Basingstoke & Dean Borough Council Community, Environment and Partnerships Committee Meeting

Councillor McKay was replaced by Councillor G James

Councillor Compton-Burnett was replaced by Councillor S Jeans.

Councillor McIntyre was replaced by Councillor Frost

Councillor Williams was replaced by Councillor Harvey

As the Chair and Vice-Chair had both sent their apologies for the meeting, Councillor Mummalaneni was appointed as the Chair for the meeting.

Councillor Mummalaneni declared a non-pecuniary interest as he was a member of the Safer North Hampshire Team on behalf of Hampshire County Council.

There were no urgent matters.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2023 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Cabinet Member for Partnerships introduced the report which provided the Committee with an overview of council functions in relation to community safety, an update on recent community safety trends and activity and outlined how the Safer Communities Team were contributing to both the council and Safer North Hampshire (SNH) and (CSP) strategic priorities.

The Chair welcomed Police Inspector Ian Goudie to the meeting who had attended in order to respond to questions from the Committee.

The Committee asked a number of questions and explored a number of areas:

• Reference was made to Pub Watch and how it was supported by the Police. The Police Inspector advised that the Police Licensing Officers worked very closely with the Councils Licensing Officers to support the programme.

• It was discussed how the local crime figures could have other contributing factors, as previously Eastrop had had a much higher crime rate as the police station and court as well as festival place where shoplifting occurred were located within the ward. Concern was raised that the change to ward boundaries would make it look like the crime had moved ward. The Safer Communities Manager responded that there was a data analyst shared amongst the Safer North Hampshire partnership who could produce more specific reports and explanatory narrative. It was also confirmed that the police had not changed the way reports were recorded.

• The issue of drugs and knife crime was raised several times. The Committee were advised that drugs were a national issue and was often associated with organised crime. Drugs and knife crime were linked but normally the issues were between rival gangs. There was not a high risk to the public, but it was acknowledged that recent headlines would be distressing for residents.

• The Police Inspector explained that the issue was complex as gang members were replaced when one member was arrested, gangs would “cuckoo a house” which was a form of criminal exploitation where criminals used a person's home for criminal purposes and the fact that Basingstoke was also in a prime location due to it being well connected on the train routes.

• Reference was made to E-Scooters which were not only public nuisance but also used for transporting drugs. The Police Inspector advised that the police had recently purchased E-Bikes and were receiving training so that Officers could arrest individuals on scooters. It was also acknowledged that often Officers had to choose whether criminalise young children or educate them.

• Residents had reported the prevalence of drugs such as cannabis within the Borough. The Committee noted that the police worked with a number of organisations such as the metropolitan police and Border Force.

• The issue of HMOs was raised, and specific examples were given. The Head of Environment and Community Services confirmed that a range of powers exist to deal with ASB associated with Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) including the power to close such dwellings and agreed to review the issues mentioned outside of the meeting.

• Councillor Jeans requested that she work with the police to write an article including a case study on E-Scooter enforcement.

Other issues mentioned in relation to residents feeling less safe included:

·         Concern expressed in areas where the County council had turned down the brightness of the streetlamps.

·         The consumption of alcohol on the street which had been pushed out from town centre following the introduction of the alcohol related Public Space Protection Order in the Town Centre.

·         There had been an increase in anti-social behaviour within the Borough.

·         Increased Graffiti.

·         An increase in domestic violence cases.

·         An increase in more minor crimes such as theft which was linked to drugs as individuals struggled to fund their addiction.

·         There was a perceived lack of action by the Police. The Police Inspector advised that due to reduced resources, the police had to triage reports based on the threat, harm and risk to residents.

Officers advised that:

• Work had been done to improve sight lines around the train station to help to make residents feel safer when walking.

• In relation to unauthorised car meets. The Police had a response plan in place and would record the numberplate of anyone breaking the law. The owners of car parks that could potentially be used for such events had been spoken to and mitigations put in place.

• The Police and CSPO’s worked with young people as well as anyone interested in recovery as part of a multi-agency approach.

The Committee:

• Thanked the Officers and Police for their hard work and acknowledged that there was a high level of confidence locally in the police.

• Noted that Members would like a Training session on community safety included on the Member Development programme as Councillors wanted to be able to provide the correct advice to residents who reported issues to them, know what the key issues were within wards and know who their local CSPO was as they covered a number of areas.

• Suggested that the police published general case details in relation to E-Scooters and other hot issues in order to dissuade residents from breaking the law.

·         The primary issues and concerns expressed were in relation to gangs, drugs and knife crime.

·         Members should try to influence change in national legislation wherever possible. 

• The reporting of incidents was the responsibility of everyone.

Resolved:  The Committeenotes the contents of the report and the work carried out by the Safer Communities Team, contributing to the local priorities and the Safer North Hampshire Community Safety Partnership strategic priorities.

The Chair introduced the tracker and requested that the Committee review and note the recommendations made to decision makers.

The Chair advised that an update had been circulated to the Committee prior to the meeting.

It was questioned whether there was an update in relation to item 2 on the tracker. The Cabinet Member for Partnerships advised that Hampshire County Council had informed her that an update could not be provided until the report had been considered at the Cabinet meeting.

The Chair introduced the work programme and gave a brief overview of the items that would be included on the agenda for the upcoming meetings.

In response to a question the Head of Environment and Community Services advised that, subject to any changes to the Committee structure, the GI Strategy would be brought to the June meeting.