The Committee is asked to note any apologies for absence and substitutions received from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Codling and Councillor Ferguson (substituted by Councillor Guglielmi).

To confirm and sign as a correct record, the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee, held on Monday 3 July 2023.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Monday 3 July 2023 be approved as a correct record.

Councillors are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Other Registerable Interests of Non-Registerable Interests, and the nature of it, in relation to any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest by Councillors in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting.

Subject to providing two working days’ notice, a Member of the Committee may ask the Chairman of the Committee a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the Tendring District and which falls within the terms of reference of the Committee.

Pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 38, Councillor Griffiths asked the following question:-

“Can we clarify why it takes over a year to produce a Health and Wellbeing Strategy?   With a general election next year, and the possibility of a change of government, is there not a possibility that any strategy considered by the cabinet at the start of next year, could have to be reviewed due to a change in political direction at national government level”?

The Chairman responded based on information provided to him, as follows:-

“The Health and Wellbeing Strategy was considered for review in late 2022.  To update the document requires a review of data, for which the 2021/22 information has only recently been made available, and consideration of potential future priorities in alignment with partners.

With an election in May 2023 it was appropriate to await the result of the election before proceeding as the strategy highlights the Council’s health and wellbeing priorities.  The high level priorities of the Council are currently being drafted and there is the potential for the Strategy to be included.

Whilst determining priorities consideration is given to the focus of our partners to ensure effective partnership working and alignment.

The Health and Wellbeing Strategy is now being aligned to the developing place planning work undertaken by the North East Essex Health and Wellbeing Alliance which will see a greater focus on place within Tendring.

Alignment with partners priorities to help deliver a system based approach which is soundly based on data is likely to remain a consistent approach even if there is political change”. 

Pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 38, Councillor McWilliams asked the following question:-

“At the meeting of the Full Council held on 11th July 2023, the Cabinet Member for Partnerships informed the Council that the new Clacton CCTV cameras and work associated with the scheme regarding upgrades, etc., which is being funded by the £317,000 of Essex Safer Streets funding, would be started soon in mid July 2023. It was also said that the system would be fully operational by October 2023.

As this system has not yet been in operation, could you please inform me as to why this has not yet occurred and when it is expected to be completed and fully operational”?

The Chairman responded based on information provided to him, as follows:-

“The Portfolio Holder for Partnerships is delighted that the Council was successful in its Essex Safer Streets bid. The work has indeed begun with the ordering of lighting upgrades for parts of the seafront gardens and the successful procurement of CCTV equipment for the work.

Regrettably, since the update provided to the Council in July, the officer team has identified some additional complexities around consents and procedures, including planning permissions (part including a conservation area matter), highway consents and the like, that need to be resolved in terms of the detailed locations of new poles and cameras.

This is regrettable, of course, but the officer  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

The Community Leadership overview and Scrutiny Committee (CLOSC) as the Crime and Disorder Committee (CDC) for the Council. At this meeting it shall review /scrutinise decisions made, action taken, in connection with the discharge by the responsible authorities of their crime and disorder function as the committee considers appropriate.

This is the first meeting of the Community Leadership Overview & Scrutiny Committee (CLOSC) since its formally designation as the CDC in the constitution. As such it is appropriate that the Committee considers the broad nature of the work of the Council and other responsible authorities for crime and disorder strategies in the District of Tendring,

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting for this item.  He indicated that there were a number of speakers and that as such (in order to ensure all those present had the opportunity to submit details of their activities) there was likely to be a restriction on the time for the Committee Members to question each speaker.  However, this approach had been agreed by Committee Members in advance of the meeting and areas for further questions/exploration would be recorded would be captured and then prioritised to support the development of the enquiry.

The Committee then heard an opening statement from Councillor Gina Placey in her role as Portfolio Holder for Partnerships:

“Good evening. As chair of Tendring CSP I am pleased to be able to welcome you to the first meeting of the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee since its formal designation as the statutory Crime and Disorder Committee; I would also like to thank the partners engaged in the Community Safety Partnership both for their ongoing contribution and for their attendance this evening.

Members of the committee are reminded that the CSP is made up of a number of statutory partners, including Tendring District Council, whose responsibilities include working together in formulating and implementing strategies to tackle local crime and disorder in the area and to address the partnerships identified priorities through a local CSP Delivery Plan.

The partnership has three key priorities:

The first: Tackling ASB and the root causes; this priority supports repeat and vulnerable victims of ASB. We are all aware that ASB affects families and communities so by working together to address the root causes we can help to improve the quality of life in the community.

Secondly: Preventing and reducing serious violence; this priority covers many areas, including Domestic Abuse, Sexual Offences, Exploitation, Gang related Violence, Hate Crime, Modern Day Slavery, Human Trafficking and Violent Extremism, to name but a few.

Our final priority speaks for itself as it relates to emerging threats and trends.

The CSP works alongside the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) for Essex, who unfortunately cannot be here this evening, however we will be hearing presentations from several Essex Police Officers in relation to how the partnership supports schemes to address domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour, as well as other crime types as identified within the PFCC’s overall plan for Essex.

The partners here this evening will be able to update us on general policing, crime and ASB statistics over the last five years, numbers of Officers in Tendring, county lines and cuckooing, as well as all partners being able to answer any other questions relating to the delivery of the CSP delivery plan, which is annexed in your pack.

You will see from the Delivery Plan there is a lot of fantastic work being carried out by all partners including many charitable/voluntary organisations, such as Youth Unity’s 1-2-1 mentoring programme.

Colleagues also have on the committee agenda tonight an item considering the proposed themes of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

The report provides the Committee with an update on its approved Work Programme for 2023/24 (including progress with enquiries set out in its Work Programme), feedback to the Committee on the decisions in respect of previous recommendations from the Committee in respects of enquiries undertaken and a list of forthcoming decisions for which notice has been given since publication of the agenda for the Committee’s last meeting.

The Committee was provided with a written report which provided an update on its approved Work Programme for 2023/24 (including progress with enquiries set out in its Work Programme), feedback to the Committee on the decisions in respect of previous recommendations from the Committee in respects of enquiries undertaken and a list of forthcoming decisions for which notice has been given since publication of the agenda for the Committee’s last meeting. In respect of recommendations monitoring, the report set out the Cabinet’s decisions (from its meeting on 21 July 2023 (Minute 20 refers)) on this Committee’s recommendations from its meeting on 7 March 2023 (Minute 26 refers) in respect of children missing from education.

The Committee heard an update on the Mainstream and Community Transport Provision Task and Finish Group from its Chairman, Councillor Steady. He outlined that the Group had undertaken one meeting with representations from Essex County Community Transport Groups and that a future meeting was to include the private transport companies.

The Committee also heard an update on the School Age Education Provision Task and Finish Group from its Chairman, Councillor Barrett. He outlined the position of the Group, having decided their two main focus areas, the first being attendance and absenteeism and the second being mental health provision for students. He informed the Committee that the Group had met once so far and had sent out letters to five schools in the District requesting permission for Members of the Task and Finish group to visit the schools and discuss the matters as addressed in the scope of the Task and Finish Group.  The next meeting of the task and Finish was to be held on 11 December 2023.

The Committee RESOLVED to note the report including the updated provided at the meeting.

The report considered by Cabinet on 21 July 2023 in respect of the developing Corporate Plan themes and consultation on those themes is attached for consideration by the Committee.

The Committee received a copy of the report provided to the Cabinet meeting on 21 July 2023 in respect of the emerging Corporate Plan for 2024-28.  The Head of Democratic Services and Elections introduced the report, he explained that the corporate plan consultation had concluded, and that Cabinet had recently approved a revised version of the Corporate Plan to be submitted to the next Council meeting.

The Committee were informed that Members would soon receive an electronic copy of the agenda for the upcoming Full Council meeting (with the revised version of the Corporate Plan 2024/28) and that Cabinet aimed to present the initial version of its highlight priorities for 2024/25 at its December meeting, along with tangible actions to implement the Corporate Plan in that first year of its term. These highlight priorities could be provided to the Committee as it considered elements of the budget for 2024/25. The Committee, although dealing with a discrete element of the Council’s budget, could review the Cabinet’s highlight priorities against the budget during its meeting on 11 January, particularly focusing on working with partners and grant funding for improvements in the quality of life, and funds received from entities like health bodies.

It was RESOLVED that the proposal for the Cabinet’s highlight priorities to be provided to the Committee at the meeting where it considers elements of the budget for 2024/25 be approved.