Issue - meetings

Further to the meeting held on 17 September 2009, the Committee is to scrutinise the Community Warden Service.

T Potts the Community Safety Manager was called to the table and informed the Committee that the Community Warden Service was established to address public concerns in relation to Crime and Disorder, and tackle issues in relation to anti social behaviour. This was achieved by working in partnership with the local community and its partners, to provide a safer environment in which to live work and visit.

With regard to the review of the service, it was highlighted that from 1 April 2009, Cheshire East Council had inherited 2 existing warden services from Congleton and Crewe. Macclesfield had Environmental Enforcement Officers, whose main focus was based around the Clean Safer Neighbourhood agenda and mainly dealt with fly tipping offences. A review was therefore undertaken to harmonise and integrate the existing services into one service that would be in a better position to deliver the new authorities objectives, in a more focused and cost effective manner.

The review had resulted in 10 Community Wardens and 2 team leaders at a cost of £426,000. However there were still 3 Community Warden positions to be filled.

The main priorities for the service were to:

• Provide a highly visible uniformed presence to reduce the fear of crime and promote public reassurance.
• Address issues relating to anti social behaviour through proactive and reactive enforcement and education.
• Encourage and enforce the safe and proper use of outdoor recreational areas and public open space.
• Adopt a proactive role in encouraging all sections of the community to use public open spaces for supporting activities and environmental appreciation.
• Enforcement of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire license conditions.
• Environmental Enforcement including, removal of abandoned vehicles, vehicles for sale on the highway, collection and detention of stray dogs, issue of fixed penalty notices and fly tipping.

With regard to abandoned vehicles, Members commented that the procedure for abandoned vehicles was not on the web site and that this should be rectified as soon as possible.

Members questioned the Community Warden Deployment and it was highlighted that in the last 6 months, the service had issued 51 litter and dog notices, dealt with 153 abandoned vehicles reported 54 untaxed vehicles, picked up 195 stray dogs, issued 4 vehicle for sale warnings, participated in 6 police operations, provided security at election count centres and delivered ‘lets bike’ safety campaign in 5 local schools. The Committee felt that good news stories should be publicised in the press.

Members then went onto question what areas of work the Community Warden Service delivered that could not be covered by the Police Community Support Officers. T Potts highlighted this work focused around vehicles on the highway, abandoned vehicles, stray dogs and fly tipping investigation and prosecution.

It was highlighted that that the Fire Service had also started to concentrate on Community Safety and the Police Authority also dealt with some of the same issues as the Community Safety Wardens. Members expressed concern regarding the overlap of work between Cheshire East Council, the Police and Fire Service.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18