The Community Select Committee of Stevenage Borough Council convened on Thursday, 13 June 2024, to discuss several key issues, including the Resident Engagement Strategy and the ongoing efforts to address crime and disorder in the community. Decisions were made to note the Executive Member response to the Review of Housing Repairs and to continue supporting initiatives aimed at reducing antisocial behaviour and crime.

Resident Engagement Strategy

The committee reviewed the Resident Engagement Strategy, which aims to enhance communication and involvement with residents. The strategy outlines plans to improve transparency and responsiveness in council operations. Councillors discussed the importance of engaging with diverse community groups and ensuring that all voices are heard in the decision-making process.

Executive Member Response to the CSC Repairs Scrutiny Review

The Chair introduced the Executive Member response to the Review of Housing Repairs. The committee acknowledged that all recommendations had been agreed upon. The Assistant Director (Building Safety and Housing Property Services) was thanked for their contributions and requested to provide updates as appropriate. It was resolved that the Executive Member response to the Review of Housing Repairs be noted.

Crime & Disorder Discussion

The committee welcomed Sarah Pateman, Head of Community Advice and Support, Chief Executive Matthew Partridge, and Councillor Jackie Hollywell, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Equalities. Councillor Hollywell presented a report from Hertfordshire Constabulary, focusing on efforts to reduce antisocial behaviour despite limited resources. She highlighted the success of the 'Build a Better Bedwell' initiative, funded by the Safer Street programme, which aims to regenerate the area and reduce crime.

Sarah Pateman reported a 28% reduction in theft from person incidents in Stevenage, attributing the improvement to plain clothes police operations and crime prevention events. Efforts to address youth involvement in crime were also discussed, including intervention briefings and collaboration with the Youth Justice Team. Initiatives like Youth No More aim to prevent antisocial behaviour among young people by working with schools and families.

The committee discussed the issue of fly-tipping, often logged by the police but managed by the Council's Community Safety Officers and Wardens. Strategies to address fly-tipping include encouraging perpetrators to remove waste themselves. Members praised the work of officers and raised concerns about antisocial behaviour in specific areas, such as Marymead, and issues related to drug problems and malfunctioning CCTV cameras.

Questions and Concerns

Members asked questions about crime trends in the Roaring Meg Retail Park area and the effectiveness of school engagement programmes. The Head of Community Advice and Support provided detailed responses, highlighting ongoing efforts to tackle these issues. The Chief Executive acknowledged the positive trend in crime figures over the past five years and the challenges related to maintaining internal resourcing within the Council.

The Chair expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Head of Community Advice and Support, the Chief Executive, and the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Equalities in keeping the community informed and working closely with stakeholders to enhance safety.

Urgent Business and Exclusion of Public and Press

There was no urgent business. The committee resolved to exclude the public and press for the final item of business, a presentation from Survivors Against Domestic Abuse (SADA), due to the sensitive nature of the information discussed.

For further details, you can refer to the Part I Final Draft Minutes 03 04 24.