Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources which provided information on the progress in achieving targets contained within the 2011 – 2016 Sustainable Community Strategy for Halton (SCS).

The Board was advised that the new Sustainable Community Strategy and its associated “living” 5 year delivery plan (2011-16), identified five community priorities that would form the basis of collective partnership intervention and action over the coming five years. The strategy was informed by and brought together national and local priorities and was aligned to other local delivery plans such as that of the Halton Children’s Trust. By being a “living” document it would provide sufficient flexibility to evolve as continuing changes within the public sector continued to emerge.

The Board was further advised that in response to legislative changes, Placeholder measures had also been included where new services were to be developed or new performance information was to be captured. Baselines for this would also be established in 2011/12 or 2012/13, against which future services would be monitored. The availability of information was currently being reviewed with partners.

It was reported that progress for the period to year end 31 March 2013, which included a summary of all indicators for the Safer priority within the SCS was included in Appendix 1 of the report.

The following comments arose from the discussion:-

·       Page 38 – SH11 and 12 – Clarity was sought on the downwards arrow.  In response, it was reported that the downward arrow was misleading as the target had been exceeded but in comparison to last year it was lower hence the downward arrow.  There had also been changes in the safeguarding threshold this year resulting in different data being collated;

·       Page 40 – 6^th bullet point – The bid to secure continuation funding re-submitted to the ‘Lottery’ – The Board noted the progress in respect of the bid.  The Board requested that they receive regular update reports on the progress of the bid;

·       Page 40 – Off line meeting with the Housing Provider to chase up outstanding environmental works - The Board requested that Officers contact the provider and ask them to send Members a list of any improvements that will be undertaken in the next three months;

·       The poster campaign in regarding domestic violence was noted.  It was also agreed that a report be presented to the next meeting of the Board on poster campaigns that have taken place in the Borough.

The Chairman reported that there had been a change in Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and they would now be attached to the community.  He indicated that the PCSO dealing with Licensing had provided an excellent service, including monitoring and supporting the Pub Watch Scheme.  After discussion, the Board agreed that a letter be sent to Cheshire Police indicating that there had been no consultation on the changes and indicating that the Board were unhappy with the decision.  It was also agreed that the Board monitor and review the impact of the changes on the night time economy in six months.

RESOLVED: That the report and comments raised be noted.