Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs S M Bayford, Mrs P M Bryant and J M Englefield.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 23 July 2013.

It was AGREED that the minutes of the meeting of the Public Protection Policy Development and Review Panel held on 23 July 2013 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 or disclosures of advice or directions made at this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To consider a report by the Director of Regulatory and Democratic Services, which reviews the Panel’s Work Programme for 2013/14.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Regulatory and Democratic Services on the Panel’s work programme for 2013/14.

It was AGREED that:-

(a)          the programme items as set out in Appendix A to the report be confirmed; and

(b)       the progress on actions since the last meeting, as set out in Appendix B to the report, be noted.

To consider a report by the Director of Regulatory and Democratic Services on the Air Quality Action Plan.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Regulatory and Democratic Services on the Air Quality Action Plan.

At the invitation of the Chairman Councillor Cartwright addressed the Panel during the consideration of this item.

It was AGREED that:-

(a)       the content of the report and the progress that has been made to date in respect of Local Air Quality Management be noted;

(b)       the officers be requested to forward the report to Hampshire County Council’s Director of Economy, Transport and Environment to request that it be taken into account in any review or update of the transport plan;

(c)       the officers also be requested to forward the report to Public Health England (Wessex) to highlight the work that the Council is undertaking on air quality;

(d)       a further report be presented to the Panel on the results of the Air Quality Progress Report 2013 that has to be submitted to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra); and

(e)       the feedback received from (b), (c) and (d) above be included in the report that was to be submitted to a future meeting of the Executive.

To obtain the Panel's views and comments on issues that should be included in the review and development of a new Community Safety Strategy.

In addition, officers will provide feedback on the success of the Access All Areas initiative.

The Panel received a presentation from the Community Safety Manager and the Head of Community Safety and Enforcement on the review and development of a new Community Safety Strategy.

The presentation included details of the performance of the Community Safety Partnership, the Partnership’s current priorities, public perception based on the 2012 Residents’ Survey and emerging issues. The Panel was invited to comment on issues that should be included in the revised Community Safety Strategy.

In addition, the officers provided members with feedback on the success of the Access All Areas initiative.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Cartwright addressed the Panel during the consideration of this item.

It was AGREED that:-

(a)       an item be included in the members’ newsletter inviting members to report any community safety issues occurring in their wards to the officers;

(b)       it be noted that irresponsible cycling on footpaths in the Borough had led to a number of recent accidents;  it was further noted that the police had recently begun a campaign to combat this problem as a result of evidence gathered in the western wards;

(c)       the problem referred to in (b) above be reported to the Director of Planning and Environment for incorporation in the Council’s Cycling Strategy; and to the next meeting of the Community Tasking and Co-ordinating Group;

(d)       it be noted that the draft revised Community Safety Strategy would be reported to the Panel at its meeting on 14 January 2014 prior to being submitted to the Executive for approval;

(e)       that the Community Safety Team be congratulated on their efforts in relation to the Access All Areas initiative;

(f)        it be noted that an evaluation of the Access All Areas initiative would be carried out and a report on the outcome submitted to the Community Safety Partnership and to a future meeting of the Panel; and

(g)       it be noted that the next SNAP disco event would be held on Friday 27 September 2013.