Agenda and draft minutes

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting of this Committee held on 9 November, 2012.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th November 2011 be agreed as a correct record.

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items included in the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Council’s Head of Housing Services provided the Committee with an update regarding the Low Carbon Projects that had taken place up to February 2012 following a successful bid for funding.

Resolved:     That the projects be noted.

The Strategy would be going to Cabinet in May and it was therefore suggested that an additional meeting of the Committee be convened towards the end of April to consider this item.

It was confirmed that the issue of Tree Preservation Orders had now been considered by the Strategic Planning Committee. Members agreed that this was sufficient for the time being but that further information may be requested at a later date.

Resolved:     That this be revisited at a later date if required.

Resolved:     That the Head of Performance and Transformation send out a briefing note to Members regarding the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act.

A report was submitted to inform the Committee of a meeting that had taken place with representatives from Staffordshire Trading Standards on 7^th February 2012, to provide information regarding the licensing review process and to request that members consider proposals for the consolidation of information regarding licensing complaints.

Members discussed the report and agreed that it would be beneficial to invite Officers from Trading Standards to a future meeting of the Committee. The Chair also made clear that Members from the Health Scrutiny Committee would need to be involved in any future alcohol projects and it was agreed to invite Health Scrutiny Members to the next meeting along with representatives from Staffordshire Police.

Resolved:     (a)       That an additional meeting of the Committee be convened and that representatives from Trading Standards, Staffordshire Police and the Health Scrutiny Committee be invited to attend.

                        (b)       That a process be looked into that would enable the Council’s Licensing Department to collate information regarding complaints about off licences.

A report was submitted providing the committee with the first draft of the Safer and Stronger Communities Strategy.

The Strategy would provide the main framework for the work being done by the Borough Council in conjunction with its partners, communities and other key stakeholders in seeking to develop stronger and safer communities in the Borough and beyond.

The Strategy would bring together previously disparate areas of work in order to provide a common basis for future work programmes as well as a set of key indicators and outcomes which those projects listed in the Strategy sought to deliver.

It was proposed that the Strategy be subject to consultation with key sections of the Borough’s population.

Resolved:     (a)       That the contents of the Strategy be noted.

                        (b)       That the Committee endorse the presentation of the Strategy to Cabinet on 14^th March 2012.