Agenda and minutes

The Chairman of the Board, Councillor Thompson took the opportunity to place on record his thanks and appreciation to Councillor Osborne who had previously chaired the Board for 17 years.  He indicated that the last meeting of the Board in the municipal year had previously been held at the Stadium with a buffet provided to thank Officers and Members for their contributions during the year and asked whether Members wished this practice to continue. The Board agreed that the previous practice should continue.

The Chairman reported that he was seeking a nomination from the Board to deputise on the Police and Crime Panel in his and his Vice Chairman’s absence. He reported that Councillor P Lloyd Jones would like to be nominated as he had relevant experience. It was agreed that Councillor P Lloyd Jones be the nominated substitute for the Police and Crime Panel.

RESOLVED: That the verbal report be noted.

          The Minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2014 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Board was advised that no public questions had been received.

The minutes from the last Safer Halton Partnership (SHP) meeting held on 18 February 2014 were presented to the Board for information.

RESOLVED: That the minutes be noted.

Note:  Councillor Gerrard declared a Disclosable Other Interest in the following item of business due to a close family member being in management at 5 Boroughs

The Board received a presentation from Jenny Owen, Halton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) which :-

•  Explained Section 136 of the Mental Health Act;

•  Gave details of the number of Section 136 detentions in 2012 and 2013;

•  Outlined the costs incurred £175,000, which did not include Hollins Park, The Brooker Centre or WDGH;

•  Explained the street triage (operation emblem); Cheshire Police and 5Borough Partnership Assessment Team Practitioners which:

•        Provided  an immediate response to situations that would benefit from  intervention of Mental Health Services;

•        Improved the outcomes through appropriate early intervention referrals;

•        Reduced the number of  inappropriate 136 detentions; and

•        The ability to have access and review ‘live time’ Care Plans;

•              Gave details of the outcomes, the early headlines and the savings;

•              Explained that Operation Emblem had been extended for 12 months; there was a wider coverage – 7 days a week, to 2am; it had been funded by a partnership approach – the Police and Crime Commissioner and Halton and Warrington CCG & Local Authorities; it comprised of two Police officers and a police vehicle and two Community Psychiatric Nurses; and

•              Set out the next steps for the future

The following comments arose from the presentation:-

·             Clarity was sought on whether any information was available on the age range of people accessing this service and whether there was a higher usage ins some wards than others.  In response, it was reported that there was no age restrictions and that information was available but not on a ward by ward basis.  It was agree that this information be sent to all Members of the Board; and

·             The Chairman reported that he had witnessed the service in operation and highlighted how the service had a positive impact on people’s lives and congratulated Officers on their achievements to date.

RESOLVED: That

(1)        The presentation be received and comments raised noted;

(2)        Jenny Owen be thanked for her informative presentation;

(3)        Officers be congratulated on the excellent work undertaken to date on Operation Emblem; and

(4)        the Board support the continuation of Operation Emblem.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources, regarding the Quarter Monitoring Reports for the fourth quarter of 2013-14. The report detailed progress of key performance milestones and performance targets relating to Safer Halton and described factors affecting the service.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Communities which information to the Members on the progress in achieving targets contained within the 2011 – 2016 Sustainable Community Strategy for Halton.

The Board was advised the Sustainable Community Strategy for Halton, and the performance measures and targets contained within the report would remain central to the delivery of community outcomes. It was therefore important that progress was monitored and that Members were satisfied that adequate plans were in place to ensure that the Council and its partners achieved the improvement targets that had been agreed.

The Board was also advised that Appendix 1 to the report outlined the progress for the period to year end 31 March 2014 which included a summary of all indicators for a Healthy Halton.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

The Board considered a report of the Director of Public Health which provided Members with an update on alcohol.

The Board was advised that Alcohol Harm Reduction was a priority of the Halton Health & Wellbeing Board and a revised Halton Local Alcohol Strategy was under development following the release of the National Alcohol Strategy in 2012 and further consultation was underway with key stakeholders to agree priority work streams.  An Alcohol action plan had been developed to achieve key outcomes in the next 2 years; progress would be monitored through the Health and Wellbeing Board.

It was reported that Halton had been awarded the status of “Local Alcohol Action Area”. This was a national campaign which had asked for pilot areas to self-nominate and receive support in addressing the harm from alcohol across three areas – health, the night time economy and crime and anti-social behaviour. A project plan was being developed to ensure that Halton could maximise the impact of this opportunity.

Halton had also participated in Dry January and promoted the Dry January campaign. Across the Halton and St Helens areas there had been 180 signups. In terms of the national campaign, 17,312 people had taken part online representing over 400% more than the previous year. There had been 25,077 likes on Facebook, 3461 followers on twitter, 500+ pieces of media coverage and 10 online advice sessions where more than 10000 people tuned into each one.

It was reported that work was continuing to look at the role of S.136 and mental health support for Police operational activity. Initial findings had resulted in a reduction in the number of S.136s used whilst the pilot had been in operation.

Furthermore, it was reported that the Public Health Team has also been involved in the following activities:

·             Developed a pilot “social norms” programme to examine young people’s relationship with alcohol. Work was underway to develop a Halton wide programme to change the perceived “social norms” through more intelligent presentation of facts, improving self-esteem and emphasising the normalcy of positive health behaviours as a means to promote health and reduce risky behaviour in schools.

·             Work had been undertaken to examine the potential role of a “dry room” for Halton; and

·             A proposal was being developed to conduct a “community conversation” programme to gain greater insight into local peoples’ relationship with alcohol.

The following comments arose from the discussion:-

·             Clarity was sought on whether the reduction in alcohol was because it was fashionable to do other things i.e. cannabis.  In response it was reported that it was hoped that the interventions were making an impact. There had been an increase in the use of cannabis by young people and the alcohol rate had decreased.  Under age sales of alcohol had also decreased.  However, it had been identified that parents were purchasing the alcohol on behalf of their children. The drop in Halton in comparison to the National average had been significant.  Previously, alcohol related death had been in elderly people but  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Board considered a report of the Director of Public Heath which provided Members with an LAA quarterly update.  Appendix 1 to the report contained the first LAA quarterly return.

The Board was advised that Halton had been named as one of only 20 Local Alcohol Action Areas (LAAA) as part of a project to tackle the harmful and expensive effects of excessive alcohol consumption. In a scheme established by the Home Office, Halton would be supported in a bid to reduce the damage caused by alcohol to people's health and to local neighbourhoods.

The Board was further advised that Halton haf experienced high levels of alcohol related harm with significant impact on individuals, families and communities. In 2010/11, the cost to the Local Authority of alcohol related harm was estimated to be £450 per head of population. A significant proportion of the cases of domestic violence in Halton were also alcohol related, whilst alcohol related crimes and alcohol related violent crimes were worse than both the North West and the England averages as a whole. Alcohol could also fuel crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour and the costs of alcohol consumption included both the direct costs of the provision of public services and the substantial impact of alcohol-related absenteeism on local businesses. In line with national and regional trends alcohol related harm to health had fluctuated during recent years but had decreased between 2011/12 and 2012/13.

It was reported that there had been dramatic progress in reducing the number of alcohol-specific hospital admissions amongst those under the age of 18 years and Halton was now at the North West average. Halton had seen the biggest decrease within Merseyside, and also a greater decrease compared to the England and North West average.

Members discussed the opportunity of creating Dry Bars in Halton and noted the success of the Dry Bar in Liverpool and the importance of having local bars in the community offering this type of bar.  It was also noted that soft drinks in public houses were expensive and that licensee’s should be encouraged to reduce these costs.

RESOLVED: That the report and comment raised be noted.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Communities, which provided the Members with the PCSO Blue Lamp Runcorn and Widnes Quarter 4 reports.

The following comments arose from the discussion:-

·             The Board agreed that the reports be circulated to all Members of the Council for information;

·             Clarity was sought on how many people the Police and Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) interacted with in the community in a year.  In response, it was reported that there was a record of the interaction at organised events but data was not available on the number of people that they interacted with in the community on a day to day basis;

·             It was noted that PCSO’s were on bound by regulations and could only work restricted hour.  However, it was reported that they were more flexible than they previously had been; they work evening shifts and were tasked to cover parks and two PCSO’s worked directly with the Community Safety Team.  It was also reported that the new Chief Constable had been out with the PCSO’s and there may be more flexibility and changes coming into effect during the next twelve months;

·             Clarity was sought on whether they could be linked to the new enforcement officer.  In response, it was reported that it was hoped that the two could be aligned with enforcement i.e. issuing fixed penalty notices. However, currently they operated separately and it was noted that PCSO represented a friendly approach in the community whereas enforcement had an opposite role to play.  The Board noted the positive impact PCSO’s had in the Borough;

·             It was noted that 900 fixed penalty notices had been issued during the trial period with 240 of these had been people living outside of the Borough.  A legal response was awaited for the possibility of extending their powers to included parked vehicles and anti-social behaviour; and

·             It was noted that the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) was considering funding the extension of the role of special constables and it was suggested that funding PCSO’s would be a better option.  In response, it was reported that they had different powers and special constables were difficult to task and flexibility was restricted.  It was also reported that the number of Police Officers needed to increase and the number of PCSO’s secured.  The Board noted that there was a large turnover in Special Constables whereas PCSO’s had a low turnover rate resulting in a better service and a greater positive impact in the community.

RESOLVED: That the report and comments raised be noted.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Communities, which provided the Members with a Domestic Violence (DA) Topic Group Brief for approval.

The Chairman sought approval for the Topic Brief and reported that the DA Review would be led by Councillor D Lea and asked for nominations to be part of the review. It was agreed that an email be circulated to Councillors Gilligan and Nolan who were not in attendance at the meeting to invite them to join the Topic Group.

RESOLVED: That

(1)        the DA Topic Brief be approved; and

(2)        the following Councillors be nominated onto the DA Review to be led by Councillor D Lea, Councillors: M Lloyd-Jones, Ratcliffe, Sinnott and Zygadllo.