Issue - meetings

Report of Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Tony Nicholson

(Key decision):

(1) To note the achievements and activities of the Lewes Community Safety Partnership during 2017/18 and future risks/opportunities to performance.

(2) That a Road Safety Action Group be formulated, as recommended by Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on the 29 November 2018.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Planning, considering the current performance of the Lewes Community Safety Partnership.

The report detailed that the number of crimes reported in the Lewes District had increased over the last few years with a number of crimes reported, rising from 3,817 in 2014/15 to 5,095 in 2017/18. Lewes District however continued to be a very low crime area and maintained a position of second lowest recorded crime compared with local authorities in its Most Similar Group during 2017/18.

Visiting member, Councillor Gardiner, Chair of Scrutiny Committee addressed the Cabinet and detailed discussions of the report at Scrutiny Committee on 29 November 2018. The Scrutiny Committee made a recommendation that a Road Safety Action Group be formulated. The recommendation was agreed by the Cabinet.

Visiting member, Councillor Osborne, addressed the Cabinet and raised the importance of growing awareness for identifying signs of domestic abuse, and coercive control. Officers responded that within the council this was covered through the approved safeguarding policy and staff were required to complete a mandatory training course. The topic would also form part of the member induction for 2019/20.

Officers advised Cabinet that future reports would contain a definition for some of the new terms detailed in the report.

Visiting member, Councillor Catlin requested data on whether there had been an increase in hate crime over the past year. Officers agreed to circulate the data following the meeting.

Resolved (Key decision):

(1) To note the achievements and activities of the Lewes Community Safety Partnership during 2017/18 and future risks/opportunities to performance.

(2) That a Road Safety Action Group be formulated, as recommended by Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on the 29 November 2018.

Reason for decision:

For Cabinet to consider progress on delivery of the current Community Safety Plan.