Agenda and minutes

Following up on item 8 of the minutes (CLLC, 9^th June 2021), a Member enquired what the appropriate channel would be for the Opposition Spokesperson on Community Safety to become a member of the Safer Communities Partnership Board. Ms Green responded that an approach should be made to the Constitution and General Purposes Committee.

A Member enquired whether the names of Members could be cited in the minutes, rather than ‘a Member’. Ms Green would discuss this with the Head of Governance.

Action: Ms Green

Apologies were received from Cllrs Zubairi, Gurung, Grocock and O-Macauley. Cllr Grocock was substituted by Cllr Byers and Cllr Zubairi was substituted by Cllr Narenthira.

Cllr Conway declared a non-pecuniary interest – that she is a Trustee of the Jewish Volunteering Network.

None.

None.

6.1 Cllr Danny Rich

Cllr Danny Rich presented his Member’s Item, noting that it would be helpful if Ward Members could be informed as soon as possible of incidents in their Ward so that they could offer a proactive response when needed.  He also requested clear guidance on how Ward Members can be involved following serious incidents, to help them to reassure the community.

Ms Green responded that the police notify the Community Safety Team and the MASH when a serious incident has occurred, and Barnet’s internal protocol is to inform relevant Members. Less serious crimes are not reported to Barnet by the police but details are available on their website. In addition the Safer Communities Partnership Board receives quarterly reports on agreed crime statistics in the Borough also publicly available.  Ms Green reported that part of the new Barnet Corporate Plan, which was presented at Policy and Resources Committee on 30^th September 2021, states that reports relating to some community safety priorities will be added to the CLLC agenda biannually from 2022-23. This would be added to the Forward Plan.

Action: Governance Officer

Ms Green added that communication with Members has been strengthened. Also officer availability has been increased, to include on-call at evenings and weekends due to many incidents occurring out-of-hours.

Cllr Conway noted that it would be useful to have conversations with resident groups via the Ward Panels on crime hotspots, and to provide feedback to them on the work being carried out. Ms Green responded that she would investigate whether the data can be more granular as it is not gathered on a ward basis. She reminded the committee that fly tipping, littering and graffiti fall under the remit of Environment Committee. The Chairman noted that the Safer Neighbourhood Teams provide another forum for discussion.

6.2 Cllr Sara Conway

Cllr Sara Conway presented her item on the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy.

The Chairman rejected the comments in Cllr Conway’s item, of the administration failing to address this issue, but welcomed Cllr Conway’s suggestions ahead of the full consultation, to be carried out from 20 October to 20 December 2021.  He added that the VAWG Delivery Group has already approached Barnet inviting the council to be a ‘White Ribbon’ Council and some of the criteria have been implemented.

The Governance Officer would circulate details of training on the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 which is being offered to Members and Officers.  davawgconsultations@barnet.gov.uk.

Action: Governance Officer

2.             Cllr Zakia Zubairi

Cllr Zubairi did not attend the meeting. Her Member’s Item was noted.

Mr Will Cooper, Deputy Head of Strategy, reported that the Winter Faith Festival had been launched in 2019 and would go ahead again this year. Events would be highlighted, starting with Diwali Lights in Burnt Oak and West Hendon. There would also be faith events throughout the year. 

RESOLVED that the Committee noted the Members’ items.

Mr Matt Leng, Community Safety Manager reported that the transfer of community safety services to the Executive Director of Assurance took place on a permanent basis in May 2021. Responsibilities for the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, Environmental Crime (excluding littering, fly tipping and graffiti) Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), Prevent (including Hate Crime), CCTV and Covid-19 Enforcement sit within the Assurance Group. Domestic Violence, VAWG, Reducing Offending, Integrated Offender Management, Violence, Vulnerability and Exploitation are under the remit of Family Services.

Mr Leng noted that the annual report is the first to be produced since the governance review which had been completed earlier in the year. This report recognises the change of Chair to Councillor Jennifer Grocock and acknowledges the work of the BSCPB in the prior reporting period of April 2019 – March 2021. Mr Leng reported that being the Crime and Disorder Annual Scrutiny review, the report provides a summary of the outcomes of all Community Safety work undertaken during the period of 1st April 2020 – 31st March 2021, including the Community Safety Team’s (CST) progress and outcomes, set against the objectives as in the CST’s Annual Strategy and Work Plan.

Mr Leng stated that the purpose of presenting the data is for Members’ oversight and scrutiny of crime in the Borough and to enable joint working on crime and disorder reduction. Questions are encouraged on how to reduce crime and disorder in given parts of the Borough and how the police are interacting with the community.

Cllr Conway recommended including residents’ voices as anonymised case studies to get a clear picture of the impact that crime has.  

Cllr Conway noted that previously a representative from the Borough Command Unit, and members from relevant local groups, attended CLLC meetings. This would be helpful to give a sense of crime in the local area.

Cllr Conway asked for feedback on the implementation of the London Action Plan on community policing.

Cllr Conway would email her questions to Mr Leng for a response after the meeting.

Action: Cllr Conway

RESOLVED that the Community Leadership and Libraries Committee noted the content of the Community Safety Annual Report for 2020/21 and the Crime and Disorder scrutiny review.  

Mr Leng introduced the report, providing a summary of the findings of the annual Community Safety Strategic Assessment for 2020.

Mr Leng reported that the Strategic Crime Needs Assessment is a legal requirement, to enable an understanding of the crime trends during January-December 2020 and how these fit in with Barnet’s strategic priorities. It provides an update to CLLC on the Community Safety Strategy and intended future actions.

Mr Leng reported that the usual public consultation did not go ahead during 2020 due to lockdown. There had been a directive from MOPAC to continue with current priorities during this period. The London Mayor’s Consultation for a Police and Crime Strategy 2021 would be launched later in October. Barnet had paused its consultation as the Mayor’s office’s document had been embargoed and Barnet wanted to be in line with this. Barnet would run its consultation until mid-December 2021 and would then produce a 2022-27 Strategy for the Committee to agree, to commence on 1^st April 2022.

Cllr Rich and Cllr Narenthira enquired about the crime levels in their wards according to the data. Mr Leng added that there can be numerous reasons for crime, including insufficient lighting, or an estate not being supported in the correct way. As well as holding perpetrators to account the Community Safety Team and police will examine the data and react to it. 

Cllr Fluss asked about the source of the data. Mr Leng responded that all the data are available online at police.co.uk.

Cllr Conway asked what could be done to address issues such as knife and gun crime. Also she expressed concern about domestic violence during lockdown as this was more difficult to report during this period. She asked how the consultation on the Community Safety Strategy would engage different communities within Barnet including those harder to reach. 

Mr Leng responded that some offences had increased during lockdown, due to few people being out in the streets. The ASB numbers for this period did not appear to represent the typical number over the last five years and many were repeat calls. The Community Safety Team had been encouraging people to continue to report crime during lockdown.

Cllr Conway noted that mental health was not mentioned in the report but certain incidents include an element of this. Mr Leng responded that Barnet has a successful Community Safety MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference) which is one of the best in operation. Also vulnerable people were often identified through local officers via the MASH process and the team ensures referrals are made to a mental health expert. The CCG and Barnet Network for Mental Health are also represented on the MARAC. 

RESOLVED that the Community Leadership and Libraries Committee note the key findings of the Community Safety Strategic Crime Needs Assessment and the next steps, and co-dependency for the revision of Barnet’s Community Safety Strategy for 2022- 2027 with the Mayors’ Policing and Crime Plan (2017-2021) refresh.

To approve the Outline Business Case to undertake a strategic review of the CCTV requirements for the Community Safety Team and Libraries Service.

The report was presented by Clair Green, Executive Director, Assurance, and Declan Khan, Assistant Director, Counter Fraud, Community Safety & Protection.

Ms Green noted that the report presented CCTV options including a feasibility study of current CCTV assets that had been undertaken.  The report includes procurement details and plans to move Barnet’s CCTV control room to Colindale.

Ms Green added that the new technology is being piloted. This includes WIFI-enabled CCTV which would support better connection with the control room than the older CCTV infrastructure. Project management capacity and specialist expertise have been made available within CST.

Ms Green highlighted the outline business case for increasing the CCTV infrastructure, together with a set of principles for deployment of CCTV. She added that feedback from Members would be welcomed as part of the consultation and also when the full business case is presented in 2022.

The CST would work with the police’s and its own data to decide where additional assets should be placed. Ms Green added that she was aware of requests for CCTV that had been submitted via Area Committees and the team would be contacting Members about those as part of the review. There would be additional capacity to add mobile CCTV at later stages as required. If requests outside the funding available are made, there is the opportunity to discuss this at Policy and Resources Committee or to apply under Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding at Area Committees. The transparent process for CCTV applications is set out on page 87 of the report. 

Cllr Weeden-Sanz noted that the capital cost of £400,000, plus £300,000 on the review and consultant, appeared high. He asked how long the entire process would take.

Ms Green responded that the cost also includes the upgraded monitoring equipment and its move to Colindale. This would mean that both MASH and CST would have access to the control room. Timelines had not been included at this stage as this depended on how complex the final arrangement would be. 

Cllr Fluss enquired about access to the CCTV images and who would be authorised to do this. Ms Green responded that access to the control room would be restricted to trained and accredited CCTV operators who undergo a high level of checks. The police would also have access in accordance with legislation.

Cllr Fluss asked about the procurement process. Ms Green reported that the specialist consultant had provided an estimate; a detailed review would follow. The funding that had been secured was as stated above.

Hannah Richens, Head of Library Service noted that the library service CCTV monitoring and maintenance are part of the corporate contract and cost circa £130,000 per year. There are around 250 CCTV cameras across the core libraries.

Mr Khan added some areas require different types of cameras to others, which made costings difficult at this stage so an estimate was provided. The final figure would be clearer when the sites for the cameras is known.

Cllr Narenthira asked whether Area Committees would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Tina McElligott, Director Early Help & Children’s Social Care presented her report, an update to a report presented to CLLC on 20 November 2019 which set out the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime ambition for all London boroughs to sign up to London’s Blueprint for a Whole System Approach for Women in Contact with the Criminal Justice System 2019-22. The Blueprint aims to develop and implement an evidence based, sustainable, whole-system approach aimed at improving outcomes for women and reducing women’s imprisonment.

Ms McElligot noted that her team is working with the new probation structure and youth offending service to improve integration and provide enhanced support for women and girls.

RESOLVED that the Committee noted the pan-London progress against the Blueprint and the local actions to strengthen this workstream in Barnet.

Angela Richardson, Mayoral Services and Civic Events Manager, and Armed Forces Champion presented her report and action plan for renewing the Covenant.

Ms Richardson reported that the Armed Forces Covenant was approved by Full Council on 29 October 2019 and it was agreed that the Council should also work towards achieving the silver and gold Defence Employer Recognition Scheme accreditation.

In November 2019 the Committee reviewed and approved the Barnet Council Action Plan aimed at delivering the requirements of the Covenant and achieving accreditation. An update was reported to the Committee in September 2020. Barnet Council has met all the requirements to be recognised as Silver Standards employer.

The re-signing of the Covenant would take place at Hendon Town Hall on 2^nd November 2021 as part of the Armed Forces Reception.  There was limited capacity at the event but Cllr Thompstone and Cllr Gurung (a veteran) would attend.

The Council’s eLearning on the Covenant has been made mandatory for all Members and some officers and had been transferred to the Council’s new e-learning portal.

RESOLVED that the Committee noted that:

1.    The Armed Forces Covenant signing ceremony is scheduled to take place on 2 November 2021.

2.    The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver accreditation will be achieved after the signing ceremony.

3.    Officers are instructed to continue to implement the Barnet Council Action Plan.

Ms Richardson, Mayoral Services and Civic Events Manager, and Armed Forces Champion presented her report to update the Committee on mayoral engagements and civic events which took place between May 2019 to May 2021. 

This included the Armed Forces Day, twin town photography competition, Remembrance Sunday parade, civic awards and community engagement during lockdown.

RESOLVED that the Committee noted:

1. The report and appendix with details of civic events and an update on the 

    mayoralty.

2. That Barnet’s Mayor’s Office won the 2020 National Association of Civic Officers 

    (NACO) Civic Office of the Year awards in both categories:

a)    How the Civic Office responded to work during the national crisis of 2020

b)    How the Civic Office is moving forward after the national crisis of 2020.

Ms Green, Executive Director, Assurance presented a report and appendices containing the Committee’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Savings Proposals, and details of Fees & Charges, April 2021.

Ms Green reported that an update on the recent changes to the strategic and operational expansion of the Assurance Group roles and responsibilities had been approved by Policy and Resources Committee on 30^th September 2021. A Business Planning report outlining the MTFS to 2025/26 and the future financial challenges facing the council was presented to P&R at the same meeting. Theme Committees are asked to consider savings proposals as part of the usual annual process.

RESOLVED that the Committee:

1. Agreed the revenue savings programme listed in Appendix A and that it would be   

  recommended to Policy and Resources Committee in December.

2. Noted the risks associated with the savings proposals, relating to both the impact 

    on services and residents and deliverability of savings.

3. Noted the equalities impact assessments associated with these savings proposals. 4. Agreed to delegate authority to chief officers to changes in fees and charges 

    ahead of approval at P&R in February 2022.

RESOLVED that the Committee noted the forward plan.

None.