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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Davidson and Thompson with no substitutions appointed.

To confirm and sign as a correct record, the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee, held on Tuesday 10 February 2026.

It was unanimously RESOLVED that the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chairman.

Councillors are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Personal Interest, and the nature of it, in relation to any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made 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.

No Questions on Notice pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 38 had been submitted by Members for this meeting.

To report to the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the progress of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy, which was implemented in April 2025.

The Community Safety and Safeguarding Manager updated the Committee on the progress of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy, which was implemented in April 2025.

Members were reminded that the Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy focused on published data about specific crimes, the strategy’s objectives, and offered feedback on achievements within its first year of implementation. The Committee was invited to discuss planned actions for the second year of the strategy.

The Committee received a comprehensive update on the first year of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy 2025–2028, which set out a coordinated, multi?agency approach to reducing crime, disorder, and anti?social behaviour (ASB) across the District.

The strategy was informed by the annual Strategic Assessment, which drew on crime data, public consultation, and emerging trends. Members were advised that the assessment highlighted increasing risks to children and young adults, including the targeting of young people by criminal gangs for drug transportation. The report (A.1) noted that although that was a national issue, partners “must remain vigilant and able to identify signs of children being targeted.”

The Committee was reminded that Community Safety Partnerships (CSP – the “Partnership”) had been established under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and remained responsible for:

•                  Producing annual strategic assessments

•                  Identifying local crime and ASB priorities

•                  Consulting communities

•                  Monitoring progress

The Tendring Strategy aligned with those statutory duties and set out three?year priorities, reviewed annually to ensure their relevance.

2025–2026 Priorities

1. Tackling ASB and root causes
2. High Harm Violence (VAWG & Domestic Abuse)
3. Drug and Knife?Enabled Serious Violence
4. Emerging Threats (shoplifting, vehicle crime, arson, criminal damage)

2026–2027 Priorities

The same four themes had been retained, with a refined focus on vehicle crime and arson under the Emerging Threats priority.

The Committee was reminded that the purpose and aims of the Crime & Disorder Strategy set out the Partnership’s ambitions for the District and confirmed the strategic priorities. The Strategy detailed the intended outcomes, the approach to delivery, and the resources required. It also outlined the range of responsibilities and priorities, serving as a key tool for directing effort and resources appropriately.

Members were advised that  subsequent sections of the report (A.1) presented published data relating to specific crime types, outline the objectives of the Strategy, and provided an assessment of achievements during its first year. Crime statistics would be reviewed using the same reference period as the Strategy, covering October 2024 to September 2025.

Essex Police Reported Crime Data

Reported ASB

The report reminds the Committee of the approved terms of reference for the Community Governance Review of Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea and Jaywick Sands and its implementation to this point.  The Committee is also advised of the outcome of the Phase II consultation exercise (Stage 4 in the Terms of Reference Timeline) as part of that Review (including the expenditure incurred to date). 

The report builds on that presented to the Committee on 17 November 2025 with the outcome of the Phase I consultation exercise.  That exercise revealed that 74% of elector respondents across the review area thought it was wrong that the whole area was still unparished.  There was over a 7% response rate from electors across the review area.  Stakeholder respondents likewise thought it was wrong that the area was unparished.  The option for parishing the area that gained the most support (44% of elector responses) was three separate parish councils for the three separate communities.  In Jaywick Sands and in Holland-on-Sea over 50% of elector responses were in favour of separate parish councils. 

This report, through its appendices, sets out the views of respondents on the basic principle of establishing parish councils and then on what the arrangements for those councils could/should be. 

Taking account of the two Phases of consultation, the Committee is invited to approve its final recommendations to Council around the creation of separate Parishes, for the three communities referred to, with effect from 1 April 2027.  A series of further final recommendations from the review are then set out to meet the requirements of Part 4 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (“the 2007 Act”) for such reviews.  Proposed steps up to the elections to the possible three Parish Councils, in May 2027, are then provided to the Committee to consider.

The Committee was reminded of the approved terms of reference for the Community Governance Review (CGR) of Clacton?on?Sea, Holland?on?Sea and Jaywick Sands, together with the progress made in its implementation to date. Members were also advised of the outcome of the Phase II consultation exercise (Stage 4 of the Terms of Reference Timeline), including the expenditure incurred.

The report (A.2) built on that presented to the Committee on 17 November 2025, which had outlined the results of the Phase I consultation. That earlier consultation had shown that 74% of elector respondents across the review area considered it wrong that the whole area remained unparished. The response rate from electors had exceeded 7%. Stakeholder respondents had similarly expressed the view that the area should not remain unparished. The option receiving the highest level of support (44% of elector responses) was the creation of three separate parish councils for the three distinct communities. In both Jaywick Sands and Holland?on?Sea, over 50% of elector responses had supported separate parish councils.

The report (A.2), through its appendices, set out respondents’ views on the principle of establishing parish councils and on the potential arrangements for those councils.

Having considered the findings from both consultation phases, the Committee was invited to approve its final recommendations to Council for the creation of separate parishes for the three communities, to take effect from 1 April 2027. A series of further final recommendations was presented to meet the requirements of Part 4 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. Proposed steps leading up to the potential elections for the three parish councils in May 2027 were also provided for the Committee’s consideration.

The Committee was informed that the CGR for Clacton?on?Sea, Holland?on?Sea and Jaywick Sands had commenced on 1 July 2025 following the publication of the Terms of Reference.

For context, the chronology of the governance process for the CGR was reported as follows:

•                  21 October 2024 – A motion was submitted to Full Council requesting a report outlining the process for undertaking a CGR in the review area.

•                  15 November 2024 – Full Council received and approved a report proposing that a CGR be undertaken based on draft Terms of Reference. The Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee was designated as the oversight body for the Review, and the Chief Executive was authorised to update and publish the Terms of Reference on 1 July 2025.

•                  20 December 2024 – Cabinet approved funding of £48,000 to meet anticipated CGR costs, subject to a review of sufficiency.

•                  17 June 2025 – The Community Leadership Overview & Scrutiny Committee received a report on the proposed commencement of the CGR and agreed to refer a request to Cabinet for an increased budget of £68,000. The Committee also approved a date for reviewing the outcome of the first consultation stage and preparing for the next phase. This meeting was initially scheduled for 20 October but was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

The report provides the Committee with its approved Work Programme for 2025/26, feedback to the Committee on the decisions in respect of previous recommendations from the Committee in respect of enquiries undertaken and a list of forthcoming decisions for which public notice has been given.

The Committee was reminded of its approved Work Programme for 2025/26, feedback on decisions made in response to previous recommendations arising from completed enquiries, and a list of forthcoming decisions for which public notice had been issued.

It was reported that a review of the Committee’s Work Programme, in the light of the recent Ministerial announcement on the next steps toward Local Government Reorganisation, had been deferred to the next meeting of the Committee, scheduled for 16 June 2026. In the meantime, the Chairmen of both of the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees were to meet with the Leader of the Council, the Deputy Leader, and Senior Officers to consider priorities for the forthcoming municipal year’s Work Programmes. Members were therefore invited to submit any proposals or lines of enquiry for consideration at the June 2026 meeting.

It was highlighted to Members that preparatory work on the aforementioned Work Programme for 2026/27 had commenced, with the intention of submitting a report to Council on 11 August 2026. This report would be accompanied by the annual report on the Council’s overview and scrutiny function for 2025/26. Both documents were to be considered at a future meeting of the Committee, prior to their submission to Council. Members of the Committee were encouraged to put forward proposals for the Work Programme and for the content of the annual report.

The Chairman, Councillor Steady, formally recorded his thanks to fellow Committee Members for the three recommendations submitted to Cabinet on three separate items.