Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence of Members who are unable to attend the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Cooper.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 28^th September 2021.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 28^th September 2021 were agreed as a correct record.

The Chair provided updates as follows:

(i)       Public Question Time (Minute 28)

The Operational Manager- Air Quality, Energy & Climate Change had provided a written response to the questions, as requested, and this had also been shared with Members of the Committee.

(ii)       Climate Emergency and Net Zero Road Map (Minute 29)

The Air Quality Status Report had been written and submitted to DEFRA but had not yet been ratified. Once ratified and feedback provided an update would be provided to Scrutiny and the report would also be published on the Council’s website.

(iii) Since the last meeting the Economy and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel had undertaken a call-in, the decision for which had been published on the website. The report had been referred back to the Cabinet and would be considered at the meeting to be held on 16^th November 2021.

Councillors will be asked to say if there are any items on the agenda in which they have disclosable pecuniary interests, which would prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items, or any other interests.

During the meeting Councillor Smaje disclosed an interest in that she was involved with a trust that had an asset transferred building.

Most debates take place in public. This only changes when there is a need to consider certain issues, for instance, commercially sensitive information or details concerning an individual. You will be told at this point whether there are any items on the Agenda which are to be discussed in private.

All items were considered in public session.

The Committee will receive any petitions and hear any deputations from members of the public.

A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on some particular issue of concern. In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 (2), members of the public should provide at least 24 hours’ notice of presenting a deputation.

A member of the public can also hand in a petition at the meeting but that petition should relate to something on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

No deputations or petitions were received.

The meeting will hear any questions from the public in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.

Questions should be emailed to executive.governance@kirklees.gov.uk by no later than 10.00 a.m. on 8^th November 2021.

No questions were received.

The Committee will consider a report providing:

(i)    An overview of the most up to date draft Strategic Intelligence Assessment for Kirklees

(ii)   An overview of the emerging strategic priorities and themes informing the new Communities Partnership Plan

(iii) The opportunity to discuss and contribute to the emerging priorities, informing the new Communities Partnership Plan

(iv) Updates in respect of repeat victims, the approach to violence and the development of a new Domestic Abuse Strategy.

Contact:

Jo Richmond – Head of Service, Communities

Lee Hamilton – Safer Kirklees Manager

Chris Walsh – Performance Manager, Communities

Jill Greenfield – Service Director, Customer and Communities presented a report providing:

(i)    An overview of the most up to date draft Strategic Intelligence Assessment for Kirklees

(ii)   An overview of the emerging strategic priorities and themes informing the new Communities Partnership Plan

(iii) The opportunity to discuss and contribute to the emerging priorities, informing the new Communities Partnership Plan

(iv) Updates in respect of repeat victims, the approach to violence and the development of a new Domestic Abuse Strategy.

Councillor Carole Pattison - Cabinet Member and Portfolio Holder for Learning, Aspiration and Communities, Chief Inspector Alan Travis from West Yorkshire Police (WYP), Chani Mortimer – Service Manager, Domestic Abuse and Safeguarding Partnerships and Chris Walsh – Performance Manager, Communities were also in attendance to hear Members’ comments and answer questions.

It was explained that the 2018-2021 Communities Partnership Plan was due to expire, with a new Plan being developed using insight, data and analysis from the most recent Partnership Strategic Intelligence Assessment (PSIA). The full Draft PSIA had been included at Appendix 1 of the report and an overview was given of the shared themes that had been identified.

The proposed strategic objectives for 2022-25 had been developed by the Community Partnership, taking account of the learning from the pandemic and the importance of these relationships in providing a strategic approach to the Plan. These were:

·       Tackling Violence, Abuse and Exploitation,

·       Reducing Re-offending, Anti-Social Behaviour and Neighbourhood Crime,

·       Building Resilient Communities, and

·       Reducing Risk

The objectives were underpinned by the following principles:

·       Prevention and Early Intervention

·       Partnership Collaboration

·       Lived Experience

·       Tackling Inequality of Outcome

·       Place Based

·       Victim Centred

Beneath each objective there were a number of task groups and workstreams. The a focus was on building on the partnership collaboration to avoid duplication, ensure best use of resources and to establish concrete implementation and action plans supported by strategies.

Councillor Pattison expressed a hope that the new plan would fully reflect the new reinvigorated partnership working and life as experienced by Kirklees’ communities.

She was pleased to see the emphasis on the resilience of communities. She said that there was a need to identify the risks that communities faced and to reduce them. It was also necessary to look at repeat criminality and its fundamental causes and to reduce violence and abuse in society. The consideration of these issues being undertaken in a cross-cutting way was welcomed.

Questions and comments were invited from Committee Members, with the following issues being covered:

·       The focus on early intervention and prevention was very important. As a Ward Councillor there were concerns in respect of the response to incidents of serious violence in terms of communication and being kept informed in the longer term. Currently it was not considered that the early intervention and prevention work was visible and it would be good to to see this progress at grass-roots level. It was explained that the new duty in respect of serious violence was considered to provide an opportunity to embed the grass-roots  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

The Committee will consider a report which seeks input in respect of the approach and work undertaken to develop a VCSE Investment Strategy for Kirklees,

Contact:

Noreen Abbas – Community Investment Manager

Diane Sims – Engagement and Communications Lead for Democracy

Noreen Abbas - Community Investment Manager presented a report which sought the Committee’s input in respect of the approach and work undertaken to develop a VCSE Investment Strategy for Kirklees,

Hilary Thompson the chair of Kirklees Third Sector Leaders, Diane Sims – Engagement and Communications Lead for Democracy, Helen Orlic, the external consultant in respect of the strategy and Vina Randhawa - Active Citizens and Places Manager were also in attendance to answer questions.

Questions and comments were invited from Committee Members, with the following issues being covered:

•         In respect of lesser involvement from certain areas in Kirklees in the development of the strategy and the potential impact of this on ownership; whilst this point was accepted it was believed that the engagement and events had been open to a wide variety of people and organisations, although perhaps the timing had been an issue. The engagement was still ongoing and it was considered that people would become more involved as interest increased and this would help achieve wider ownership. It had been advertised through a number of channels, including the Third Sector Leaders (TSL), but the difficulties of including smaller organisations were acknowledged in terms of capacity and time to take part. Feedback had been provided to keep them up to date with the emerging themes.

•         In relation to information on Council grant funding opportunities, the data was crucial and linked back to how success was measured, the data was currently being collated and the aim was to have all contracts and funding information before Christmas. In terms of the reach to BAME communities; a threefold engagement had been undertaken using TSL’s contacts and social media, the Council’s Community Directory links and the Third Sector Team’s contacts. Contacts made through grant funding would also be used and contact with local elected members. Work was also being undertaken on a Community Champions project which would achieve a wider reach into BAME communities and would help in informing the development of a network and how better connections could be ensured and support provided.

•         It was stressed that there needed to be a better understanding of communities and a focus on building capacity and ensuring sustainability. It was confirmed that this was also the aim of the sector so that groups were not reliant on sources of grant funding.

•         There needed to be a strong focus on understanding if all demographics were covered and expanding reach among all communities across all sectors. Diversity of ownership was very important.

•         The TSL Board involved a wide variety of people, including members of different communities and the Board played a role at West Yorkshire level in respect of equality, diversity and inclusion.

•         In respect of external funding and improvements to the levels coming into Kirklees, it was considered that knowledge of what was available, across the communities at all levels, was critical alongside the capacity; time, resource and skills, to apply, particularly for the larger grants. Increasing the support to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

To give consideration to the Committee’s Work Programme for 2021-22.

Date of next meeting: 21^st December 2021.

Contact:

Sheila Dykes - Principal Governance and Democratic Engagement Officer

Consideration was given to the Committee’s Work Programme for 2021-22.

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on 21^st December 2021.

The Chair reported an urgent officer delegated decision in respect of the Household Support Fund; this had been urgent due to the funding being needed for the provision of free school meals vouchers during the half term holiday.  It would be reported to Cabinet on 16^th November 2021.