The Committee received a detailed report on aspects of the Community Safety Co-ordinator’s work around Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs), including a recommendation that the Councillor representation on the Community Safety Partnership be increased from one to two.

The Committee recalled that PSPOs had been discussed at a meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Select Committee in July 2021 following the call in of a decision made by the Committee in June 2021 not to recommend making a PSPO for an area of Egham Hythe.  Members had requested a number of actions which were set out in detail in the report.

Firstly, Members noted all the different reporting channels that had to be used for evidence to be officially recorded and count as evidence to justify consideration of a PSPO.  It was agreed these needed to be promoted widely in order to be effective as there was a perception that residents did not feel ‘heard’ by the official channels.  Officers assured the Committee that reports in to Community Safety were logged and acknowledged.

Officers confirmed that elected members could present evidence to the Joint Action Group through the Community Safety Co-ordinator using a dedicated referral form available from Officers.

The Committee was disappointed that the Police were unable to break down anti-social behaviour data further than they already did; specifically, Members had requested this for the Hythe and Thorpe areas.

Members noted the process for making a PSPO from building up an evidence base through the various official reporting lines to its recommendation by the relevant multi-agency organisations for Officers to make the order under delegated authority following consultation.  A helpful flowchart was appended for information.  Members asked Officers to consider whether the reporting process could be made into simple guidance and promoted on the Council’s website as well as stressing that only reports made in this way counted as evidence.

Members were given an overview of the key meetings of the different agencies and processes within Community Safety; these being the Community Safety Partnership, (CSP) Joint Action Group and Community Harm and Risk Management Meeting. 

The Committee was advised that the Community Safety Partnership fulfilled a statutory role under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998  for local agencies to work together to reduce crime and disorder.  The local agencies included Surrey Police, the Borough and County Council, including the Fire authority, the Probation service and Clinical Commissioning Group.  Additionally, in Runnymede Housing Providers were also invited.  Under the CSP sat the Joint Action Group and Community Harm and Risk Management Meeting, complemented by a number of other agencies.  Data on crime was reported to these groups and then to the CSP on a quarterly basis.

With regard to the CSP, the Council had appointed one Borough Councillor who was also a County Councillor and it was agreed that it would be beneficial to recommend that a Member of the Community Services Committee be nominated, subject to the new procedure for making external appointments, recently approved by Corporate Management Committee.  It was noted that the second Councillor did not have to be a Member of Community Services, but that it was preferrable they were and/or had the appropriate experience, as was the case with the Council’s Armed Forces Champion representatives.

Officers confirmed that there was dialogue between meetings and that urgent issues could be dealt with without having a formal meeting.  Evidence of this was a recent report about cruelty to wildlife reported to the Surrey Police Wildlife Officer.

Officers described other developments that might be possible following the merger of Community Development and Community Services.  These were that the process for deploying CCTV be prioritised during 2022/2023, with the CSP, now chaired by the Safer Communities Manager, being able to authorise their placement and chosen locations in the borough.  In addition, it was considered that further partnership working and information sharing would be beneficial to promote Community Safety and more effective working between agencies.

It was agreed that the role Members played was important in encouraging people to report issues officially so that their evidence did not remain as ‘anecdotal’.  Officers confirmed that if there was reluctance to report for fear of reprisals, Councillors could report on their behalf by way of one of the channels as described.  Members were also asked to encourage participation in surveys such as the annual Community Safety Partnership one. 

Officers were asked to consider producing an article for ‘Runnymede Talks’ about reporting anti-social behaviour to explain the official process and importance of ‘report it’ and to raise with Surrey Police promotion of ‘silent solutions’, a mechanism to report a crime when the person was unable to do so if in immediate danger, and feedback to residents and Councillors on incidents reported to them direct.

Officers were thanked for their comprehensive report and the Committee was pleased to support the recommendation accordingly.

RESOLVED that –

A Member of Community Services Committee be nominated to serve on the Community Safety Partnership for 2022/2023, subject to the outcome of discussions at the Community Safety Partnership and subject to the new provisions for external appointments approved by the Corporate Management Committee.

[Subsequent to the meeting, Officers confirmed that the Partnership was happy to increase the number of elected Members nominated to serve on the Partnership from one to two]