Issue - meetings

That the Committee welcomed the new legislative powers and the approach to implementation as outlined in the report.

The Team Leader Community Safety introduced a report on the new legislative provision for powers for dealing with anti-social behaviour and to inform Members of the approach approved by Cabinet in respect of the implementation of the legislation.  She introduced Chief Inspector Sharon McCairn, North Wales Police, and Gerwyn Davies, ASB Coordinator, and advised that the new Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), Crime and Policing Act, which had recently come into force sought to consolidate and simplify the approach to anti-social behaviour and enable effective local action for control and reduction.  She gave a presentation on the implications of the ASB, Crime and Policing Act 2014.  The main points of the presentation were:

• background
• summary of new powers
• the new powers
• power to deal with individuals
• environmental powers
• dispersal powers
• empowering communities
• Flintshire’s approach 

The Chairman welcomed the new powers and commented on the Community Trigger which would give victims of ASB the opportunity to force a case review where their report met a locally determined threshold.  He expressed the view that the new measures would encourage the general public to be more proactive in reporting incidents of general anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Paul Shotton referred to Community Protection Notices (CPN) and Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) which could be used by local authorities to tackle general anti-social behaviour.  He commented on the need to consult with North Wales Police regarding the issue of a PSPO and asked how long the process could take.  The Team Leader Community Safety explained that the legislation was not specific about the timescales involved but research on national examples indicated the process could take between 2-4 weeks.    

In response to the further queries raised by Members, the Team Leader Community Safety referred to the procedures to be set up to deal with ASB Case Reviews (also known as the Community Trigger) and the agreed timescales that the lead agency must respond to the applicant outlining whether a threshold of incidents had been met.  She advised that the Authority had set up its own Community Trigger process and information regarding the progress made by the Authority was available on its website. 

Responding to the further comments made by Members she advised that where an incident of ASB had occurred the Authority would contact the victim to ask if they wished to receive a visit from the Neighbourhood Wardens Scheme to offer advice and support.   She gave an assurance that the Authority addressed all complaints of ASB as soon as possible and supported the individuals concerned in terms of achieving positive outcomes.

Councillor Paul Cunningham expressed thanks to Gerwyn Davies and his team for their hard work and support in addressing the incidents of ASB he had raised.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee welcomed the new legislative powers and the approach to implementation as outlined in the report.