Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Eddie Johnson, Ash Malik and Matthew Saggers.

Councillor Sue Livings was in attendance as a substitute for Councillor Eddie Johnson.

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 14 March 2023.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 2023 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Housing Repairs Task and Finish Group

Councillor Tony Edwards advised members that he had attended the Housing Repairs Task and Finish Group meeting the day before to discuss the Housing Repair Review and that it had been a productive meeting.

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 10.

None.

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

None.

The Scrutiny Committee invited members from various organisations to the committee to review work in Harlow and Essex on domestic abuse and sexual harassment.

The Committee welcomed to the meeting, Harlow District Commander, Paul Austin, Inspector of Essex Police Service, Natalie Rooney, Christine Howard, Strategic Manager for Community Safety Youth and Engagement, Director of Operations for Safer Places, Jayne Gentry and Operations Manager for Changing Pathways, Ranjit Sindhar.

The Committee also received a supplementary agenda with a brief written summary of Changing Pathways work (around domestic abuse and sexual harassment); the issues their organisation faced and how Harlow Council could help. The supplementary agenda also included a paper copy of the PowerPoint presentation from Essex Police.

Paul Austin and Natalie Rooney gave a presentation on local statistics for Domestic Abuse, Violence against Women and Girls and Sexual Harassment to members and Christine Howard, Jayne Gentry and Ranjit Sindhar detailed the roles of their organisations. Christine Howard is the Lead Officer on the Harlow Domestic Abuse Forum which is a priority subgroup for Safer Harlow Partnership. The group work with partners, statutory and non-statutory to raise awareness and understanding of Domestic Abuse. Jayne Gentry and Ranjit Sindhar described the work of their organisations. Safer Places provide support and safe accommodation for domestic abuse victims/survivors. Changing Pathways offer an outreach service in Harlow for high-risk victims who are supported by IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advisors) and standard and medium risk victims that are supported by Domestic Abuse Practitioners. They also offer a specialist service within the organisation for black and minoritized groups.

Questions

In response to questions by the Committee, Paul Austin and Natalie Rooney recognised that Harlow had the highest rate in Essex for cases of domestic violence and sexual offences. They  explained this could be due to many factors including deprivation, housing strain, lack of skills or employment. They believed Essex Police had the adequate resources to cope with this challenge and that they were engaging with other agencies issues to bring this number of cases down. Harlow also has its own dedicated Domestic Abuse Investigation Team which was not shared with neighbouring towns and which was making a significant impact.

They also recognised that the reporting of Domestic Violence was falling and that 50% of reported Domestic Violence crimes were not subsequently supported by victims/survivors,  as they were unwilling to give evidence. 

The police did try to go forward with convictions as ‘victimless crimes’ but this could be difficult. Support was always offered to those victims through other channels. Police also used the Achillies heel technique.

Paul Austin advised the Committee they had received data on hot spots for issues in Harlow by Essex Police which could be shared outside of the Committee.

Paul Austin also responded to concerns from members about how victims may not be reporting crime due to the recent findings of violence against women within the Police. These findings were not specifically related to Essex Police and they were working to increase public confidence,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

a) Discussion with the Leader

The Committee had invited Councillor Dan Swords, Leader of Harlow Council to the meeting, as it was the first meeting of the year at what the Leader had the opportunity of outlining his work for the year and for the committee to scrutinise the priorities he had set for the year.

The Committee received two supplementary agendas; a written letter to Councillor Tony Edwards from Councillor Dan Swords with his views on the committee’s work plan for the year and another containing an email from Councillor Tony Edwards to the Leader, following the submission of the Leader’s letter to the Committee.

Councillor Dan Swords expressed to the Committee he felt that the Committee should be focusing their time on scrutinising the work of the administration rather than outside matters.

Councillor Tony Edwards responded that he felt discussions like this evening with the Police and other organisations, were beneficial even though it was not the Council’s primary responsibility.

The Leader told members he had the upmost confidence in delivering his five key priorities for Harlow Council which had been outlined for this year and that he took full responsibility in the delivery of them.

A question was raised about the number of women in senior roles within the Council, Councillor Dan Swords stated whilst there were no women currently occupying Senior Management roles, there were women in Assistant Director roles and in the Wider Leadership teams. He explained that after the report from the Local Government Association Review and from briefings with himself and the Chief Executive, Andrew Bramidge, more decision-making powers are planned to be given to those in Wider Leadership Teams and over 50% of those roles were occupied by women.

Councillor Dan Swords agreed to provide the Committee with a specific number on commercialisation profits for this year.

A question was raised regarding the use of the Councils assets specifically the accommodation review and the use of the building Councillor Swords stated progress had been poor and he believed this was due to lack of a corporate view on what the Council were asking for the review to achieve. Councillor Swords noted that the LGA report said there was a lack of clarity on the current Hybrid Working Policy, and an action plan on this was due to go to Cabinet. He understood to date progress had been poor but work was being carried out which he believed would speed up the progress on the accommodation review.

In response to a question on progress on new cycle paths, Councillor Dan Swords confirmed Harlow Council had secured funding to deliver a new cycle path route. Detailed discussions had taken place regarding this with Essex County Council.

Councillor Dan Swords responded to concerns of the committee that Harlow Council had seen a high number of staff leaving their jobs. He said that Harlow Council had a high retention rate of their staff and that the recent staff survey showed a higher than national average number  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

The Committee received the annual scrutiny report for 2022/23.

RESOLVED that the report was recommended to Full Council that the report be noted.

None.

Such other business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be received as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the minutes.

None.