Agenda and minutes

To approve as correct the notes of the meeting held on 27 September 2016.

The group approved the notes of the meeting held on 29 September 2016.

The Chairman reminded the group that the Public Spaces Protection Order had been agreed by Council in September and sought the view of the group on feedback received since then. Specifically, representatives from Parkour UK ( the National Governing Body for Parkour/ Freerunning) had been in dialogue with Officers to ask that consideration be given to removing the specific words Parkour and Freerunningfrom the Order. Parkour was recognised as a sport by the Home Country Sports Councils; Sport England, Sport Wales, SportScotland, Sport Northern Ireland and UK Sport.

Officers explained that their view was that the change would be acceptable as a suitable alternative form of words could be used to ensure that the Order achieved the outcome intended and that the amendment could be made under the delegation to the Director of Community Services.  

The Chairman invited the views of the group which were heard as follows:

·         That the Council had been a pathfinder in its approach

·         Consideration of the role of Parkour UK in regulating its own members

·         That the activity was common in the town centre, and that the Order was not district-wide

·         The Order review period of three years

The group supported the proposal to remove the specific wording and advised that a review be undertaken in 6 months to test the effectiveness of the Order.

The group received a presentation on “Think Family” by the Community Development and Safeguarding Manager. Think Family was the West Sussex name for the national government agenda 'Helping troubled families turn their lives around'. Within West Sussex there were two arms to the work, targeted and intensive Think Family 'case work', and work with communities 'Think Family Neighbourhoods' or TFN. The TFN arm was managed by District Councils. The group heard that the think family priorities set by government were translated into projects around the district, including:

·         A council tax pilot scheme to offer a payment ‘buffer’ prior to enforcement action

·         Positive placements offering mentoring to NEETs

·         The Work Information and Support Hub (WISH) at Billingshurst

·         The Eat well, Spend Less course

·         Community credits project

Members voiced their appreciation for the work underway. In response to questions from Members, Officers explained that the County-wide progress of the programme was ahead of target and the programme was demonstrating national good practice. Further, the Horsham projects were subject to robust evaluation based on sound data.

The Community Safety Manager updated the group on the operation of the Community Wardens Team. Based within the community the six wardens worked alongside partner agencies to improve the quality of life for everyone by undertaking a number of activities from enforcement to community development. Community Wardens had enforcement powers and could carry out high visibility patrols in their respective areas to deter crime and anti-social behaviour. The Council was accredited by Sussex Police and as a result the Wardens could utilise certain police powers aimed at low-level anti-social behaviour. They could also exercise powers available to them as employees of the District Council in relation to environmental offences and anti-social behaviour.

Officers reported that there had been increased interest in the scheme from areas without wardens and explained the funding requirement that would accompany any expansion of the scheme. At the invitation of the Chairman, the group discussed:

·         Funding, including the contribution made by parish councils, the ‘in-kind’ management costs absorbed by HDC and any impact of withdrawl of funding, including managing the impact of the government’s austerity measures

·         The difference between Community Wardens, PCSOs and Street Rangers

·         The feedback demonstrating the benefits of the wardens, particularly for elderly people

·         Whether the scheme could be expanded to the unparished area, subject to the utilisation of Special Expenses

The Chairman thanked officers and members for their participation in the discussion and noted their views.

·         Safe Drive

·         Stay Alive

·         Men in Sheds

The group noted updates on the following projects:

Safe Drive, Stay Alive: a hard-hitting stage show aimed at 16-18 year-old students who were either already driving or learning to drive had been held at the Capitol Theatre in November.

Men in Sheds: The Council and WSCC were supporting a successful national project around which men would come together to share fellowship and the satisfaction of completing practical projects in an environment where men could feel at home and could pursue practical interests or hobbies. The project would enable the council to demonstrate support to men facing isolation, depression and other emotional challenges.