Agenda and draft minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Mrs P M Bryant.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel held on 27 March 2024.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel held on 27 March 2024 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.

The Panel will receive a report by the Director of Neighbourhoods which presents the Draft Anti-social Behaviour Policy for scrutiny prior to consideration by the Executive.

At the invitation of the Chairman Councillor R N Bird addressed the Panel on this item.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Neighbourhoods which presented the draft Anti-Social Behaviour policy for comment prior to it being presented to the Executive for consideration.

The Panel paid particular attention to the definition of anti-social behaviour, as detailed in the draft policy and considered whether it should be more closely aligned with the definitions as laid out in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Following discussion, Members felt that it is more important to ensure that no one is inadvertently excluded from accessing help under the policy because the definitions are too prescriptive. It was felt that it may in fact be beneficial to broaden the definitions of anti-social behaviour to make it clear that it includes issues such as graffiti and trespass.  It was also suggested that the policy should reference areas like misogyny and specifically reference gender-based issues and sexual harassment.

RESOLVED that the Health and Public & Protection Scrutiny Panel notes the content of the report, passes the comments, as detailed above, to the Executive for consideration and recommends that the draft policy be approved for a suitable period of consultation.

To consider any items of business dealt with by the Executive since the last meeting of the Panel, that falls under the remit of the Health and Public Protection Portfolio.  This will include any decisions taken by individual Members during the same time period.

There were no comments or questions for clarification in respect of this item.

Members will receive a presentation which will outline the role of the Panel and provide an overview of the Health and Public Protection portfolio services.

The Panel received a presentation by the Director of Neighbourhoods which outlined the role and function of the Panel and provided an overview of the Health and Public Protection portfolio services. A copy of the presentation slides is attached to these minutes as Appendix A.

The Panel was advised that if any Members wanted more information on the services provided by the Health and Public Protection portfolio, Officers would be very pleased to meet with them outside of the meeting.  

RESOLVED that the Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Panel notes the content of the presentation.

To provide an opportunity for Members to consider the scrutiny priorities for the Health and Public Protection Panel.

The Director of Neighbourhoods presented suggested scrutiny priorities for the Panel for the 2024/25 municipal year and advised members that she would cover this in more detail at the next meeting if this was helpful.

The Panel was encouraged to put forward any comments on the suggested items, or to put forward any further items for consideration, to the Chairman or Director of Neighbourhoods.