The Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to discuss anti-social behaviour in the city centre, and to receive portfolio holder updates from Councillor Laura Wright, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services, Community Safety and City Centre, and Councillor Matthew Vizard, Portfolio Holder for Climate, Ecological Change and Communities.

Here's a breakdown of the topics that were listed for discussion:

Anti-Social Behaviour in the City Centre

The committee was scheduled to receive a report from the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) and hear evidence from external organisations regarding anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Exeter City Centre.

The report pack included a presentation on City Centre ASB. According to the presentation:

Antisocial behaviour is defined as 'behaviour by a person which causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to persons not of the same household as the person'.

The presentation noted that an ASB sub-group of the CSP was established in January 2024 with representatives from across the city. It also highlighted a hyper local network of businesses and community organisations in hotspot locations, which was set up to identify the impact of ASB in specific locations, baseline perception of safety surveys, co-produce action plans, and monitor progress.

An excerpt from an action plan included in the report pack outlined actions such as restricting access to an area of Cathedral Green closest to Cathedral School, improving lighting at night, delivering a programme of activation on the Green to increase positive uses, and increasing the presence and robustness in enforcing the Public Space Protection Order¹ (PSPO) and no alcohol zone.

The report pack stated that since October 2024, the Community Safety Team had issued 332 dispersals within the PSPO area for reasons such as ASB, shoplifting/theft, begging, shouting, fighting, possession of drugs, drug taking, drunk and disorderly behaviour, drinking alcohol, and swearing.

The report pack also included evidence from external agencies, including Inclusive Exeter, and secondary school students.

Portfolio Holder Updates

Councillor Laura Wright, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services, Community Safety and City Centre, was scheduled to provide an update on the City Centre Strategy, Community Safety and Anti-Social Behaviour, CCTV and Control Room, and the Community Safety Partnership.

According to the report pack, consultations involving businesses, elected members, and members of the public had concluded, and responses were being considered in the development of a new vision, strategy, and action plan. The final vision and strategy were expected to come to the council for adoption in Spring 2026.

The report pack also noted that the Exeter City Centre PSPO was renewed this year and includes the St Thomas area of the Exe Bridges Retail Park and Cowick Street precinct.

Councillor Wright's report pack stated that the City Council has 311 City Centre CCTV cameras, and that additional budget has been allocated to replace any remaining old analogue CCTV Cameras across the City Centre and within car parks, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund².

Councillor Matthew Vizard, Portfolio Holder for Climate, Ecological Change and Communities, was scheduled to provide an update on issues relating to achieving the council's published priorities, including the local economy, people, homes, and sustainable environment.

The report pack included details of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) for the Riverside Leisure Centre, the South West Energy and Environment Group (SWEEG), the Costed Organisation Carbon Footprint Report, and a Photo Voltaic (PV) Feasibility Study.

The report pack stated that the City Council secured £100,000 from the South West Net Zero Hub to carry out a full PV feasibility exercise to evaluate solar opportunities across suitable City Council buildings.

Scrutiny Work Plan

The committee was scheduled to consider the work plan for customer focus scrutiny items for 2024/25. According to the draft work plan, the committee was scheduled to discuss portfolio holder reports, anti-social behaviour in the city centre, a petition regarding a refuse bin on Eton Walk, a six-monthly update on the Homelessness Strategy, quarter 2 budget scrutiny, key people activity across the council, a tenants energy review of Passivhaus Council Homes³, and an update on street cleansing and bin collection.