Agenda and minutes

            The Chair announced that he would be attending a meeting of the Police and Crime Commissioner Panel shortly and he would raise any strategic issues Members may have. In addition, the Board received a brief update on the progress on White Ribbon status for the Council.

            The Minutes of the meeting held on 14^th July 2020  were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

            It was reported that no questions had been received.

            The minutes from the previous Safer Halton Partnership (SHP) meeting held on 16^th October 2019, were presented to the Board for information.

            The Board considered a report from the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided an update on both alcohol and substance misuse services and details of the support they provided for vulnerable local people during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

            In respect of Adult Services, since lockdown to 9^th July 2020, 15,164 attempted contacts had been made with 8,389 successful contacts by telephone, 231 successful contacts by video and 335 successful face-to-face contacts.  Work was now underway to remobilise service provision and to learn from innovative practices, such as video consultations and digital support to ensure they could be developed into local best practice.

            With regard to services for Children and Young People, these had also  continued remotely throughout the Pandemic.  The Board noted provisional data for 2018/19 – 2019/20 for the rate of under 18 alcohol specific admission episodes in Halton, in comparison to the England and North West averages.

            In addition, it was noted that since 1^st August 2020, the two Youth Service current contracts, one for Specialist Youth Support and Treatment Service and the second contract for Integrated Youth Service  had ceased and the Halton Early Help and Intervention Team now provided dedicated support to young people in a holistic family way.

            Arising from the discussion, the Board requested a future agenda item on Community Protection Notices, which would incorporate the role of Housing Associations.

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

            The Board considered a report on the work being undertaken to ensure a Pan-Cheshire response to the issue of Modern Day Slavery. Since 2016, funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner, there had been a Cheshire Anti-Slavery Network bringing together key partners supported by an Independent Chair.  This network had worked towards developing training packages, ensuring clear victim pathways and sharing best practices.

            In 2019 it was agreed that the four local authorities in the Cheshire Sub-Region and the Police and Crime Commissioner would fund the Cheshire Anti-Slavery Network (CASN) for two years with a joint funding pot of a one off contribution of £4,000 each.  A new Cheshire Anti-Slavery Strategic Partnership had been established and details of the Partnerships future work plan, role, responsibilities and suggested outcomes was set out in the report.

            The Board discussed recent issues around the Daresbury Hotel which housed up to 200 asylum seekers.  It was noted that the Hotel was being well managed and weekly meetings took place with Circo.

            In addition, the Board discussed concerns around the possibility of regulation of nail bars. At present the responsibility for nail bars was with the Health and Safety Executive.  The Chair of the Board agreed that he would write to the Local Member of Parliament expressing the Board’s concerns around the regulation of nail bars.

            RESOLVED: That the work being undertaken to ensure a Pan-Cheshire response to the issue of Modern Day Slavery be noted.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which advised on the plan to refresh the Council’s Hate Crime and Harassment Reduction Strategy and Action Plan.  It was noted that Cheshire Police had recently updated their Hate Crime Action Plan and the Council would work in conjunction with the Police to align its Action Plan with theirs. The draft refreshed Strategy would be shared with Partners and community organisations over the course of September and October as part of the consultation process. It was anticipated that the final Plan would go to the Safer Halton Partnership meeting for approval in early November.

            RESOLVED: That the proposed refresh timetable for refresh of the Hate Crime and Harassment Reduction Strategy and Action Plan be supported.