Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gareth Lloyd Davies and David G Williams.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gareth Lloyd Davies and David G Williams.

None were declared.

None were declared.

No urgent matters had been raised with the Chair prior to the meeting.

No urgent matters had been raised with the Chair prior to the meeting.

To receive the minutes of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 5 November 2020 (copy attached).

10:05 – 10:10am

The minutes of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 5 November 2020 were submitted.

The Committee:

Resolved: - to receive the minutes of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 5 November 2020 and approve them as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

No matters were raised in relation to the contents of the minutes.

The minutes of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 5 November 2020 were submitted.

No matters were raised in relation to the contents of the minutes.

Resolved: - to receive the minutes of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 5 November 2020 and approve them as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

Prior to the commencement of the following item of business the Chair informed the Committee that it would be discussing it in its capacity as the Council’s designated Crime & Disorder Scrutiny committee in accordance with the Police & Justice Act 2006 ss. 19 and 20.

To receive a report by the Community Safety Manager (copy attached) to detail the Partnership’s achievement in delivering its 2019/20 action plan and its progress to date in delivering its action plan for 2020/21. The report to include financial sources and the progress made in spending the allocated funding.

10:10 – 10:45pm

The Committee:

Resolved: - subject to the above comments and observations to receive the Community Safety Partnership’s

(i)           performance and statistical update for 2019-20; and

(ii)          latest 6-month report on crime statistics and the Partnership’s actions

The Lead Member for Planning, Public Protection and Safer Communities introduced the report (previously circulated) whilst the Community Safety Manager explained the detail contained in the associated appendices. They explained that the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) activity and performance report was based on the joint partnership’s priorities as identified in the North Wales audit of crime that is conducted annually. The North Wales Safer Communities Board (NWSCB) agrees the priorities and then draws up an action plan that is monitored by the NWSCB, locally the CSP is tasked with facilitating the delivery of the action plan, analysing what is happening in the local area and implementing local solutions.  Details were provided of each priority area as follows:

Priority area 1- Work in Partnership to Reduce Crime and Disorder

Overall the performance for the Partnership was acceptable due to the increased numbers of victims of domestic abuse and victims of crime reporting such incidents. The Partnership had improved communication with victims and survivors better understood what support they required. The way the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) worked had changed so that high risk victims were managed more effectively by all agencies. As part of the regional drive the CSP were looking at applying for funding for more non-mandatory perpetrator programmes and applying for Home Office funding for youth support workers in refuges. The work of the Partnership resulted in a number of projects and activities listed in the report. 

The Partnership’s work plan for 2019-2020 included additional emerging issues, such as Modern Day Slavery, County Lines, Integrated Offender Management etc.  Area Planning Board meetings had proved to be a worthwhile exercise as partner activity had improved as a result and the communication lines were improving.

Over the coming months multiple regional boards would be replaced by four main boards. The objective of this change would be to ensure better communication between linked issues and to mitigate against the risk of matters being missed.

Additional work would also take place on County Lines and Modern Day Slavery and on the adverse childhood experiences (ACE) programme. This would be done in conjunction with the Regional Safeguarding Board and new community safety boards.

Priority 2- Reducing reoffending

Overall the performance for this priority was Acceptable

There had been a slight increase in adult offending and Youth Offending during 2019-20 hence the status only being acceptable.  However, the CSP had invested time in encouraging multiagency attendance at the Integrated Offender Management programme and assisting with the actions of that programme. It intended to continue to assist with the programme, which would also address Organised Crime Groups and County Lines work.

Priority 3- Local Priorities

Overall performance of the CSP in relation to this priority was Excellent

In 2019-2020 there had been a continued reduction in the number of reports of antisocial behaviour (ASB) and repeat victims of ASB. This success had been achieved through:

·         promoting the use of community resolutions to resolve repeat incidents of antisocial behaviour

·         using, when appropriate community protection notices / Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs)

·         control of licenced premises and enforcement and monitoring of taxi licences undertaken by the Licensing Department.

·         operations targeting car washes under modern day slavery action plans

·         working collectively on repeat incidents of antisocial behaviour

·         sharing information about online fraud utilising national campaigns

·         knife amnesty utilising the recycling centres in Denbighshire.

The CSP would continue to support the monthly Antisocial Behaviour (ASB) tasking meeting which monitored repeat incidents of ASB and provide a multi-agency response to issues raised as well as taking part in restorative justice conferences and promoting community resolutions and mediation. An internal process  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To receive a report by the Traffic, Parking and Road Safety Manager (copy attached) to examine the purpose of the Welsh Government (WG) scheme, the rationale behind the schemes drawn up in Denbighshire to benefit from the funding, and the effectiveness of the initial implementation of the schemes across the county.

10:45– 11:30am

The Committee:

Resolved:  - subject to the above concerns and observations

(i)           to acknowledge the process followed by the Council in identifying and developing projects, applying for the grant and implementing projects, along with the difficulties encountered due to the short timescale given by the Welsh Government;

(ii)          to emphasise the importance of early engagement in future with local Member Area Groups (MAGs), local members, and town/ community councils for proposed schemes to utilise central government grant funding in specific towns or communities; and

(iii)       that a further report be presented to the Committee in six months’ time on the impact of the COVID-19 Active Travel Plan Schemes on Denbighshire’s towns and the lessons learnt from planning for this particular scheme in readiness for future schemes with short application deadlines and lead-in times. 

The Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment introduced the report (previously circulated) which outlined information on the active travel schemes that had been implemented in some Denbighshire town centres and which had been funded by the Welsh Government’s (WG) Covid-19 sustainable transport grant. The report also provided the rationale behind the schemes developed and the early findings from their implementation.  The Traffic, Parking and Road Safety Manager detailed the application process followed in order to draw down the WG funding and the tight timescales involved with the process.

The Council’s Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs Group (SCVCG) had asked the Committee to examine this matter following receipt of a request from a resident in relation to the proposed Covid-19 Active Travel Scheme for Llangollen.  SCVCG members had advised the resident that Scrutiny could not examine matters relating to one particular scheme, but would examine the process followed in identifying and developing schemes county-wide.  In seeking Partnerships Scrutiny Committee to examine the matter the SCVCG had extended an invitation to the WG Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport, who had responsibility for allocating the grant funding for the scheme, to attend the meeting to discuss the funding application and allocation processes.  Whilst the Deputy Minister was unable to attend the meeting for the discussion he had provided the Committee with an evidence paper on the Scheme, which included information on the funding allocated to Denbighshire to date and examples of the different types of schemes funded across Wales.  This information had been made available to Committee members ahead of the meeting and was available on the meeting’s webpage on the Council’s website. 

In May 2020, the Welsh Government’s Deputy Minister for Economy and

Transport wrote to Council Leaders across Wales inviting Councils to submit expressions of interest for a special grant for “Local sustainable transport measures in response to Covid 19”.  The rationale behind the grant was twofold:

• to build upon the increases in active travel (cycling and walking) that had been occurring during the first lockdown period;
• to help facilitate social distancing in town centres and other busy public areas such as routes to schools, bus stops and bus stations once non-essential retail and schools reopened.

Upon receipt of the letter officers from the Traffic, Parking and Road Safety Section met to develop initial ideas for proposals that could be implemented on a trial basis of 18 months. Given the limited time available, it was decided to concentrate on developing proposals for the five busiest town centres namely Rhyl, Llangollen, Prestatyn, Denbigh and Ruthin. Some additional proposals were also developed for footpaths surrounding Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. After discussion with the Lead Member, officers contacted the relevant Member Area Groups (MAGs) to outline the proposals within their areas and to invite feedback.

Based on the feedback received, the proposals for Prestatyn were abandoned. Cost estimates were provided and the expressions of interest were then submitted to the WG on the 22nd May 2020.  Confirmation was received from the WG on the 19th June 2020 that funding had been awarded funding for all Denbighshire’s active travel proposals except for Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. The total value of the grant for the active travel schemes was £825k.

This timescale to deliver the schemes was challenging given that the funding wasn’t awarded until the 19th June 2020. Nonetheless, the expectation was that proposals would be implemented quickly.  To assist in this secondary legislation relating to emergency Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) had been amended to include Covid related highway works as a justification for making a temporary TRO.

The proposals for Denbigh  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider a report by the Scrutiny Coordinator (copy enclosed) seeking a review of the committee’s forward work programme and updating members on relevant issues.

11:30 – 11:45pm

The Committee:

Resolved: -

(i)           subject to the above inclusions and amendments to approve the Committee’s forward work programme; and

(ii)          to appoint Councillor Christine Marston to serve as Denbighshire’s Scrutiny representative on the Sub-Regional Children’s Assessment Care Centre Project Board.

The Scrutiny Coordinator submitted a report (previously circulated) seeking the members’ review of the Committee’s work programme and provided an update on relevant issues.

Discussion focused on the following –

·         The follow-up report on COVID-19 Active Travel Schemes would be included on the agenda in 6 months’ time.

·         The Health Board had advised that it would be better placed to report on its capital programme schemes in North Denbighshire in April 2021.

·         The Committee was requested to appoint a representative to serve on the Sub-Regional Children’s Assessment Care Centre Project Board. Councillor Christine Marston indicated an interest in being Denbighshire’s Scrutiny representative. Councillor Hugh Irving proposed Councillor Christine Marston be appointed, seconded by Councillor Jeanette Chamberlain-Jones

Resolved: -

(i)           subject to the above inclusions and amendments to approve the Committee’s forward work programme; and

(ii)          to appoint Councillor Christine Marston to serve as Denbighshire’s Scrutiny representative on the Sub-Regional Children’s Assessment Care Centre Project Board.

The Committee:

Resolved: - to receive Councillor Marston’s report on the discussions that took place at the recent Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Stakeholder Reference Group meeting.

Councillor Christine Marston stated she had attended a remote meeting of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) Stakeholders Reference Group on the 14^th December 2020.

She gave a brief update.  The Board was out of special measures, however it was still in deficit by £40 million which the Welsh Government (WG) had undertaken to underwrite.  The WG had agreed to provide the Board with £82 million over the next three years, this was to get a strategic development plan in place to ensure that BCUHB would deliver a balance budget going forward.

A concept plan on how to deal with the backlog of operations which has been caused by COVID had been outlined.

The Group had also been briefed on the planning application which had been submitted to Denbighshire County Council for a replacement mental health unit for the current Ablett Unit.  The budget was £63 million to develop a new mental health department at the rear of the Ysbyty Glan Clwyd site, where the overspill car park was currently situated.

Resolved: - to receive Councillor Marston’s report on the discussions that took place at the recent Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Stakeholder Reference Group meeting.

Meeting concluded at 12.40pm