Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Health and Public Protection Policy Development and Review Panel held on 16 January 2018.

It was AGREED that the minutes of the Health and Public Protection Policy Development and Review Panel meeting held on 16 January 2018 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

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 verbal update by the Executive Member for Health and Public Protection on the Police Crime Panel.

The Panel received a verbal update from Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE, Executive Member for Health and Public Protection on the Police Crime Panel.

Councillor Cartwright referenced the update he provided to Council at the meeting held on 23 February 2018 and advised that there was nothing further to report to Members at this stage.  There is still no resolution from the Police Crime Commissioner on his proposed spending of the precept, however a forthcoming meeting of the Police Crime Panel Working Group in a couple of weeks’ time will hopefully bring forward further information.

Members thanked Councillor Cartwright for providing his verbal update.

To receive a verbal update by the Executive Member for Health and Public Protection on Local Strategic Health issues.

The Panel received a verbal update from Councillor T M Cartwright, MBE, Executive Member for Health and Public Protection on local strategic health issues.

Councillor Cartwright reported on a recent meeting that he and the Executive Leader attended at the Queen Alexandra (QA) Hospital where discussions took place with the Chief Executive, Mark Cubban, to discuss progress on key priorities at QA and the future use of the Fareham Community Hospital.  Mr Cubban is keen to maintain communication links with the Council and to report further on future progress in due course.

Councillor Cartwright also reported on his recent attendance at a meeting of the County Health and Social Care Select Committee. The meeting discussed the outcomes of the Consultation on the future of Bulmer House Day Service in Petersfield and the Master House Day Service in Romsey. The decisions to be taken in respect of these services will be difficult and will need to be carefully considered and managed.

Members thanked Councillor Cartwright for providing his verbal update.

To receive a presentation by the Head of Environmental Health which provides the Panel with an update on Air Quality.

The Panel received a presentation by the Head of Environmental Health which provided an update on the current position in respect of the Local Air Quality Action Plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide levels.  A copy of the presentation is attached to these minutes for information.

The presentation gave a brief outline of action taken to date and provided the Panel with a summary of the initial data analysis from the ANPR traffic survey that has now been completed.  The initial analysis indicates that there are two areas across the Borough that may be non-compliant in 2020 with the 40 µg/m³ nitrogen dioxide level target. One is the stretch of the A27 approaching the Delme roundabout from Cams Hill, leading up to the quay street roundabout and then along to the railway station. The other is the stretch of the A32 leaving the Quay Street roundabout heading towards Gosport. By 2020, the data shows that only the A27 area will continue to be non-compliant.

Members were advised that the Initial Plan to identify measures to deliver compliance in the shortest possible time must be in place by 31 March 2018. They heard how this will be driven forward by a Strategic, Member led Group supported by a Technical Officer group and a Collaborative Steering group representing Fareham, Guildford, Rushmoor and Surrey Heath Councils.  The Final Plan to identify preferred options to deliver compliance in the shortest possible time needs to be delivered by 31 December 2018 with completion required by 2020. 

Members were also advised that following successful initial bids for funding through the Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU), further funding bids have been submitted, including an Early Measures funding bid that would be used to tackle the high number of diesel vehicles identified in the Fareham taxi fleet.

Tasks going forward will be to complete and issue the analysis of the ANPR data to inform option development, complete preliminary Air Quality modelling to inform option appraisal, finalise the long-list of measures, develop appraisal criteria, produce SOC (including shortlist of options), submit the Initial Evidence Submission (by June 2018) and present the Outline Business Case (by December 2018).

Members commented that it is encouraging to note that there are only two sites across the Borough that may require action under the Compliance Directive and noted that advancing technology will continue to produce vehicles with cleaner emission specifications which will help to improve the air quality in the area.

The Panel thanked the Head of Environmental Health for providing a very detailed and informative presentation.

To receive a presentation by the Community Safety Manager which provides the Panel with an update on the Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order.

The Panel received a presentation by the Community Safety Manager which provided an update on the Fareham Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) which was confirmed in December 2016.  A copy of the presentation is attached to these minutes for information.

The presentation highlighted training that has taken place.  This involved the Neighbourhood Police Teams, Enforcement Officers, Community Safety Officers and Environmental Health Officers. A review of the training has also been undertaken. 

Members were advised that the ongoing use of the PSPO is discussed at Monthly Partnership Action Group meetings. The Group is very mindful that the order does not cover rough sleepers which account for the vast majority of complaints that are received. Multi-agency work in the form of a Homelessness Action Group will be used to tackle this and will be led by the Strategic Housing Team.

No tickets have been issued yet as it was agreed to initially support and signpost when the order was confirmed.  Powers under the PSPO are used carefully and beggars moved on only as a result of complaints from residents that they feel unsafe or feel harassed or threatened. Community Protection Notices have been successfully used in cases of persistent or aggressive begging and have combined with criminal proceedings which have resulted in convictions.  The Notices are time restricted so when they expire, it is necessary to provide further evidence that the PSPO has been contravened.  The Community Safety Manager advised the Panel that figures on CPNs have been requested from the police but have not yet been received. They will be distributed to Members in due course.

Residents’ complaints about anti-social behaviour fall into two categories, those from people who feel threatened by someone else’s actions and those from people who feel that Council Officers are harassing vulnerable people when asking them to move on or directing them to support agencies. Care is being taken to make sure that the right message is being given and multi-agency working is helping to communicate to people what help and support is available.   The Community Safety Team will work with the Communications Team to ensure the right message is provided to residents.

Members thanked the Community Safety Manager for providing her presentation.

To consider a report by the Director of Planning and Regulation which provides an Annual Update on the Community Safety Partnership.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Planning and Regulation which provided an overview of the work undertaken by Fareham’s Community Safety Partnership.

Members were advised that following the recent confirmation of funding from the Police Crime Commissioner, no organisations received their full funding bid this year.  There were two initiatives that did not receive any funding at all, one from the Southern Domestic Abuse Service that supports families and one from Y-Services that provides health services to young people. The Community Safety Manager confirmed that she will support both Organisations to find alternative funding streams. She will also work with the Organisations with restricted funding levels to help them access alternative options. 

Members thanked the Community Safety Manager for presenting the report.

To consider a report by the Director of Planning and Regulation which invites the Panel to assess the overall progress against the Work Programme for 2017/18 and finalise the proposed Work Programme for 2018/19.

Members considered a report by the Director of Planning and Regulation which invites the Panel to assess the overall progress against the Work Programme for 2017/18 and finalise the proposed Work Programme for 2018/19.

The Director of Planning and Regulation drew Members’ attention to the unallocated items on the proposed Work Programme for 2018/19, as shown at Appendix C to the report, and advised Members that these items will be allocated to the schedule of meetings once Representative availability has been confirmed with the organisations.

Having reviewed the Work Programme for the current year 2017/18 as attached as Appendix A to the report, it was AGREED that the Panel:

(a)  approves the proposed Work Programme for 2018/19 as attached as Appendix C to the report; and

(b)  agrees to submit the proposed Work Programme for 2018/19 to Council for endorsement.