Agenda and minutes

Emily Lam – Cheshire Police Authority

Martin Dowell – Cheshire Fire and Rescue

Evan Morris – Cheshire Fire and Rescue

Tony Potts

Peter Hartwell

Caroline Simpson

Juliet Blackburn

Mark Nedderman

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any personal and /or prejudicial interests in any item on the agenda.

None

A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers

There were no members of the public present who wished to address the Committee.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2011

That subject to the name of Councillor S Wilkinson being added to the list of apologies for absence, the minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2011 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Portfolio Holder to attend the meeting to discuss the concerns of the Committee regarding road safety in Cheshire East.

The Chairman informed the committee that the Environment Portfolio Holder had been called to attend another Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting which had clashed with this meeting and therefore suggested that consideration of this matter should be deferred.

RESOLVED – That consideration of this matter be deferred to a future meeting of this committee.

To give consideration to an update report on the Community Safety Warden Service.

The Committee considered a report of the Community Safety Manager informing the Committee of progress made in respect of a number of matters raised originally at its meeting held on 6 January 2011. On 2 February 2011 the committee had received an interim report of the Community Safety Officer containing initial responses to matters raised by the Committee relating to the operation of the Community Warden Service.

Tony Potts, Community safety Manager presented the report and answered Members questions.

Tony informed the Committee that the proposal to reduce the number of Community Wardens employed by the Council from the current 12 to 8 would deliver annual savings of £157,000. The 8 staff would be divided into two teams of 4, and located in Crewe and Macclesfield police stations. In response to questions from members about the extent to which the fixed costs of supplies, transport premises and other ancillary costs could be reduced as a result of employing fewer staff, Tony informed the Committee that he could not quantify the precise figure at the moment, but it was suggested to him that he should be aiming for a 25% reduction.

Tony also explained that the service was undergoing a review of the functions a role of Community wardens. He explained that in future, the wardens would concentrate on their statutory duties and enforcement issues concerning environmental and streetscape services but would withdraw from non stautory duties  such as the promotion of community safety issues in schools.

It was also reported that wardens would routinely attnd LAP metimngs, although it was suggested by Members that perhaps wardens should only attend such meetings as and when required.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and the the new working arrangements as set in the report be noted, but the Community Safety manager be requested to report back to this Committee in six months time on progress with the service and with detailed financial information on the savings achieved through the restructure.

To receive a verbal update by the Head of Safer and Stronger Communities on the current proposals for a new Service Level Agreement.

Peter Hartwell, Head of Safer and Stronger Communities attended the meeting and outlined briefly details of the new Service Level Agreement for neighbourhood policing arrangements linked to the new Neighbourhood Policing Grant. The removal of the ring-fenced CDRP grant from the new formula grant settlement had resulted in there being no earmarked funding for PCSO’s in future. Peter explained however, that the Council had mainstreamed a sum of £260,000 in the 2011/12 budget to support neighbourhood policing in Cheshire East.

RESOLVED – That consideration of this matter be deferred to the next meeting of the Committee and the Head of Safer Communities be requested to submit a written report explaining the full implications of the new funding arrangements and Service Level Agreement.

To give consideration to the extracts of the forward plan which fall within the remit of the Committee.

The Committee considered an extract from the current forward plan.

RESOLVED – That the forward plan be noted.

To give consideration to the work programme

The Committee reviewed the work programme.

RESOLVED – That the report be received.

The reports relating to the remaining items on the agenda have been withheld from public circulation and deposit pursuant to Section 100(B)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that the matters may be determined with the press and public excluded.

The Committee may decide that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

PART 2 – MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT THE PUBLIC AND PRESS PRESENT

RESOLVED - That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

To review and comment on the proposed revised sub-regional road safety arrangements, in particular around the delivery of police enforcement activity and speed cameras. Report to follow

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director Places, outlining progress on the development of a new proposal for road safety joint working within Cheshire and Warrington from 31 March 2011. This would replace the Cheshire Roads Safer Partnership.

RESOLVED – (a)     That the report be received

(b)    That the establishment of the Cheshire Road Safety Group be added to the Committee’s work programme.

To receive an update on the detail and principals for awarding funding.

The Committee considered a schedule containing details of grants,subscriptions and contributions to Service level Agreements covering all of the services within Cheshire East.

RESOLVED – That the report be received, and the Policy and Performance Manager be requested to submit a progress report to this Committee in 3 months time.