Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Jacqui Cross.

To receive Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any matters on the agenda.

None.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2015.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2015 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Further to Minute 67 – Review of Hate Crime in Harlow, Final Report – Jane Greer, Head of Community Wellbeing, provided the Committee with an update of progress with the actions agreed by Cabinet including the Hate Crime leaflet, the Anne Frank Exhibition and the inclusion of Hate Crime in the work of the Safer Harlow Partnership.

To receive any questions from members of the public in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.

None.

To receive any questions from Councillors in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.

None.

To consider responses (if any) of the Cabinet to reports and recommendations from the Committee.

The Cabinet considered the Committee’s recommendations arising from the Review of Hate Crime in Harlow at its meeting in March 2015 and

RESOLVED that:

A     The initiative to develop greater understanding of Hate Crime in Harlow through the production of a leaflet that could be utilised in schools and other public bodies in regular contact with members of the public, is approved.

B    The Safer Harlow Partnership is requested to obtain an up to date and detailed analysis of Hate Crime and investigate any trends revealed by that data which might inform further partnership approaches to address these issues.

C    The Safer Harlow Partnership is requested to prioritise Hate Crime inrecognition of the rise in incidents.

D    The Harlow Arts Trust be asked to explore the possibility of the Anne Frank Exhibition in the Gibberd Gallery.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet’s response to the recommendations from this review is noted.

To agree the Committee’s work plan for the current year, 2015/16.

The Committee received a report proposing a work plan for 2015/16. The Committee considered the work plan items included on the report that had been carried over from the previous year and made an additional suggestion.

RESOLVED that:

A     Scoping reports for the following items be received at the September 2015 meeting of the Committee:

(i)    Review of Sheltered Housing provision in Harlow

(ii)  Review of the Harlow Youth Council

(iii) Review of the Council’s ICT Strategy

B    An interim report for the Review of Pay Day Loans be received at the September 2015 meeting. The Committee asked that this review also explore how credit unions (such as the Harlowsave Credit Union) could be promoted as alternatives to Pay Day Loans. It asked that a representative of the Harlow Citizens’ Advice Bureau (CAB) be invited to a future meeting to advise whether the CAB believes Pay Day Loans have had a significant negative effect on Harlow residents.

C    An interim report for the Review of Community Engagement/Service User Engagement be received at the October 2015 meeting.

D    The following topics be added to the work plan, but with dates of consideration not allocated, so the Committee may choose to revisit them at a later date:

(i)    Local Transport Provision in Harlow

(ii)  Unauthorised Encampments

(iii) Registered Social Landlords and Affordable Housing

(iv) Long Term Strategy for the Council’s Discretionary Services

E     A review of the Council’s powers to control high-value gaming machines be undertaken in 2015/16, to link with the Review of Pay Day Loans if possible.