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 were received from Councillor A Gray substituted by Councillor S Owen and Councillor R Yates substituted by Councillor C Palmer.

It was proposed and seconded that Councillor J Silverstone   be appointed Chair of the Sub-Committee for 2022-2023.  There were no further nominations.

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor J Silverstone,  Chair of the Community Safety Sub-Committee, for the municipal year 2022-2023.

It was proposed and seconded that Councillor D Bowater  be appointed Vice Chair of the Sub-Committee for 2022-2023.  There were no further nominations.

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor D Bowater, Vice Chair of the Community Safety Sub-Committee, for the municipal year 2022-2023

(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).

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 C Palmer declared a personal interest as a member of Leighton Linslade in Bloom and Councillor Carberry, as a serving firefighter, shared his working environment with Bedfordshire Police.

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 (e)(f)(g) and (h).

Two members of the public spoke to raise concerns regarding the increased antisocial behaviour and vandalism in the town especially over the last few weeks and the difficulty when trying to report this to the police on 101. 

The first member of the public faced daily abuse, harassment and damage to property as a volunteer in a charity shop and the second member of the public, also a volunteer, spoke of the damage caused to the garden in Linslade Recreation Ground where plants were trampled, and equipment broken on numerous occasions. A request for an adjustment to the already installed CCTV cameras was made so the garden could be monitored as this was not covered at present. 

The Town Clerk suggested an audit could be carried out of all community gardens to offer up recommendations/options for a solution.

The members of the public were thanked for attending the meeting and speaking about the problems they encountered, and it was hoped solutions could be found.

(a)      To receive and approve as a correct record the minutes of the Community Safety Sub-Committee meeting held on 6 April 2022 (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 6 April 2022.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Community Safety Sub-Committee meeting held on 6 April 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed accordingly.

(b)              Updates from the previous minutes were given.

Agenda item 102/CS Operation Dodford it was confirmed there were no plans to give PCSOs additional powers at the present time.

Concerns were raised regarding the increase in antisocial behaviour issues in the town and the Sub-Committee requested that more proactive actions were taken to improve this and Councillors kept informed of the outcomes.

RESOLVED

(a)                 That this Sub-Committee views the current level of vandalism, antisocial behaviour, threats and intimidation in Leighton Buzzard as unacceptable.

(b)                 That the Sub-Committee instructs the Town Clerk to request the Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner urgently to

(i)           Effect an immediate strengthened Police presence in the town

(ii)          Provide local Police Commanders with an increase in uniformed Police Officers, up to the previously promised level of ten permanently assigned officers

(iii)        Pursue a strategy of proper public accountability for juvenile offenders, to reassure the public and local businesses that Leighton Buzzard is adequately policed.

Agenda item 103/CS Community Safety Budget – Stephen Swain from Groundworks spoke to update members on the Youth Club and to discuss whether the club which ran 2 evenings a month from the Vandyke Road site could be amended with one night at that site and another in the town centre or Linslade area.  Members agreed the option of using another site or building in Linslade would need more exploration but thought it was an idea which could be considered.  Stephen Swain and officers could liaise with the police regarding location, what evenings would be available and how this would work.

Stephen Swain had encountered problems at the youth club from a few young people who caused criminal damage to his car and assault to him personally which resulted in the closure of the club whilst the investigation was happening.

The Sub-Committee were concerned that this behaviour would escalate and cause serious injury as this seemed to be a growing problem and effective action was needed involving children’s social care, the parents/carers and the police.

Following further discussion, members agreed a recommendation should be made to the Cultural & Economic Committee for a Summit Call between the relevant organisations to find ways of working together to clamp down on this behaviour.

RECOMMENDATION to Cultural & Economic Services Committee that a Summit Call between Social Services, Bedfordshire Police, TACTIC and Groundworks be scheduled to explore ways to curtail this behaviour.

Agenda item 105/CS “Watch” Scheme Updates – it was confirmed that the Facebook Shop Watch Group was still current and it was hoped the group would be able to restart soon.

To receive an update report from Bedfordshire Police in respect of Operation Dodford, crime and antisocial behaviour for the period April-June 2022 (to follow)

The Sub-Committee received a report on Operation Dodford activity, reported crimes and antisocial behaviour during the period April – June 2022.

Concerns were voiced regarding the increase in antisocial behaviour in the town and questioned whether police numbers were sufficient to provide adequate coverage for the town.   Inspector Twyford confirmed a recruitment campaign was underway to address this situation, but the difficulties faced by Beds Police in arresting and detaining juveniles in custody remained challenging.  The effectiveness of the non-emergency number 101 was also questioned as the wait times when using this number were unrealistic.  The very high demand on this number was causing increased problems and frustration when trying to report incidents.    Inspector Twyford confirmed he would take back all comments and frustrations discussed to Andrew Selous, the Chief Constable and Police Crime Commissioner. 

RESOLVED to note the report.

(a)   To receive the CCTV monitoring reports from Central Bedfordshire Council for March-May 2022 (attached).

(b)   To receive an update on CCTV including the digital upgrade programme.

The Sub-Committee received reports of recorded CCTV incidents in Leighton Buzzard for March – May 2022. These reports were publicly available and published monthly on the Central Bedfordshire Council website.

The Sub-Committee agreed the new CCTV cameras would provide good quality images but concerns were raised on where they were positioned.  It was felt that recent vandalism in the parks could be addressed if cameras were sited to overlook the areas which had been targeted.   It was suggested that once the cameras had been upgraded by Central Bedfordshire Council the  feasibility  of the Town Council investing in some alternative back-up redeployable cameras could be considered. 

RESOLVED to note the CCTV reports and that the Town Clerk proactively engage with the relevant team to explore potential of alternative back-up cameras in appropriate locations.

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

Street Watch patrols regularly take place on a Tuesday and Saturday and Speed Watch two or three times a month.  Pub Watch runs a Facebook Group at present, but it was hoped it would reform shortly.

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 were no matters requiring exclusion of the public.