MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

COUNCIL

23 APRIL 2014

REPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, LEISURE SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENT OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE                              

Report prepared by Christian Scade

CRIME AND DISORDER REDUCTION PARTNERSHIP OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY – AMENDMENT TO PROCEDURE RULES 

1.       Introduction

1.1        On 11 February 2014 the Community, Leisure Services and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the protocols for Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership Overview and Scrutiny.

1.2        The Committee recommended a number of revisions to the protocols. These are set out in full at Appendix A.

2.       Background

2.1        The Community, Leisure Services and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee has a statutory role to act as a Crime and Disorder Overview and Scrutiny Committee in accordance with sections 19 and 21 of the Police and Justice Act 2006.

2.2        Maidstone’s protocols for Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership Overview and Scrutiny form part of the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, set out in Part 4 of the Constitution.

2.3        The protocols, and amendments proposed at 3.1, are based on clearly defined principles which include ‘a focus on supporting the reduction of crime and anti-social behaviour and reducing fear of crime and anti -social behaviour in the Borough of Maidstone’.      

3.       RECOMMENDED:

3.1     That the Constitution be amended as follows:-

(a)         Second bullet point, paragraph 1, of Appendix 3 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules be updated and replaced with the following:

·         “The continued existence of a Crime and Disorder Committee within the Overview and Scrutiny Function at Maidstone Borough Council (currently the Community, Leisure Services and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee);”

(b)         Section 10.2, of Appendix 3 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules be deleted and replaced with; 

·         “In addition to Co-option, the Crime and Disorder Committee will invite the Chief Inspector from Kent Police (Maidstone) to attend committee meetings when items on community safety are being considered.”    

(c)         Section 11, of Appendix 3 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules be updated and replaced with:

·         “These protocols will be reviewed on an annual basis, at the first meeting of the Crime and Disorder Committee each Municipal Year by the Committee and the Safer Maidstone Partnership Chairman to ensure that they remain fit for purpose.”

4.       Relevant Documents

4.1     Appendix A:

Maidstone Protocols for Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership Overview and Scrutiny