Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence from the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Annie Brenton, Councillor Shepherd and the Head of Legal and Governance (& Monitoring Officer).

Confirmation of the minutes from the meeting held on Wednesday 01 November 2023.

It was proposed by Councillor Cottle-Hunkin, seconded by Councillor Harding and –

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 01 November 2023 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

(Vote: For 6, Abstentions 1)

To review the action list.

Members agreed to defer the item to the following meeting.

Members with interests should refer to the agenda item and describe the nature of their interest when the item is considered.

Members were reminded that declarations of interest should be made as and when the specific agenda item to which they related was under discussion.

There were no Part II items.

Chair raised the re-opening of the consultation on proposed closure of the Link Centres for Bideford, Barnstaple and Ilfracombe. A letter was then read to Committee members on behalf of Councillor Annie Brenton, this was in relation to a recent meeting on the Link Centre proposals with Devon County Council and Councillor McInnes.

Members were advised that the Consultation was open until Wednesday 6^th December 2023 and a final decision was due on 9^th February 2024.

There was discussion regarding the impact of the closures and members were urged to respond with their own representations.

To review the forward plan.

Members agreed to defer the item to the following meeting.

Report by the Chair of the North Devon and Torridge Community Safety Partnership.

Members of the North Devon Council Crime and Disorder Sub-Committee, and Torridge District Council’s External Overview and Scrutiny Committee were present for the update.

Superintendent Toby Davies introduced himself as the current Chair of the Community Safety Partnership. 

Members were also introduced to: Kevin Connar (Community Safety Sergeant), Inspector Andrew Wills (Barnstaple Town Inspector), Chief Inspector Graham Thomas (North and West Devon Chief Inspector), and Inspector Richard Preston (North Devon and Ilfracombe Inspector).

Superintendent Davies gave a brief detail of the background to the role of the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) and confirmed that there was a legal requirement for the partners to work together with regard to domestic, homicidal review, suicide (off the back of domestic abuse) and knife crime.

Superintendent Davies noted that the majority of officers involved in the CSP had been appointed since the previous meeting (of November 2022), and that this CSP was the only one within the Devon area which was chaired by police personnel. He would be ‘sitting back’ from his position as Chair but would still be involved with the CSP.

Superintendent Davies highlighted the main areas of focus – these were confirmed as:

•           Serious violence (including violence against women and girls)

•           Safer Streets (including anti-social behaviour (ASB))

•           Emerging Threats (including Hate Crime)

The main points highlighted were as follows:

•           The Devon and Cornwall area remained one of the safest.

•           Anti-social behaviour had reduced by 17%

•           The area was, in the majority, rural, which gave a greater sense of isolation and vulnerability among its residents.

•           Local threats were most likely ‘hidden from view’ in the form of domestic violence.

•           Project ‘Night time’ was looking to tackle problems caused by the night-time economy.

•           The success of the recently-introduced ‘night-bus’ service between Bideford and Barnstaple.

•           Street Marshalls

•           County Lines / Cuckoo-ing / drug dealing networks.

•           ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign – and other campaigns within the licensing trade – eg identifying vulnerable customers, anti-drink spiking campaigns.

•           the CSP area was responsible for sharing the highest amount of Partnership Intelligence through to Devon & Cornwall Police.

Superintendent Davies advised that:

•           the Safer Streets initiative had helped to reduce crime although the main benefit was the improvement in visible behaviour, and the reduction of the public feeling unsafe in the towns.

•           Joint patrols had taken place.

•           There had been an increase in the number of Community protection notices being issued.

•           ASB House closures had been issued where properties had been linked to drug supply.

•           A tailored-approach to working with the individuals causing the most issues: identifying those people and assigning case-workers to help them.

•           Tackling Hate Crimes would be given a higher priority.

•           The Police were interested in the possibility of utilising ‘hubs’ within Bideford and Barnstaple. NDC were consulting on the possible creation of a community hub in Green Lanes, Barnstaple, and TDC were considering using office space at Jubilee Square, Bideford.

The Public Health  ...  view the full minutes text for item 230.