Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notices of appointment of substitute Members (if any).

Apologies were received from Cllr G Barnell

Councillors are reminded of the requirement to declare any interest, including the type of interest, and reason for that interest, either at this stage of the meeting or as soon as they become aware of that interest.

Members were reminded of the need to make declarations where appropriate.

Members to consider whether to approve the Minutes of the last meeting as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 25^th January were approved as a correct record and SIGNED by the Chairman.

To receive any questions relating to items on the Agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.

Note:   A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

There were no members of the public present.

To receive any announcements that the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman had no announcements to make.

To provide Members with an update on Safeguarding and a review of best practice.

The Group had before it a *report from the Director of Business Transformation & Operations providing an update on Safeguarding  Children’s and Adults at Risk Policy and procedures and a review of best practice.

The Corporate Safeguarding Officer provided an overview of the report and stated that there had been no amendments this year and that the audit findings had demonstrated ‘reasonable assurance’.

Consideration was given to:

·         That the process was outlined in the Policy and Guidance

·         There were specific processes when housing known sex offenders which included robust risk assessments for each individual case

It was therefore RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that the Safeguarding Children’s and Adults at Risk Policy and Procedures be adopted.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Reason for the decision: To ensure that the Council met its legal obligations in respect to safeguarding and child protection

Note: *report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

To receive a review of the Single Equalities Policy and Equality Objectives

The Group had before it a *report from the Director of Business Improvement and Operations providing the Single Equality Scheme and the Equality Objectives for 2022-2023.

The Interim Corporate Performance Manager outlined the contents of the report and stated that there were no significant changes but that two additional objectives had been included.

Consideration was given to:

·         Age was not a barrier to employment with the Council and recruiters were not provided with an applicant’s age during the recruitment process

·         Wellbeing Ambassadors were staff members trained to assist colleagues with issues and was closely linked with the Menopause policy

·         The Council was doing all that it could to raise diversity issues

It was therefore RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that the Single Equality Scheme and the Equality Objectives for 2022-2023 be adopted.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Reason for the decision: To ensure that the Council was in compliance with the Equality Act 2010

Note: *report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

To agree the action plan for 2022-2023.

The Group had before it, and NOTED, a *report from the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing providing an update on the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) priorities and the planned activities of the partnership over the coming year.

The Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing outlined the contents of the report and stated that the review included recent and pending changes including funding options.

He explained that the CSP would no longer receive direct funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to distribute to partner agencies but that these agencies would now have to apply directly to the PCC for funding. The CSP would now shift to assisting its partner agencies to access this direct funding.

The officer explained that  due to the Domestic Abuse Act there was a pending new duty regarding serious violence and that the PCC had provided funding directly to the CSP for 12 months.

The CSP had agreed two new themes which were:

1.    Violent Crime

2.    Youth Risk and Vulnerability

In response to questions asked the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing stated:

·         That he would provide an update on the Tiverton Police desk at the next meeting

·         That the CSP would need to bid for funding in the future as it would not be provided directly from the PCC

·         The CSP had a different duty than the Police who would look at criminal acts. The CSP would look at the circumstances leading up to the act to establish if any lessons could be learned by a multi-agency review

Note: *report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

To receive details on how the Council can become Trauma Informed

The Group had before it a *report from the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing providing an outline to becoming a Trauma Informed Council.

The Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing provided an overview of his report and explained that the Community Safety Partnership Working Group had recommended that the Council explore becoming Trauma Informed.

He recognised that to become Trauma Informed would require a significant amount of work and he requested that the PDG agreed to the principle that it be investigated in more depth and a further report be brought back in August with specific recommendations.

In response to a question asked he confirmed that Mid Devon District Council (MDDC) were at the forefront of the work and that no other local District Councils had yet adopted a Trauma Informed approach but that others were looking at what MDDC were doing.

The Group therefore AGEED that:

1.    The Council explore further potential benefits, challenges and implications of Mid Devon District Council becoming a Trauma Informed Council

2.    That a further report was received by August 2022 in respect of specific considerations.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Note: *report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

To receive the Chairman’s annual report.

The Group had before it, and NOTED, *the Chairman’s Annual Report.

Note: *report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

To receive the current work plan for the Community PDG.

Members to agree and discuss additional items that they would like added to the work plan for the municipal year.

The Group had before it, and NOTED, the Community PDG work plan

The Policy and Research Officer explained that the Scrutiny Committee had agreed the recommendations of the Motion 564 review. The PDG requested that the report be presented to them so that it could investigate the communication aspect of the review.

Note: *work plan previously circulated and attached to the minutes