Present at the meeting:
- Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside (Chairman)
- Councillor J N Grundy
- Councillor Mrs A M L Bland
- Councillor R M Bleakley
- Councillor R Brierley
- Councillor B Bowen
- Councillor S Dawber
- Councillor J Eccles Churton
- Councillor J Ellis
- Councillor J Moodie
- Councillor Mrs A Turnock
Cabinet Portfolio Holder
- Councillor K Anderson – Cabinet Neighbourhood Champion
Officers in attendance
- Gary Finch – Principal Officer – Overview and Scrutiny
- Alison Henderson – Solicitor
- Joanne Makin – Service Manager- Neighbourhood Scheme
- Diane Adshead – Committee Services Officer
- Janet Lumley – Administrative Assistant
Officers presenting reports
- Siân Jay – Policy Manager-Equality, Diversity and Cohesion
- Ian Harrison – Head of Sustainable Communities
13 Apologies for absence: Councillors H L Cadman and B J Fagan.
14 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2009 were approved as a correct record. In relation to Minute 10, Members were informed that the cost of removing an abandoned vehicle is £55.
15 Environmental Services Performance Plan 2009/12: This report was withdrawn.
16 Equality Framework for Local Government: The Policy Manager for Equality Diversity and Cohesion, Siân Jay, introduced a report outlining the requirements of the Equality Framework for Local Government and identifying projects and programmes that were key to achieving success under the framework. She explained that appendix A of the report would give members an idea of the characteristics of an excellent authority, which Wigan is striving to be and suggested that she could bring regular reports to the Committee outlining progress made against targets. The Equality Framework had replaced the old Equality Standard. Under the old standard Wigan was rated at 3 out of 5 and this has led to an “achieving” status under the new framework with “excellent” being the next level.
Members gave comments and asked a number of questions, which included the following salient points:-
- Could members have reports written in plainer English, as some of the jargon was very difficult to understand?
- Could members be given indications of what areas needed improvement?
- How will the aims be achieved, under the PACT process or via neighbourhood teamwork?
- How will we set targets for equality of outcome and how will we monitor if they have been achieved?
- What will Wigan gain by being placed in a higher category in the framework?
- What are the budget targets?
Members were assured that future reports to Committee would be written in a format that would be easier to understand.
It was explained that there were four main areas to be considered when seeking to decide how best to achieve targets.
- The equality impact assessment, which was a system for ascertaining that services were reaching the people they should and how access could be made easier.
- Disaggregation, which seeks to ensure that all the information necessary to target the right citizens, was available.
- Workforce issues, which involved knowing the workforce, their needs and their training and development requirements.
- The Equality Scheme, which is a statement of intent for three years ahead and reports at regular intervals on what Wigan is doing well and what issues need to be addressed. The new three year plan is due to be introduced in January 2010.
A new equality act due to be passed in the near future, would include a duty on Local Authorities to take account of citizens’ socio-economic status e.g. deprivation. Should Wigan achieve the highest status under the Framework it would mean that it was delivering the right services to the right people in the right way and would help attract the right calibre of employee in the future.
Accreditation under the new scheme would cost £3000 and any further expense would be met from within existing budgets. Failure to meet all the requirements of the Act would leave the Council open to challenge from individuals and groups, which, if successful, could be very costly.
Resolved: The Committee:-
- notes the requirements of the Equality Framework for Local Government and requests that all necessary action is taken to achieve excellent status and to achieve equality for all across the borough; and
- requests regular updated reports on specific projects as well as overall progress and an annual report at the end of the year.
17 Draft designated public place orders policy and procedure: The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services introduced by Mr Ian Harrison, Head of Sustainable Communities, seeking the views of the Committee on the adoption of the policy and procedure of Designated Public Place Orders (DPPO). It was explained that the orders were intended to deal with citizens above the age of 18 who were drinking in public places and engaging in anti social behaviour. Laws were already in place, which allow the police to deal with people under the age of 18 who were drinking illegally.
Members gave comments and asked questions, which included the following salient points:-
- What is the timeline from complaint to the issue of a DPPO?
- Would a total ban on drinking in public places be more effective?
- Is it within the Committee’s remit to make new byelaws and if so how is this done?
- Could anything be done about this problem at township level?
It was explained that DPPO’s were intended to be used as an additional tool to combat anti social behaviour in conjunction with the powers already held. It was also agreed that a complete ban on drinking in public places would not be in the interests of the vast majority of the public.
The Head of Sustainable Communities referred members to appendix A which set out the timeline from complaint to issue of a DPPO, but explained that numerous other avenues would also be followed at the same time in order to try to resolve problems.
Resolved: The Committee:-
- supports the policy/procedure for the making of Designated Public Place Orders.
- requests that the Solicitor e-mail members with a list of current byelaws and the protocol covering them, and
- agrees that the matter be raised at township level.
18 Draft Domestic Violence Strategy: The Chairman referred to item 10 on the agenda and stated that she felt that the report had been circulated to members too late to allow proper consideration of its contents. It was agreed to discuss the report and members were given time to read it thoroughly after the meeting and submit any questions that they may wish to raise with the Chairman and she would then pass them on to Mr Harrison for answers. The matter would be brought back to the November 2009 meeting for further consideration. It is the intention of the new Building Safer Communities Partnership, wherever possible, to tackle and eliminate domestic abuse.
There were very high rates of domestic violence in the Wigan borough and the cost to the borough was £29 million per year, with the national cost being £5.8 billion. Research showed that only 16% of cases were ever reported.
Councillor Ellis made members aware that the police at Bamfurlong are very experienced in dealing with domestic violence complaints in a sympathetic and understanding way.
Members gave comments and asked a number of questions including:-
- Whether they could be provided with a telephone number to give them easy access for ward constituents complaining of domestic violence?
- Whether training could be organised to raise members’ awareness of the issue?
- Whether information was available on domestic violence rates in each township?
- Have other outside organisations been consulted during the preparation of this strategy?
The Cabinet Neighbourhood Champion asked for a list of useful numbers and a description of the services offered, to be circulated to members.
Members were assured that the views of many organisations had been considered when drawing up the draft strategy including Women’s Aid, Wigan and Leigh Homes, Age Concern, the Probation Service and health providers in the area and that it was now time to begin looking at performance in relation to the action plan detailed in the report. Figures were available for each Township but it was felt more important to tackle the issue borough wide.
Resolved: The Committee agrees the Draft Domestic Violence Strategy, in principle, but requests that it be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee for more detailed consideration.
