Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Chibah and apologies for lateness from Councillor Keazor.

NOTED there were no declarations of interest.

Councillor Krystle Fonyonga will present briefing papers relating to Community Safety and Public Health.

A date for the item on ‘Scrutiny Involvement in the Budget Consultation’ will be re-arranged following consultation with O&SC members

NOTED

1.    Introduction by the Chair.

a.  Cabinet Members were invited by Overview & Scrutiny Committee to present areas of their remit for information and to gather opinion, and this evening Councillor Fonyonga was attending as Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health.

b.  Two papers were received: on Community Safety (sent to follow) and on Public Health (tabled).

c.  It was noted that Councillor Fonyonga had previously chaired the Crime Scrutiny Standing Workstream, before becoming a Cabinet Member.

d.  The remit of the Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health overlapped three Council directorates.

2.    Councillor Fonyonga’s introduction, including:

a.  The role had given her a new appreciation of the hard work of officers.

b.  One immediate action had been the recent promotion of organ donation. Other ideas included healthier choices in the staff canteen.

c.  She acknowledged recent changes within Public Health personnel, but all staff were genuinely motivated to improve the health of the public.

d.  In Sport and Leisure, there was a focus on people who were inactive and getting people moving more.

3.    Councillor Fonyonga responded to general questions, including:

a.  Confirmation that this Cabinet portfolio had been realigned. It also involved engagement with external agencies, particularly the NHS and the Police Service.

b.  In response to questions about the Fire Service, she confirmed she had met the new Fire Brigade Borough Commander and aimed to build a good working relationship.

c.  In response to queries regarding knowledge gained via previous scrutiny workstream work, she confirmed that ability to scrutinise papers had been critical, and that she was able to challenge draft reports.

d.  In response to queries about Public Heath, she considered that having a new Director of Public Health at LB Enfield two days per week would give the Council valuable input and guidance into the North Central London Sustainability and Transformation Plan. Ray James also clarified the emerging plan and advised that a range of options would be explored going forward, including potential for shared services and consolidation.

4.    Community Safety

a.  The report submitted to the committee provided an overview of performance and highlighted the three key areas for further note: (1) Domestic abuse and violence against women and girls; (2) Tackling gangs and serious youth violence; and (3) Extra policing resources.

b.  Performance was shown against the MOPAC seven crime categories. Burglary, robbery, theft from motor vehicle and theft of motor vehicle had all fallen by more than 20% in Enfield. A big challenge for reduction was violence with injury. Higher reporting figures for domestic violence largely reflected greater awareness. That gang and youth violence was increasing slower in Enfield than nationally was a reflection of work in the borough.

c.  Current and new targeted initiatives would be used to keep improving performance. Violence against women and girls would be a priority for reduction, with better intervention at an earlier stage.

d.  Andrea Clemons (Head of Community Safety) highlighted a recent campaign in relation to domestic abuse, with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 176.

To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2016.

AGREED the minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2016 as a correct record.

To note the Work Programme for 2016/17.

NOTED the work programme for 2016/17.

Provisional Call-Ins

Wednesday 26 October 2016

Tuesday 22 November 2016

Please note, the next business meetings of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee will be held on

Thursday 10 November 2016

Thursday 19 January 2017

NOTED the dates of future meetings and provisional call-in dates.