Agenda and minutes

Schedule 12 of the Local Government Act 1972 requires a record be kept of the Members present and that this record form part of the minutes of the meeting. Members who cannot attend a meeting should tender apologies to the Town Clerk.

Apologies for absence were received from Inspector Gurr.

(i)            Under the Localism Act 2011 (sections 26-37 and Schedule 4) and in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, Members are required to declare any interests which are not currently entered in the Member’s Register of Interests or if he/she has not notified the Monitoring Officer of it.

(ii)          Should any Member have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in an item on the agenda, the Member may not participate in consideration of that item unless a Dispensation has first been requested (in writing) and granted by the Council (see Dispensation Procedure).

(i)  Members were asked to declare any interests, including the nature of those interests, which they had in any of the items under consideration at this meeting. 

Councillor Dodwell declared an interest as a member of the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Panel.

(ii)     No disclosable pecuniary interests were declared and no dispensations were requested.

To receive questions and statements from members of the public in respect of any item of business included in the agenda, as provided for in Standing Order No.s 3(f) and 3(g).

There were no questions from the public.

(a)  To receive and approve as a correct record the minutes of the Community Safety Sub-Committee meeting held on 26 October 2020 (attached) in accordance with Standing Order 12.

(b)  To receive information updates on matters arising from the previous meeting (if appropriate).

(a)          The Sub-Committee received the draft minutes of the Community Safety Sub-Committee meeting held on 26 October 2020.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Community Safety Sub-Committee meeting held on 26 October 2020 be approved as a correct record, to be signed at a later date when safe to do so.

(b)          Minute ref 50/CS Young People’s Projects – the Sub-Committee were informed that Groundwork would be beginning their sessions for young people and issuing invitations shortly. Members agreed that Groundwork should provide a general progress report on their sessions to the Sub-Committee.

The Town Clerk informed members he had been notified that 16 COVID stewards had been employed to gather and share information with officers at Central Beds Council and the Police regarding flouting of restrictions. 

To receive an update report from Bedfordshire Police in respect of Operation Dodford, crime and antisocial behaviour for the period October 2020 – December 2020 (to follow).

The Sub-Committee had received a written report regarding crime and anti-

social behaviour in advance of the meeting and a verbal summary was given regarding activity undertaken in respect of Operation Dodford and incidents of note from October - December 2020.

Sergeant Craven informed members that the Operation Dodford patrols would continue to provide policing of the town centre with emphasis on COVID restrictions, checking parks and supermarkets to enforce no gatherings and social distancing rules.  Any groups of young people under 18 years of age flouting guidance would be taken home and an official warning given to their parents.  If a second offence occurred, the parents would then be issued with a £100 fine.  Members agreed that this enforcement should take priority at present.

RESOLVED to note the information.

To receive the CCTV monitoring reports from Central Bedfordshire Council for October - December 2020 (attached).

The Sub-Committee received reports of recorded CCTV incidents in Leighton Buzzard during October, November and December 2020. These reports were publicly available and published monthly on the Central Bedfordshire Council website.

RESOLVED to note the report.

To receive a verbal update in respect of the “Watch” schemes within the Parish.

Councillor Morris informed the Sub-Committee that Streetwatch had resumed last weekend but no updates available at present. 

RESOLVED to note the information.

To receive a year to date budget monitoring report for the Community Safety revenue budget and earmarked reserve (to follow).

The Sub-Committee received a budget monitoring report for Community Safety revenue budget and earmarked reserve.

A motion was raised to request that any residual balance be retained by the Sub-Committee and rolled over to next year to support community safety initiatives.

RESOLVED to note the budget monitoring report for the Community Safety revenue budget and expenditure from the Community Safety earmarked reserve.

RECOMMENDED to Policy and Finance Committee that any underspend from the 2020-21 Community Safety revenue budget be carried into the Community Safety earmarked reserve at year end.

The Sub-Committee may consider it appropriate to consider the following resolution should they consider that any discussion would be prejudicial to the public interests:that, under the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, the public be excluded on the grounds of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted which involves the likely disclosure of exempt information. The public and press to withdraw from the meeting during consideration of detailed discussion regarding:  Operational Policing (if applicable)

There was no requirement to exclude the public.