Agenda item
CABINET
MEMBER: COUNCILLOR DAFYDD MEURIG
To provide an overview
to Members of the activities
of the Gwynedd and Anglesey Community
Safety Partnership (CSP) during the period 2020-21, and developments for 2021-22.
Decision:
RESOLVED:
1. To accept
the content of the report and supplementary documents and note the
observations, and support the priorities and direction of the work in the
future.
2. To contact
the Chair of the Council to note the Committee's wish to extend an invitation
to the Police and Crime Commissioner to a meeting of the Full Council.
3. To ask the partnership
to consider having other members of the partnership to be in
attendance at the Communities Scrutiny Committee's Crime and Disorder
meeting.
Minutes:
The report was submitted by the Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and
Well-being, who gave the background and context, and noted that local
authorities had a statutory duty to work in partnership with the Police, the
Health Service, the Probation Service and the Fire and Rescue Service, to address
the local community safety agenda. He explained
that a strategic assessment was undertaken to identify regional priorities, the
local plans to address these priorities were before the Committee.
He handed
over to the Community Safety Implementation and Projects Officer. An overview
was given of the principal points within the report and it was explained that
the partnership was required to formally report to the Committee annually to
give an update on the partnership's work. The main milestones achieved during
the latest period were noted and an overview of the work underway was given.
During
the discussion, the following main points were noted by members:
·
A question
was asked about the five action points that had not been achieved for nearly
two years. What were the next steps to
be undertaken?
·
Reference
was made to the work of identifying appropriate buildings for the substance
abuse team in Bangor and it was asked if it was possible to get further
information.
·
An enquiry was
made about the street pastors scheme and why they were
not operational as the Council had been using Zoom for eighteen months, could
they not also use it?
·
It was asked
if work regarding modern slavery was part of the partnership.
·
Disappointment
was expressed that other representatives from the partnership were not present
to answer questions.
·
It was asked
how much work the partnership undertook to work jointly to prevent crimes such
as domestic abuse.
·
A member
noted that she was concerned about the increase in people who required mental
health support, those misusing alcohol and the homelessness particularly in
Gwynedd.
·
It was asked
if it was possible to have a meeting with the new Police and Crime
Commissioner, his predecessor had been before the Full Council in the
past.
·
It was
stated that the topics within the report were relevant to youth clubs and it
was asked if youth clubs were part of the partnership.
·
The idea of
inviting the Police and Crime Commissioner to the Full Council was supported for
all members to be able to meet him.
·
A question
was asked about cyber crime as problems
arose on social media websites with people disclosing data by responding to
general questions. There was a need to bring pressure to bear on social media
companies to act when cases were reported.
·
This was
reiterated and it was noted that it was a problem throughout the country, the
Westminster Government needed to act.
In
response the officers noted:
·
In terms of
the five actions, it had not been possible to deliver these due to other
priorities. Some would also be considered again in the future.
·
In relation
to the street pastors, over lockdown people did not go out as public houses
were closed, therefore they were not needed. In addition, as the restrictions were relaxed
they did not feel safe to be out due to covid-19. It was added that it would be possible to
re-visit this in the future.
·
It was noted
that the information regarding suitable buildings for the substance misuse team
would be provided to the member following this Committee.
·
Thus far,
there had been no cases of modern slavery in Gwynedd, however, there was an
awareness that this was a matter that may arise in any area.
·
It was noted
that the consultation on the domestic and sexual abuse strategy was open until
1 February. In terms of the education
field, matters regarding healthy relationships would become part of the new
curriculum for Wales.
·
Agencies had
been offering virtual support and support work with alcohol abuse during the
pandemic.
·
That it was
possible for the Youth Service to feed into the partnership's work.
·
Cyber crime was a matter that the Police took seriously and they
held training for older people to raise awareness. The matter would be raised at the Partnership
meeting and to ask what was the response received from social media companies
when reporting.
RESOLVED:
1. To accept
the content of the report and supplementary documents and note the
observations, and support the priorities and direction of the work in the
future.
2. To contact
the Chair of the Council to note the Committee's wish to extend an invitation
to the Police and Crime Commissioner to a meeting of the Full Council.
3. To ask the
partnership to consider having other members of the partnership to be in attendance at the Communities Scrutiny Committee's
Crime and Disorder meeting.
Supporting documents: