Documents
Agenda
Notification
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Councillors Robertson (Argyll & Bute Council); O’Donnell (East Dunbartonshire Council); Lafferty (East Renfrewshire Council); McIlwee (Inverclyde Council); Williams (Renfrewshire Council); and Casey (West Dunbartonshire Council).
Convener – Councillor Williams.
Present
Councillors Robertson (Argyll & Bute Council); O'Donnell (East Dunbartonshire Council); Lafferty (East Renfrewshire Council); Williams (Renfrewshire Council); and Casey (West Dunbartonshire Council).
Chair
Councillor Williams, Convener, presided.
In Attendance
J Hunter, Chief Officer, W Kennedy, Planning Officer, F Cameron, Training Officer and A Turner, PA to Chief Officer (North Strathclyde Community Justice Authority); J Belton (Argyll & Bute Council); F McShane (East Dunbartonshire Council); D Hawthorn, A Scott, K Campbell, D Forbes and D Low (all Renfrewshire Council); and N Firth and J Irvine (both West Dunbartonshire Council).
Also in Attendance
F Jamieson and A Stuart (Scottish Government) and F Benton (The Wise Group).
Partners
Superintendent N Burns (Police Scotland); T Halpin (Sacro); J Bryars (Action for Children); and M Cawley (Turning Point Scotland).
Order of business
The Convener intimated that he proposed to alter the order of business to facilitate the conduct of the meeting by considering item 11 of the agenda after item 5.
Items Of Business
Apologies
Apologies from members.
Councillor McIlwee (Inverclyde Council).
Declarations of Interest
Members are asked to declare an interest in any item(s) on the agenda and to provide a brief explanation of the nature of the interest.
There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.
Minutes of reconvened meeting and meeting held on 13 March, 2015.
1
There were submitted the Minutes of the reconvened meeting and meeting held on 13 March, 2015.
DECIDED: That the Minutes be approved.
Presentation by Arlene Stuart, Head of Community Justice Operation Unit, Community Justice Division, Scottish Government.
2
Arlene Stuart, Head of Community Justice Operation Unit, Community Justice Division, Scottish Government gave a presentation in relation to the Community Justice (Scotland) Bill.
DECIDED: That the presentation be noted.
Report by Treasurer and Chief Officer and accounts issued to members under separate cover. Accounts not available until laid before Parliament in December 2015.
3
There was submitted a joint report by the Treasurer and Chief Officer relative to the unaudited annual accounts for the Authority for 2014/15. The report intimated that the accounts for the year ended 31 March, 2015 had been completed and forwarded to Audit Scotland for audit.
The annual accounts 2014/15 were confidential until such time as they had been laid before the Scottish Parliament and for this reason had only been issued to members of the Authority.
DECIDED: That the annual accounts for the year ended 31 March, 2015 be noted and that the accounts be further presented to the Authority on completion of the audit.
Report by Treasurer and Chief Officer.
4
There was submitted a joint report by the Treasurer and Chief Officer relative to the annual audit plan for the Authority for 2014/15. The Plan outlined Audit Scotland’s planned activities in their audit of the 2014/15 financial year.
DECIDED: That the annual audit plan 2014/15 be noted.
Report by Chief Auditor, Renfrewshire Council.
5
There was submitted a report by the Chief Auditor, Renfrewshire Council, relative to the Internal Audit annual report 2014/15 for the Authority. The report intimated that the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards required that the Chief Auditor prepare an annual report on the activities of internal audit to demonstrate performance. The report must provide an annual audit opinion on the overall adequacy and effectiveness of the Authority’s internal control environment.
The annual report for the Authority was attached as an appendix to the report and outlined the role of internal audit, the performance of the internal audit team, and the main findings from internal audit work undertaken in 2014/15 and contained an audit assurance statement.
DECIDED: That the Internal Audit annual report for 2014/15 be noted.
Report by Chief Officer.
7
There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer relative to the resilience issues for the Authority. The report intimated that the report presumed that Community Justice Authorities (CJAs) would be functioning organisations until 31 March, 2017 and during this time the legal duties for CJAs would continue as would the statutory structural arrangements.
The report detailed the legal minimum structure and statutory duties for CJAs and identified risks. The transition to the shadow arrangements, which would take place over the next 11 months, was critical to a successful new community justice arrangement.
DECIDED: That the report be noted and that the Chief Officer, in consultation with the Convener, be authorised to take appropriate action to maintain the resilience of the Authority to 31 March, 2017.
Report by Chief Officer
8
Under reference to item 9 of the Minute of the meeting of this Authority held on 13 March, 2015 there was submitted a report by Chief Officer relative to services to women who offend. The report intimated that the Convener of the Authority had written to the Scottish Government and CoSLA expressing the Authority’s concern that focus should not be concentrating solely on the prison estate but should take the opportunity to develop better community services as an alternative to custodial sentences and remand. A copy of the Convener’s letter together with the response from the Deputy Director, Community Justice Division, Scottish Government formed the appendices to the report.
DECIDED: That the report be noted.
Report by Head of Service (Community Justice), WISE Group.
9
There was submitted a report by the Head of Service (Community Justice), Wise Group relative to the New Routes Partnership which had been formed in 2012 and successfully implemented across 13 Scottish Prisons by September 2013.
The report intimated that New Routes Partnership brought together expertise from a wide range of partners to deliver a wraparound service tailored by individual need and employed over 30 mentors who engaged with customers six months pre-release from custody and continued to work with them for a minimum of six months in the community. The New Routes Report 2015 and key performance indicators for 1 April, 2013 to 31 March, 2015 were appended to the report.
DECIDED: That the report be noted.
Report by Director of Operations, SACRO.
10
There was submitted a report by the Director of Operations, Sacro relative to the Shine Public Social Partnership. The report intimated that the Reducing Reoffending Change Fund had approved the budget for the continuation of the Shine service until March 2017.
The report intimated that 720 referrals had been made to the Shine service in 2014/15, 41 of whom were from the Authority area with 35 from prison and six from the community. This group had been provided with a service by the two allocated mentors working in the area from the Wise Group and Turning Point Scotland as well as the 0.5 Shine post located in Circle.
A national working group was being established to consider how Shine could best ensure a service was delivered to women being held on remand. A revision of the operational guidance and procedures was also being undertaken and a working group had been established which included a representative nominated from the Authority area.
DECIDED: That the report be noted.
Report by Action for Children.
11
There was submitted a report by Action for Children relative to the BAFC Moving On Public Social Partnership which worked with males aged 16 to 21 years of age to support them in their transition from Polmont YOI to the community. As a through care support, mentors engaged with the young people in prison building relationships, assessing need and facilitating successful reintegration whilst working towards achieving a positive destination, whether that be education, training or employment.
The service aimed to address the factors affecting the offending behaviour and reduce non-return to custody. During the past two years the service had worked with 223 young people, 137 living within the Authority area. The support was provided during normal office hours and also during evenings and weekends. A 24/7 on-call line to support young men during crisis periods was also provided.
DECIDED: That the report be noted.
Report by Chief Executive Officer, Turning Point Scotland.
6
There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive Officer, Turning Point Scotland relative to the Low Moss Public Social Partnership (PSP) which commenced in April 2013. The report intimated that the PSP was currently funded until March 2017 and was being evaluated throughout its operation. An interim report had been prepared and the report summarised some of the findings to date.
The PSP pilot was well underway and work would continue to develop the service and gather evidence that the Prisoner Support Pathway delivered considerable benefits to service users and partner organisations involved. This evidence would be used to construct a business case for the future sustainability of the PSP.
DECIDED: That the report be noted.
Report by Planning Officer.
12
There was submitted a report by the Planning Officer relative to the North Strathclyde Community Justice Authority Action Plan 2015/16. The report intimated that the Authority was required to produce annual action plans to progress the overarching strategy of the 2014/17 area plan. The report intimated that the action plan followed the same format as last year to align to the reformatting of the area plan. There were 12 actions in the action plan which would be undertaken as a partnership and 19 associated activities, the majority of which were the responsibility of the Chief Officer or Planning Officer of the Authority. The report focussed on the activity which required to be completed by June 2015.
DECIDED:
(a) That the report be noted; and
(b) That authority be delegated to the Chief Officer, in consultation with the Convener, to amend the action plan if required.
Report by Planning Officer.
13
There was submitted a report by the Planning Officer relative to the North Strathclyde Community Justice Authority Transition Plan to assist transfer to the new model of community justice. The plan outlined events and opportunities for the transfer of information and knowledge to the local community planning partnerships who would have responsibility for community justice post March 2017 to ensure continuity of on-going work and the transition arrangements for the new model for community justice.
DECIDED:
(a) That the report be noted; and
(b) That authority be delegated to the Chief Officer, in consultation with the Convener, to make amendments to the plan if required.
Note that the next meeting of the Authority will be held on Friday, 4 September, 2015 at 10.30 am.
14
DECIDED: That it be noted that the next meeting of the Authority would be held on Friday, 4 September, 2015 at 10.30 am.
Attendance
Declarations of Interests
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