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OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE |
18 OCTOBER 2022 |
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Safety Review – External Stakeholder Consultation |
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Will this be a Key Decision?
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Not Applicable
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Urgency |
Not Applicable |
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Final Decision-Maker |
Overview and Scrutiny Committee |
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Lead Director |
Angela Woodhouse, Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance |
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Lead Officer and Report Author |
Oliviya Parfitt, Democratic Services Officer |
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Classification |
Public
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Wards affected |
All, but particularly High Street Ward |
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Executive Summary |
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This report outlines the steps to be taken at the 18 October 2022 meeting of the Committee in conducting its Safety Review.
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Purpose of Report
Discussion and Noting
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This report makes the following recommendations to the Committee: |
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1. To continue its Safety Review through interviewing External Stakeholders in attendance; and 2. To provide direction on the next steps of the review. |
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Safety Review – External Stakeholder Consultation |
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1. CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS
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Issue |
Implications |
Sign-off |
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Impact on Corporate Priorities |
The four Strategic Plan objectives are:
· Embracing Growth and Enabling Infrastructure · Safe, Clean and Green · Homes and Communities · A Thriving Place The recommendations of the report support the continuation of the Safety Review commenced at the 6 October Meeting of the Committee. The outcomes of the review could materially improve the Council’s ability to achieve all corporate priorities, due to the Committee’s role in reviewing and recommending actions on its work topics. |
Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance |
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Cross Cutting Objectives |
The four cross-cutting objectives are:
· Heritage is Respected · Health Inequalities are Addressed and Reduced · Deprivation and Social Mobility is Improved · Biodiversity and Environmental Sustainability is respected The recommendations of the report support the continuation of the Safety Review commenced at the 6 October Meeting of the Committee. The outcomes of the review could materially improve the Council’s ability to achieve all corporate priorities, due to the Committee’s role in reviewing and recommending actions on its work topics. |
Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance |
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Risk Management |
See Section 5 of the report.
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Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance |
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Financial |
The proposals set out in the recommendation are all within already approved budgetary headings and so need no new funding for implementation. |
Head of Finance |
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Staffing |
We will deliver the recommendations with our current staffing. |
Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance |
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Legal |
In accordance with Part 1A of the Local Government Act 2000 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011) the Council is operating under Executive Arrangements.
These arrangements must include provision for the appointment of one or more Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review and scrutinise the Executive Decisions made, or other actions taken – LGA 2000, Section 9F. |
Interim Monitoring Officer |
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Information Governance |
The recommendations do not impact personal information (as defined in UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018) the Council processes. |
Senior Information Governance Officer |
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Equalities |
The recommendations do not propose a change in service therefore will not require an equalities impact assessment |
Equalities and Communities Officer |
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Public Health
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We recognise that the recommendations have the potential to positively impact the population health or that of individuals. |
Senior Public Health Officer |
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Crime and Disorder |
The report’s recommendations will not impact Crime & Disorder, however the Committee is likely to propose recommendations aimed at positively impacting crime and disorder in concluding the Safety Review. |
Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance |
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Procurement |
No impacts identified. |
Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance |
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Biodiversity and Climate Change |
There are no immediate implications on biodiversity and climate change at this stage of the review. If any implications arise, these will be highlighted at that time. |
Democratic Services Officer |
2. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
2.1 At its meeting on the 6 October 2022, the Committee formally began its Safety Review. The review focuses on examining the current measures in place, and identify any improvements required, in ensuring the safety of individuals within Maidstone Town Centre.
2.2 At that meeting, a briefing was provided by officers from the Council, Kent County Council and Kent Police, focusing on the Town Centre Task Force and ongoing partnership working in reducing crime and improving safety. The presentation provided has been attached at Appendix 1 to the report. and (draft) minutes of the meeting can be accessed earlier in the agenda papers, or by the link shown in Section 8 of this report.
2.3 The next stage is to interview external stakeholders as part of the evidence collection process. In accordance with the review’s scope attached at Appendix 3 to the report, the external stakeholders invited have been listed below. Given the short turn-around between the 6 and 18 October meetings, not all of the stakeholders have confirmed whether they will be attending at this stage.
One Maidstone
The Mall
Golding Homes
Mid-Kent College
2.4 For this part of the review, the Committee may want to focus their questioning on the key themes identified from its previous meeting. These were based on the questions asked and sentiments expressed by the Committee and Officers. These are attached at Appendix 2 to the report.
Example Questions may include:
· How important is partnership working in improving safety within the Town Centre?
· What aspects of Partnership working are carried out particularly well?
· Are there any areas for improvement?
· Do you think there needs to be an improvement in how safety measures are communicated to the public?
· Is there an additional resource need, and if so, where does that need sit?
· Is there further support required from the Council?
· Is there anything Members can do to support improved safety in the town centre?
2.5 This report and associated appendices will be sent to the external stakeholders to support them in preparing to attend the 18 October meeting of the Committee. Any further questions submitted by Members will be collated and sent to both the external stakeholders and the Committee.
3. PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1 There is no preferred option from an officer perspective, as this report aims to support the Committee in continuing its review by providing the relevant supporting information required.
4. RISK
4.1 The risks associated with this proposal, including the risks if the Council does not act as recommended, have been considered in line with the Council’s Risk Management Framework. We are satisfied that the risks associated are within the Council’s risk appetite and will be managed as per the Policy.
5. CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK
5.1 This report supports the Committee in the continuation of its Safety Review.
6. NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION
6.1 The 22 November 2022 Meeting of the Committee will focus on evidence collection from Council Officers. The themes identified at the 18 October meeting will be collated to produce a similar report and appendix list (to this report), that will support the Committee and interviewees at its November meeting.
7. REPORT APPENDICES
The following documents are to be published with this report and form part of the report:
· Appendix 1: Themes Identified from Member Briefing (6 October 2022)
· Appendix 2: Presentation provided at the 6 October 2022 Meeting.
· Appendix 3: Safety Review Scope
8. BACKGROUND PAPERS
(Agenda Pack & Minutes) Overview and Scrutiny acting as the Crime and Disorder Committee Meeting held on 6 October 2022:
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