Issue - meetings

Lynsey Kelly, Community Safety Manager, introduced the report and welcomed representatives from Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Company who were involved in drafting the strategy document to the meeting.  The Community Safety Manager outlined the background to the drafting of the consultation document and the overarching priorities of the organisations involved in working together to develop a joint strategy to reduce re-offending rates across the Black Country region.

The Community Safety Manager explained that a separate action plan for each Black Country area involved will be drafted to meet local needs. The local plans while allowing for variations will be expected to support the delivery of the overarching priorities detailed draft consultation document. The public consultation is due to end on 8 May 2018.

The Community Safety Manager outlined the work done to consult with different community groups about the plans. The Community Safety Manager explained that a full equalities assessment will be completed before a final draft is published.

The panel discussed the identified outcomes listed in para 3.3 of the report and whether they should more Wolverhampton specific so that the public can assess the progress made and also the inclusion of key milestones. The Community Safety Manager explained that there would be a separate local action plan for Wolverhampton but agreed to discuss the issue with Board about making the suggested change to the outcomes. Any changes to the draft strategy would however need to be agreed by representatives of the other local authorities involved in the partnership.

The panel queried whether the plan was compliant with the Council’s public sector equality duty and the groups consulted about the draft strategy. The panel suggested a wide range of groups should be encouraged to respond to the consultation. The Community Safety Manager explained that WVSC had been invited to share the draft consultation document with organisations on its distribution database to get wider range of views on the plans.

The panel suggested that the reference to a ‘whole family’ approach in the strategy document should be changed to a whole community approach to reflect important work of other agencies and people that can have on reducing the risk of a person re-offending following their release from prison by offering different kinds of support. The Community Safety Manager agreed to propose this change to Board when they next meet to discuss responses to the public consultation.

The panel discussed the issues detailed in Appendix A of the report which list the risk factors that leads to young people getting involved in crime has been extensively researched and documented and the solutions are knows – it was important to accept the need for organisations to be properly funded so that the necessary services are provided otherwise only limited progress would be made in achieving the desired outcomes of the strategy. 

The panel commented on the impact of national policy changes following major changes in the structure of the probation responsibilities and there was concern this had contributed to the increase  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6