Councillors Williams, O Reid, D Hawthorn (all Renfrewshire Council); S Miller (Engage Renfrewshire); R Kennedy (Police Scotland); S Cruickshank (Renfrewshire Access Panel); and A Dick (West College Scotland).

Councillor T Williams, Chair, presided.

J McLaughlin, Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership; P Sale, S Graham, Y Farquhar, C Grainger, C Dalrymple, S Tkacenko and C MacDonald (all Renfrewshire Council).

S MacDougall and F Carlin (both Renfrewshire Council); M Gallacher (Scottish Fire and Rescue Service); and K Phillips (Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership).

There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. 

There was submitted the Minute of the Safer & Stronger Renfrewshire Thematic Board held on 7 February  2017.

 

DECISION:   That the Minute be approved.

The Rolling Action Log was submitted for approval. 

DECIDED:   

(a) That actions S&S.16.05.16(6) and S&S.16.05.16(10) be removed from the Rolling Action Log as they were now complete; and

(b) That the Rolling Action Log be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Resources, Renfrewshire Council relative to an update on the Community Safety Partnership Tackling Poverty Initiatives.

The report noted the progress that had been made with the four tackling poverty workstreams in relation to the Alternative Breakfast Club Model; the expanded Street Stuff Programme; the Employability Initiative; and the Private Landlords Registration and Enforcement.

At the Council meeting on 16 February 2017 additional funding of £1.5 million had been allocated to the Tackling Poverty projects thereby ensuring that Community Resources would continue to work on Breakfast Clubs, Street Stuff and Landlord registration. 

DECIDED:

(a)   That the progress with the four workstreams impacting on the Safer and Stronger action plan within the Tackling Poverty Action Plan be noted; and

(b)   That it be noted that an additional £1.5 million had been allocated for the Tackling Poverty initiatives and that Community Resources would continue to work on Breakfast Clubs, Street Stuff and Landlord registration. 

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Resources relative to the Police 2026 – 10 Year Strategy for Policing in Scotland consultation which would end on 8 May 2016. 

The report intimated that the 10 year strategy was the foundation for fulfilling the strategic Scottish policing priorities of localism, inclusion, prevention, response, collaborative working, accountability and adaptability. The strategy would be subject to a three yearly planning process throughout the period of the strategy to ensure that the focus and priorities remained accurate and valid. The strategy would be reviewed and refreshed by the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland every three years. 

DECIDED: 

(a)   That the consultation on the Police 2026 strategy be noted; and 

(b)   That it be noted that the consultation was currently open with responses required by the closing date of 8 May 2017.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Resources, Renfrewshire Council which provided an update for the Safer & Stronger Renfrewshire Thematic Board on recent activities carried out in relation to community safety and public protection.

DECIDED:  That the progress update report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Resources relative to an update on the outcomes and observations raised in a recent audit of the Renfrewshire Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) process which had been undertaken by SafeLives, a national charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse. The audit had been carried out in October 2016, a year after MARAC had been established in Renfrewshire as part of the Scottish MARAC Development Programme. 

The report advised that the audit looked at all aspects of the working of MARAC and covered the following areas with observations, recommendations and examples of good practice being noted where appropriate: identification of domestic abuse; referrals; multi-agency engagement; support for victims; information sharing; action planning; number of cases; equality; operational support; and governance. 

The report intimated that overall the audit had been positive and demonstrated the strong approach and excellent partnership working that was delivering real meaningful results in relation to tackling domestic abuse in Renfrewshire. Section 3 of the report highlighted seven areas of good practice. 

The audit had been reviewed by the Gender Based Violence Steering Group and an action plan was being created to ensure recommended improvements were implemented. Progress against implementation of the action plan would be overseen by the Community Safety and Public Protection Steering Group.

DECIDED:   That the recent audit of the Renfrewshire MARAC process which was carried out by SafeLives as part of the Scottish MARAC Development Programme be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Community Resources, Renfrewshire Council relative to progress made by Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority in response to the HMICS Independent Assurance Review of Police Scotland’s Call Handling published in 2015. 

The report advised that the review into call handling which had been carried out by HMICS in 2015/16 was one of the issues that was reported to Renfrewshire Council’s Housing and Community Safety Policy Board on 17 May 2016 that led to the review of governance in Policing. 

The assurance review, which took place over the past 12 months, included over 50 visits to call handling facilities across Scotland as well as other scrutiny activity. Of the 30 recommendations made in the report, overall progress was noted as being good with 16 recommendations fully discharged and 12 recommendations partly discharged. 

Police Scotland and the SPA have committed to building improved call handling facilities that focused on customer service, identified risk and vulnerability and made best use of resources to effectively manage demand. 

DECIDED:   That the content of the report and the progress and improvements in call handling over the past year be noted.

Under reference to the Minute of the meeting of the Safer & Stronger Renfrewshire Thematic Board held on 7 February 2017, relative to the Community Planning governance arrangements, a workshop was held to develop and ensure an effective transition to new working arrangements.

In order to meet the objectives of the workshop the Board focused on key questions around agenda, key learning, and membership. It was noted that the results from the workshop would be circulated to members who were not present at the meeting to afford them an opportunity to comment and to ensure that members who participated were satisfied with the solutions presented.

DECIDED:   

(a)   That it be agreed that the results from the workshop be circulated to members who were not present at the meeting to afford them an opportunity to comment and to ensure that members who participated were satisfied with the solutions presented; and

(b)   That the workshop be noted.