Minutes Template

MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

Communities, Housing and Environment Committee

 

Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 17 November 2015

 

Present:

Councillor Mrs Ring (Chairman), and

Councillors Hemsley, D Mortimer, Newton, Perry, Webb, Webster and J.A. Wilson

 

 

 

 

<AI1>

50.        Apologies for Absence

 

It was noted that apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs Parvin.

 

</AI1>

<AI2>

51.        Notification of Substitute Members

 

It was noted that Councillor Hemsley substituted for Councillor Mrs Parvin.

 

</AI2>

<AI3>

52.        Notification of Visiting Members

 

There were no visiting members.

 

</AI3>

<AI4>

53.        Disclosures by Members and Officers

 

There were no disclosures by members or officers.

 

</AI4>

<AI5>

54.        Disclosures of Lobbying

 

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

 

</AI5>

<AI6>

55.        To consider whether any items should be taken in private because of the possible disclosure of exempt information.

 

RESOLVED: That the items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.

 

</AI6>

<AI7>

56.        Safer Maidstone Partnership mid-year update

 

John Littlemore, Head of Housing and Community Services introduced the Safer Maidstone Partnership – Mid-year Update. The report outlined the Safer Maidstone Partnerships achievements to date and future priorities and challenges.

 

Chief Inspector Mick Gardner gave a presentation. During the course of the presentation and in the discussion that followed, the following points were made:

 

·         There were financial challenges ahead in terms of savings to be made for Kent Police;

·         There would be a new policing model under which the Chief Inspector would be District Commander for Maidstone and Ashford;

·         There would be a move away from reporting crime statistics; a more holistic approach was to be taken which would be an assessment of threat, harm and risk;

·         In terms of Violent Crime, all incidents were being recorded so that analysis could be undertaken to address the ‘spikes’ in this type of crime;

·         In response to concerns raised about the SMP priorities and the areas of the borough targeted, it was explained that a strategic assessment was undertaken on an annual basis which would come to the Committee in March 2016;

·         It was clarified that it was the Committee’s duty to hold the partnership to account but that the partnership held each other to account on a weekly basis as well as at the DV (Domestic Violence) forum;

·         In relation to Domestic Abuse (DA), the Committee was informed on MARIC, the multi-agency approach to case management;

·         The One Stop Shop had seen a 60% rise in attendance;

·         It was confirmed that the One Stop Shop was a drop in service, no referral was needed;

·         The Committee was informed about projects with young people. It was emphasised that the focus should be on prevention.  To achieve this DA needed to be addressed early within the education system;

·         Choices (Specialist Domestic Abuse Services) was responsible for commissioning DA services for high risk, there was no medium risk commissioning in Kent which was an issue;

·         West Kent Recovery Service – CRI, worked with anyone with any type of addiction.  They described the overarching issues for clients including housing, safeguarding and employment which needed to be addressed; and

·         People came in crisis; CRI were trying to get the message to GPs to refer early.

 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

 

 

</AI7>

<AI8>

57.        Duration of meeting

 

6.30pm to 7.56pm

</AI8>

<TRAILER_SECTION>

 

</TRAILER_SECTION>

 

<LAYOUT_SECTION>

 

FIELD_SUMMARY

</LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLE_ONLY_LAYOUT_SECTION>

 

</TITLE_ONLY_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<HEADING_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_TITLE

</HEADING_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<TITLED_COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_TITLE

 

FIELD_SUMMARY

</ TITLED_COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

FIELD_SUMMARY

 

</COMMENT_LAYOUT_SECTION>

 

<SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

 

FIELD_SUMMARY

</SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

 

<TITLE_ONLY_SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

 

</TITLE_ONLY_SUBNUMBER_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<RESTRICTED_LAYOUT_SECTION>

 

FIELD_RESTRICTED_SUMMARY

 

</RESTRICTED_LAYOUT_SECTION>

<RESTRICTED_TITLE_ONLY_LAYOUT_SECTION>

 

</RESTRICTED_TITLE_ONLY_LAYOUT_SECTION>