Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes of the meeting held on 19^th January 2016, having been circulated were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

            The Board was advised that no public questions had been received.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Community and Resources, which provided an update on the annual work of the Safer Halton Partnership during the period of the Creamfields Festival. The Board received a copy of a report from Cheshire Constabulary detailing Police planning for the 2015 event. The report had been previously submitted to the Regulatory Committee on the 18^th January 2016. A site visit to the Creamfields 2016 event would be arranged for Members.

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director Community and Resources which outlined the work of the National Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) and the current level of activity in Halton.

            The IMLT was based in Birmingham Trading Standards and had the responsibility to investigate loan shark activity across England and to support the victims. A documented protocol existed between the IMLT and individual Trading Standards Services which allowed the team to operate in the local authority area.

            Nationally, the IMLT had secured more than 332 prosecutions for illegal money lending and related activity, leading to nearly 212 years worth of custodial sentences. They had written off over £63m worth of illegal debt and helped over 26,000 people.

            Members were advised on the current position within Halton and previous examples of illegal money lending which had led to prosecution. The IMLT had no reports of loan shark activity in Halton for the last 12 months. However, this was not consistent with anecdotal information from Halton Credit Union whose members had mentioned loan activity to them. Whilst Halton Credit Union encouraged anybody of knowledge of loan sharks to report it to the IMLT, it appeared that most people were reluctant to do so.

            Halton Trading Standards, Halton Credit Union and the IMLT would be working together on an approach to assist and encourage members to report loan sharks anonymously.

            Recent initiatives included:-

·                     awareness raising across the Borough with the IMLT working with Social Landlords who had included items in their newsletters;

·                     the IMLT continued to work closely with the Police in terms of intelligence sharing;

·                     adult Safeguarding Teams had been trained by IMLT; and

·                     the IMLT and Halton Trading Standards had been a part of Halton’s Financial Abuse Working Group and had contributed to Halton’s Financial Abuse Toolkit; and

·                     IMLT had developed lesson plans to teach financial education to primary and secondary schools.

            Arising from the discussion it was suggested that Trading Standards contact Officers in the People and Family directorate to put an item in the Education bulletin which is circulated to schools.

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

            The Board received a report from the Strategic Director, Community and Resources, which provided an update in relation to the activities being supported across the Borough in response to domestic abuse and sexual violence. The report provided detailed information on the Halton Vision, the impact and cost of domestic abuse and Halton Domestic Abuse Service.

            Between 6^th February 2016 to 1^st August 2016, Halton Borough Council and Cheshire Police would be operating a joint initiative, Operation Enhance, with the overall aim to enhance the service provided to victims and Frontline Local Policing Unit Officers with support in relation to domestic abuse between intimate partners across the Runcorn Local Police Unit (LPU).

            As part of the Operation, during the weekend and Monday day shift there would be a Police Officer and an independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) on duty between 08.00 to 16.00 hours. Their primary role would be to provide the Frontline LPU Officers and victims with support in relation to domestic violence across the Runcorn LPU, ensuring appropriate and proportionate safeguards were in place for vulnerable victims, children and witnesses. Staff would not be there as the first line of response but as an addition to support the attending Officer, victims, vulnerable people and children.

            Initial enquiries suggested that the operation was working very effectively and was being positively received by victims of domestic abuse. It was noted that 34 victims had been spoken to and 32 had engaged with the service over the past five weekends. A full evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of this new approach would be available at the end of the pilot.

            In addition, Members were advised on the White Ribbon Campaign and the Be a Lover Not a Fighter Campaign.

            On behalf of the Board, the Chairman thanked Officers for their continued hard work and requested a future report on the Corporate White Ribbon Campaign.

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

            The Board was advised on the planning and development of the National Recovery Walk 2016. The UK Recovery Walks had become an annual event that combined the celebration of recovery with advocacy activities. Each year, a new city or town took on the responsibility for hosting the walk and this year it would be held in Halton on Saturday 10^th September 2016 and would be followed by an afternoon of celebrations, music and family activities at the Select Security Stadium.

            Members were advised that on 24^th March at 1.0 0 pm a meeting would be held to finalise arrangements for the walk and anyone who could provide support to the event were invited to attend.

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

            The Board considered presentation which provided information on the preparations for match day operations and compliance with The Guide to Safety as Sport Grounds Act 1975 at the Select Stadium, Widnes. Members were advised on:

·         A recent incident at the stadium prior to an Everton Ladies match and the steps that were taken;

·         Recruitment and training of Stadium Stewards; and

·         The Council’s duty of care for operating the Stadium.

            Members were invited to attend a future match at the stadium to view how the Stadium operated on match days.

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Community and Resources which presented the progress of key performance indicators, milestones and targets relating to Safer Halton in Quarter 3 of 2015/16. Appendix 1 to the report contained a progress update regarding the implementation of all directorate high-risk mitigation measures that were relevant to the remit of the Board.

            RESOLVED: That the report and comments raised be noted.