was highlighted that the difficulty for measuring the target was whether it was measured from the point of death, or at the point the coroner’s service received notification of the death.  The Committee was advised that this would be changing with the introduction of the medical examiner; and that this would be reflected in next year’s report to scrutiny;

·       That under the background section of the report for the measures not meeting their target, a request was made for an explanation as to whether these had improved, or had moved towards achieving their target; and

·       That the number of call blockers (74) in the county seemed a disappointingly small number, compared to the number of people in the county. There was recognition that there was more to be done in raising awareness regarding call blockers as they were very effective in terms of preventing crime.

Trading Standards

·       Whether repeat offenders received higher fines.  The Committee was advised that the amount of the fines was determined by the court.  It was however highlighted that the three-month closure of shops was having a significant impact on organised crime.

Fire Safety 

·       The Committee was advised that the service had experienced recruitment difficulties in both the protection and prevention areas of fire safety. However, following a recruitment campaign all the vacancies within the prevention and protection teams had now been filled which would help support an increase in the number of Home Fire Safety Visits being carried out.  Confirmation was provided that all new staff received an extended training period that was in excess of two years;

·       It was reported that in relation to the building control applications only 23 occasions in the last 12 months had missed the 15 working days response, and that these were predominantly in Quarter 1 of the year when there had been a capacity issue.  It was highlighted that protection staff would get involved in this area of regulatory work in due course; and

·       The Committee was advised that the inspector’s roles had been filled and that it was hoped that by the first quarter of the following year the petroleum  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

(To receive a report by Tracy Johnson, Senior Scrutiny Officer, which provides the Committee with the opportunity to consider and comment on the content of its work programme for the coming year to ensure that scrutiny activity is focussed where it can be of greatest benefit)

Consideration was given to report from the Senior Scrutiny Officer, which invited the Committee to review its work programme and to highlight any additional scrutiny activity which could be included for consideration.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer briefed the Committee on the items for consideration at the 14 May 2024 meeting.

During discussion, the Committee was advised that due to the re-visit not happening until week commencing 29 July 2024, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services Inspection of Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue report would need to be moved to the 24 September 2024 meeting.

RESOLVED

That the work programme presented be approved subject to the amendment mentioned above.

In accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the following agenda item has not been circulated to the press and public on the grounds that it is considered to contain exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended. The press and public  may be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of this item of business.

RESOLVED

That in accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that if they were present there could be a disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

(To receive an exempt report from Louise Egan, Library and Heritage Client Lead, which asks the Committee to consider and comment on a report regarding the re-commissioning of the Libraries Service, prior to a decision being made by the Executive Councillor for Fire and Rescue and Cultural Services between 3 – 10 April 2024. Emma Golds, Senior Commercial and Procurement Officer and William Mason, Head of Culture will also be in attendance for this item)

Consideration was given to an exempt report concerning the re-commissioning of the Libraries Service, prior to a decision being made by the Executive at its meeting on 3 April 2024.

The Chairman invited Louise Egan, Library and Heritage Client Lead to present the exempt report. Dan Charlesworth, Commercial and Procurement Manager and Will Mason, Head of Culture were also in attendance for this item.

RESOLVED

That unanimous support be given by the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee to the recommendations as detailed within the exempt report, and that the comments raised by the Committee be forwarded on to members of the Executive, prior to a decision being taken on 3 April 2024.