Issue - meetings

The Democratic Services Officer introduced the report and highlighted the example questions contained within point 2.7 of the report. The review’s timeline and the urgent updates provided were briefly outlined.

The attendees were as follows, with each attendee having briefly introduced themselves and their role at the Council:

·  Julie Maddocks, Communications Manager

·  Martyn Jeynes, Community and Strategic Partnerships Manager

·  John Littlemore, Head of Housing and Regulatory Services

The attendees were asked for their views on the progress made to Town Centre Safety; the Head of Housing and Regulatory Services stated that public safety had been improved across the day-and-night-time economies. The requests made by the previous Communities, Housing and Environment Committee had been actioned in recognition of the previous concerns raised.

The Community and Strategic Partnerships Manager emphasised that the Town Centre Task Force (TCTF) had implemented fundamental actions to improve public safety but recognised that some of these may be long-term.  The short-term actions, such as youth hub provision and increased communications were briefly outlined. Individuals were beginning to actively challenge against negative perceptions of the Town Centre.

The Communications Manager stated that Town Centre Safety had been a priority for their team across the past 12 months, with 16 press releases produced relating to Community Protection, Public Safety, Enforcement and Waste Crime. The ‘Safer Streets’ funding had enabled further advertising through posters and banners, with a radio campaign beginning on 23 December 2022. The Stay Connected Newsletters through the GovDelivery system and the Council’s Borough Insight Magazine were outlined as additional methods to providing information to local residents. The communication with external stakeholders and partnership organisations had improved across the last year.

All attendees noted the difficulty in improving the Town Centre’s reputation, but that progress was being made.

The Committee reiterated the need to ensure that the communications produced promoted the positive actions and achievements of the Council, particularly as negative press often attracted greater attention, acting to outweigh the positive communications produced.

In response to questions, the Head of Housing and Regulatory Services stated that they would provide a written response to the Committee on the suitability of Licensing Officers attending the Town Centre Street Scene meetings; provided that the team were given sufficient notice, they could attend those meetings where appropriate. The liaison between the Council’s Licensing and Community Safety Teams and Kent Police was excellent, with the teams co-located to assist in partnership working.

The Committee strongly expressed concern at violence and crime directed at women and young girls and the need to challenge inappropriate behaviour. In response, the Head of Housing and Regulatory Services referenced the long-term aspirations of the work currently being undertaken, such as educating young men and boys, in improving public safety.

The Community and Strategic Partnerships Manager stated that they and their colleagues had recently visited the Town Centre during a Friday evening, to directly engage with women and ask for them to complete a safety survey; cup covers were also distributed. In response to questions, it was stated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70