Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Brian Crowe (Councillor Alan Chapman had attended as his substitute).

RESOLVED:  That all items of business be considered in public. 

Mr Dan Kennedy, the Council's Head of Business Performance, Policy & Standards, advised that the report included the information that had been presented to the Safer Hillingdon Partnership (SHP) at its September 2016 meeting.  The information was correct as at the end of June 2016 (Q1) and covered three priority themes:

1.    Reduce violence;

2.    Reduce offending; and

3.    Identify and protect vulnerable residents and locations.

Over the last six months, the SHP had been reviewing its targets to ensure that they were fit for purpose.  It was noted that there had been a time lag for the reporting of some information but it was anticipated that this would catch up. 

Although there had been an increase in robberies (84 in Q1), the overall trend over the last three years was a 16% reduction between July 2014-June 2015 and July 2015-June 2016.  The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) was confident that this target would be back on track as it tended to be skewed over the summer months. 

There had been an increase in the number of domestic abuse incidences reported to the police.  The crime had previously been underreported so it was thought that this better reflected the current position.  Figures reported earlier in the week showed that the gap in reaching the target had reduced to 4% but consideration would still need to be given to ensure that incidences were reported correctly on the police system.  It was noted that domestic abuse was one of the top police priorities locally and that a significant amount of work had been undertaken following the Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs). 

65% of Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) cases that had been reported to the Council had been closed and the problem resolved (against a target of 75%).  Members were advised that, although some cases were resolved quickly, some experienced a time delay between the action taken by officers and the case being closed which meant that the cases could span more than one period/quarter.  Mr Nigel Dicker, the Council's Deputy Director Residents Services, noted that officers needed to be encouraged to resolve cases and close the incidents on the system so that the data available was up to date.  It was anticipated that, as practices and procedures improved, resolutions would be found more quickly.  Consideration was also being given to how the issuing of notices could be improved.  However, it was recognised that there were times when, no matter what action was taken by officers, the situation could not be resolved to the residents' satisfaction.  Mr Dicker agreed to provide a breakdown of these unresolved cases and the reasons why these cases had been unsuccessful. 

The data in relation to reducing the number of arson fires, carrying out free home fire safety visits (HFSV - the London Fire Brigade (LFB) could provide specialist alarms for the deaf, arson proof letter boxes and fire retardant throws and bedding for smokers who were bed bound)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

Crime and Disorder

Consideration was given to the Committee's Work Programme and it was agreed that the London Borough of Hillingdon, Metropolitan Police Service, London Fire Brigade, Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group and Public Health each be asked to provide information on their top ten crime and disorder priorities and any progress made against them for consideration at the External Services Scrutiny Committee meeting on 15 February 2017 (there would be no need for representatives to attend this meeting). 

Members requested that representatives from the Safer Neighbourhood Team, London Probation Area and British Transport Police (BTP) be invited to attend the meeting on 15 March 2017.  It was suggested that, if there were no issues forthcoming from BTP, representatives from the Youth Offending Service be invited to attend instead. 

Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust (RB&H)

The Chairman advised that Mr Nick Hunt had agreed to forward information about NHS England's proposal to withdraw paediatric cardiac services from RB&H.  The Chairman would also speak to the Cabinet Member for Social Services, Housing, Health and Wellbeing about the proposal as he was also the Chairman of Hillingdon Health and Wellbeing Board. 

RESOLVED:  That the Work Programme 2016/2017 be agreed.