Agenda and minutes

Apologies of absence were received from Councillors; F Birkett and C J Wood.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Scrutiny Board meeting held on 16 March 2017.

It was AGREED that the minutes of the Scrutiny Board meeting held 16 March 2017 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting, the new members of the Board and Chief Inspector Sharon Woolrich.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders or Political Groups, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To receive a presentation and ask questions of Chief Inspector Sharon Woolrich, from Hampshire Police, on a recent review of the Police Performance in Hampshire.

The Chairman announced that this item would be moved up the agenda ahead of the item on the Board’s work programme.

The Board welcomed Chief Inspector Sharon Woolrich to the meeting who gave a verbal presentation on the recent review of the performance of Hampshire Police.

She informed the Board that the results of the inspection undertaken by HMIC (Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary) were published on 1 March 2017, and had attracted some negative press coverage.

The (PEEL) inspection focused on three key areas; Police Effectiveness; Efficiency; Legitimacy.

Hampshire received a good grade in the efficiency inspection, which focused on the forces ability to meet in the financial challenges of an ever decreasing budget, whilst continuing to ensure that the public is kept safe and crime is reduced.

The inspection into the effectiveness of the force highlighted 4 areas of concern. These were, the handling of domestic abuse cases via telephone, the outcomes to domestic abuse, outcome 16, and the force’s usage of outcomes in general.

At the time of the inspection the arrest rate for domestic abuse cases was 25%, however by the time the results of the inspection were published this figure had increased to 40% and currently it stands at 46%. Chief Inspector Woolrich advised that part of the cause of the previous decrease in performance was explained by the restructuring of the force that took place due to the efficiency savings that needed to be made due to the reduced government funding. Now that the restructure is in place, attention has been refocused on those areas needing attention.

In regards to the concern over the telephone resolutions of domestic abuse cases, the Board were informed that this only concerned minor cases such as a minor argument, and not more severe cases. The Board were given examples of minor incidents that had occurred where a telephone resolution had been used. Following guidance from the HMIC every report incident of domestic abuse, regardless of the severity, is now deployed to.

Another issue highlighted was the reporting of the outcomes of cases. Officers have now been provided with training on this and the reporting of these outcomes is now more efficient, with more details being provided such as arrest, caution, fixed penalty notices. The inspection highlighted that there was a need for training throughout the force for a better understanding of all of the outcomes, and how they can be used.

She concluded by informing the Board that overall the inspection was extremely positive for Hampshire Police, and whilst a few areas had been identified for improvement, these are already being implemented.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Cartwright Executive Member for Health and Public Protection, addressed the Board on this item.

Chief Inspector Woolrich was thanked for her extremely informative presentation.

To consider a report by the Director of Finance and Resources which invites members to review the Board’s work programme for 2017/18.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Finance and Resources which reviewed the Board’s work programme for 2017/18.

Member’s attention was drawn to paragraph 3 of the report which highlighted the changes to the work programme since the last meeting of the Board.

Members were given the opportunity to put forward suggestions for any additional items they would like included onto the work programme. Councillor Ford requested that an item on an update to the progress made to Vanguard and the future projects that will be coming forward, be included onto the work programme.

It was AGREED that the Board, subject to the inclusion of the item on Vanguard Update, note the work programme for 2107/18.

To receive the minutes of the Policy Development and Review Panels held since 1 March 2017.

The Board was asked to receive the minutes of the Policy Development and Review Panels held since 1 March 2017.

The Chairman of the Public Protection Policy Development and Review Panel, Councillor M J Ford, JP was invited to present the minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2017.

It was AGREED the minutes be received.

The Vice-Chairman of the Housing Policy Development and Review Panel, Councillor B Bayford, was invited to present the minutes of the Health and Housing Policy Development and Review Panel meeting held on 9 March 2017.

It was AGREED the minutes be received.

If requested by a member, to consider any item of business dealt with by the Executive, since the last meeting of the Board. The relevant Executive meeting is 3 April 2017. (This will also include any decisions taken by individual Executive members during the same time period.)

The Chairman invited members to indicate if they wished to consider any other item of business dealt with by the Executive since the last meeting on the Board.

Members asked question regarding item 3 of the Executive minutes from the meeting held on 3 April 2017, specifically in relation the various funding streams that the Council will be bidding for in relation to Welborne. The Director of Planning and Regulation explained to the Board that some of these funding streams are likely to become more readily accessible to the Council (and other partied with a delivery role) since Welborne has gained the Garden Village status. However some of these funding steams will potentially also be available to the Council in relation to general housing development. He also advised that, in conjunction with the review of the Housing Strategy, the Council would be exploring all possible additional funding streams for the Council to bid against, for use for general housing developments.