The Cabinet Member for Housing and Health introduced the Cabinet SCRAIP to the ‘Safety in the Town Centre’ Review (the review).

In response to questions, the Community and Strategic Partnerships Manager explained that Members needed to individually sign up to the ‘My Community Voice’ app due to General Data Protection Regulation, and to select their preferences for area updates. The work undertaken by the Community Safety Team was responsive and flexible in its approach, for example, Cluster Ward Meetings often lead to follow-up actions for the Task Force at its next meeting. The Horizon plan was highlighted as its outlined the work being taken across 3, 6 and 12 month periods.

The Committee expressed support for the Cabinet’s response to the recommendations made from the review. It was stated that it would be helpful for timelines to be included in the responses where relevant, for example when mentioning a future meeting.

The Cabinet Member encouraged all Members to approach her with any Community Safety concerns they may have.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet SCRAIP – Response to the Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Safety in the Town Centre, be noted. 

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Health introduced the Cabinet’s response to the Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Safety in the Town Centre.  She stated that she supported the response on the papers, and welcomed Councillors spending time with officers in relation to Public Spaces Protection Orders and seeing the level of work that goes in to keeping the town centre safe.

Councillor English addressed the meeting on behalf of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, he thanked the Cabinet for the response and highlighted that some good had already come from the work.  Following a meeting of the Community Rail Partnership there had already been improvements to the policing of fare evasion, linked to anti-social behaviour.

Councillors Harper and Jeffery addressed the meeting as Visiting Members.

In response to questions it was highlighted that the Safety in the Town Centre work also formed useful context for developing the Town Centre Strategy, and that the Council’s regular residents surveys included gathering views on anti-social behaviour.  It was also noted that the work of the Safer Maidstone Partnership included a strategic assessment of crime and disorder in the borough, with a specific priority focussed on the town centre.  In response to a question about road safety, particularly in relation to pedestrianised areas of the High Street, it was noted that this was not within the scope of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee report, but that it was part of the data informed work on the Town Centre Strategy.

RESOLVED: That the completed Overview and Scrutiny Committee Recommended Action and Implementation Plan be agreed as the formal response to the Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Safety in the Town Centre.