Agenda item

(To receive reports from Diane Coulson, Assistant Director – Public Protection, Nicole Hilton, Assistant Director – Communities, Lee Sirdifield, Assistant Director – Corporate, Mark Baxter, Chief Fire Officer, Steven Batchelor, Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership Senior Manager, on Tier 2 Service Level Performance measures for 2021/22 Quarter 1 that are within the remit of the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee)

Consideration was given to a report, which set out the performance of Tier Two Service Level Performance Measures for 2021/2022 for Quarter 1 that was within the remit of the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee.

The Chairman invited Sara Barry, Head of Safer Communities, Will Mason, Head of Culture, Lee Sirdifield, Assistant Director Corporate, Mark Baxter, Chief Fire Officer, Ryan Stacey, Assistant Chief Fire Officer and Steven Batchelor, Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership Senior Manager, to remotely present the report to the Committee, which covered performance measures for Community Safety, Fire Safety, Libraries and Heritage, Road Safety, Trading Standards and Volunteering.

During consideration of the report and during discussion some of the following comments were noted:-

·       The Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) Plus.  It was noted that the MARAC Plus trial was continuing on a monthly basis in addition to the weekly MARAC, and that up to the end of June 2021 there had been 14 cases referred to MARAC Plus.  The Committee was advised that the purpose MARAC Plus was to provide additional time to the more complex domestic abuse cases;

·       The number of domestic abuse cases in Lincolnshire.  The Committee was advised that this information would be provided by police figures, as they were the main agency for reporting domestic abuse incidents;

·       Thanks were extended to the Fire and Rescue Service for all their hard work;

·       Whether the increase in the number of dwellings being built had impacted on the number of primary fires. The Committee noted that the small increase in the number of dwelling fires from 80 in Quarter 1 2019/20 to 96 in Quarter 1 2020/21 was directly attributed to deliberate dwelling fires;

·       The increase in the number of deliberate primary fires from 1 in the previous year to 16 in Quarter 1 2020/21.  Reassurance was given that following any deliberate fires, robust fires investigations processes were in place which allowed for trends to be identified, some being hate crimes; and some being the work of gangs.  It was highlighted that the numbers in Lincolnshire were low and that no trends had been identified.  The Committee noted that this target had not been achieved, but were advised that there was a drive for continuous improvement, but that seasonal variances were to be expected due to weather conditions, school holidays and seasonal events.  It was noted further that although behind target, it was highlighted that the upper tolerance range equated to only two incidents at this point in the year and that the target was only three incidents outside of the upper tolerance range;

·       Graph at the top of Page 32 which depicted Deliberate Secondary Fires (Actual Numbers).  One member enquired why the figures for Quarter 1 and 2 were higher compared to Quarter 3 and 4.  The Committee was advised that seasonal variances were to be expected over the year, but the trend was when there was warm dry weather and the days were longer more incidents occurred;

·       The Committee was advised that the number of visits to core libraries and mobile library services had seen lower visitor numbers during April as a result of the pandemic.  However, during May and June, when 14 core libraries transitioned to the 'Browse & Borrow' phase, this had seen the return of some customers into sites in line with health and safety guidance. Overall, there was still some hesitancy by some customers to return to face to face visits.  It was highlighted that there had been a higher number of visits to library websites, which indicated better performance;

·       Whether all heritage sites across Lincolnshire, not just those operated by the Council, were promoted as each area had their own unique history.  The Committee was advised that the aspiration was to showcase all of the history of Lincolnshire; but there was recognition that there was more work that needed to be done with regard to this matter;

·       Whether the pandemic had impacted on the number of road traffic collisions.  The Committee noted that as traffic volumes were not consistent with previous years, it was hard to make any comparisons at this time;

·       The regulations governing the importing of food from abroad and whether regular visits were made to European supermarkets.  Officers confirmed that visits were made to a range of stores and European supermarkets as part of the routine inspection plan, which was based on intelligence received, and where concerns had been raised.  The Committee was reminded that Trading Standards Officers worked very closely with District Councils Environmental Health Officers who were responsible for the environmental safety of food and that the Trading Standards Officers would be looking at the standard of food, for example that the food was as is should be and that it contained the right ingredients, and did not contain any contaminates.  Reassurance was given that officers would visit sites, where concerns had been raised;

·       When Trading Standards Officers visited car boot sales, whether they just looked at new goods or, if whether they included vintage goods for instance, those that were now banned, and would they remove them from sale? The Committee was advised that the consumer's products safety legislation only applied to businesses selling goods.  Therefore, where a member of the public was selling at a car boot sale the legislation would not apply to the person selling second hand goods;

·       One member asked whether counterfeit perfumes were unsafe.  It was noted that perfume was classed as cosmetic and that counterfeit perfumes often contained high alcohol content.  It was noted further that counterfeit make-up had also been found which contained lead, and that this was an area of concern for the service;

·       It was agreed that for a future meeting, when the Committee considered the trading standards update report, officers would bring in some counterfeit items for members of the Committee to view;

·       One member extended congratulations to the Voluntary Centre Services (VCS) and the Lincolnshire Community & Voluntary Services (LVCS) for all their hard work and to the valuable service they provided.  The Committee agreed that a letter of thanks would be sent to both organisations on behalf of the Committee.

RESOLVED

1.     That the Service Level Performance reporting against the Performance Framework for 2021/2022 for Quarter One be received and that the comments raised by the Committee be noted.

2.     That a letter of thanks be sent to the Voluntary Centre Services and the Lincolnshire Community & Voluntary Services from the Committee, recognising their effectiveness within the community and expressing gratitude for services provided by them.