Agenda and draft minutes

Please note that, in accordance with the Members' Code of Conduct, when declaring interests members must disclose the existence and nature of the interest, and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) or personal and/or pecuniary.

RESOLVED that the minutes from 23 August be confirmed.

No declarations of interest were received.

RESOLVED that the Terms of Reference for Select Scrutiny Committee be noted.

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item(s) of business because it was likely that if members of the public were present there would be a disclosure to them of ‘exempt information’ as defined by Section 100I and Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item(s) of business because it was likely that if members of the public were present there would be a disclosure to them of ‘exempt information’ as defined by Section 100I and Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Superintendent Phil Baker, Lincolnshire Police, presented the Police Performance Overview for Lincoln which covered the period up to 31 July 2024.

Members discussed the content of the report in further detail, asked questions of Superintendent Phil Baker and received relevant responses thereon.

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted with thanks by members.

It was noted at this point in the proceedings that the press and public were permitted to re-join the meeting as there was no further 'exempt information' to be discussed, although there were no press/public present in the public gallery this evening.

Simon Colburn, Assistant Director for Health and Environmental Services presented a report on behalf of Safer Lincolnshire Partnership (SLP), he advised the committee of the following:-

a)    The City of Lincoln Council was a statutory member of the SLP. They provide representation at the SLP Strategy Board and were committed to the delivery of the current SLP Strategic Priorities through participation at the underpinning Core Priority Groups.

b)    The SLP had a lead role in identifying community safety priorities in Lincolnshire and how we ensured that all key partners came together to tackle the issues of most concern.

c)     He summarised the SLP’s achievements in 2023-24, in particular, the publication of the Lincolnshire Serious Violence Prevention Strategy and the Lincolnshire Noxious Odours Procedure that had been launched in November 2023.

d)    explained the role of the SLP Strategy Board and it’s 5 Core Priority Groups which were:-

- Anti-Social Behaviour

- Crime and Disorder

- Drugs and Alcohol

- Reducing Reoffending

- Serious Violence (SV)

e)    welcomed members questions and comments.

Question: What was the process for following an incident involving a noxious chemical?

Response: There was a tiered warning approach. Initially the City of Lincoln Council would write to the perpetrator, followed by a warning. If the issue still wasn’t resolved the Community Protection process would begin and in extreme cases a Community Protection Notice would be issued.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Yvette Mills, Project Manager for Lincoln Business Improvement Group (Lincoln BIG):

a)    provided an overview on the progress of the Lincoln BIG Security? Group over the last year and explained that it had dramatically increased its activity and as a result its membership numbers by 38 since last years’ report

b)    advised that Lincoln BIG were approached by Lincolnshire Police to assist them in appointing a civilian evidence gatherer; after much consideration, and due to already knowing the prolific offenders, having a good relationship with the local businesses, Lincoln BIG appointed their current Senior Warden, Danny Mason to take on the additional duties

c)     reported that since 1^st February 2024, he had dealt with 71 cases resulting in 51 court cases and 48 charges being brought, 12 of those cases had received prison sentences

d)    Informed the committee that Lincoln BIG were now a more active member of NABCP (National Association of Business Crime Partnership) and successfully achieved accreditation this month

e)    concluded that at the end of the year another business survey would be conducted to help plan for the Security Group activities for next year

f)      welcomed members comments and questions.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Michelle Hoyles, Corporate Policy Business Manager:

a)    provided the committee with an overview of the Lincoln City Profile for 2023/24 and outlined the following key points:

-        The total crime in Lincoln between April 2023 and March 2024 was 158 per 1,000 people

-        Park Ward reported the highest figure for fly-tipping complaints in 2024 totalling 273

-        Between March 2023 and February 2024, Lincoln had the highest crime rate per 1,000 people compared to all other Lincolnshire districts

b)    referred to figure 2 in her report which showed the total crime rate in Lincoln compared to other areas in the Lincolnshire Force area from March 2023 to February 2024; it revealed that Lincoln had the highest crime rate per 1,000 people compared to other Lincolnshire districts, with the lowest rate reported in North Kesteven at 51.2 per 1,000 people

c)     welcomed members comments and questions.

Question: Could clarification be provided on what the characteristics for crime were when compared to our CIPFA nearest neighbours?

Response: Michelle explained that she would report back with a thorough answer once it had been sought.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Ben Jackson, Public Protection, ASB and Licensing Service Manager:

a)    provided the committee with an overview of the current level of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) across the city, highlighting current and arising issues

b)    explained that the Public Protection and Anti-Social Behaviour (PPASB) Team dealt with a wide variety of complaints including ASB, Noise, Environmental and Animal issues

c)     stated that partnership working was key to the resolution of many of the service requests that were dealt with and that the team worked closely with the Police to address a range of public safety concerns

d)    advised that a successful bid was submitted to the Safer Streets Five Fund which provided PPASB and Licensing Teams with an additional resource to tackle crime and ASB in the City Centre

e)    highlighted a number of core services that the PPASB team provided which were:

-        Anti-Social Behaviour

-        Noise

-        Animals

-        Pests/condition of gardens

-        Accumulations of waste

-        Fly-tipping investigations

-        Licensing consultations

-        Artificial light from premises

-        Smoke, fumes or gasses from premises

f)      further highlighted an increase of service demand requests from 3815 to 4049 across all of their service areas in 2022/23

g)    welcomed members comments and questions.

The committee discussed the report in further detail and asked relevant questions thereon.

RESOLVED that:

1. Ben Jackson, Public Protection, ASB and Licensing Service Manager  be tasked to provide the committee with the following additional information:

·       Data on Community Protection Warning’s issued  from 2022/23

·       A summary on the ASB review mechanism

·       A copy of the Noxious Odour Policy

a)    The content of the report be noted.