To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2023.

Decision: That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2023 be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods).

This report provides an overview of the tools and powers that are used to address ASB and some case studies of how they are used.  It sets out some of the work we undertake with our partners to prevent escalation of ASB.  The MCC Policy and Procedure for addressing ASB is also included.

The Task and Finish Group considered a report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) that provided an overview of the tools and powers used to address antisocial behaviour (ASB).

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Case studies of how the Council uses the tools and powers it has;

·         The work undertaken with partners to prevent the escalation of ASB

·         The Council’s policy and procedure for addressing ASB;

·         Interventions with children and young people and youth provisions;

·         Early intervention methods;

·         The powers available only to the Council, such as Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs);

·         The powers available to the Council, police and social landlords;

·         The powers available to the Council and police;

·         The powers available only to the police;

·         The different ways to report ASB; and

·         Barriers to reporting.

Some of the key points that arose from the Task and Finish Group’s discussions were:

·         If Greater Manchester Police (GMP) could monitor the efficacy of neighbourhood patrolling;

·         What powers PSPOs afforded the police that they did not already have;

·         How long it took housing providers to deal with cases of ASB and whether there was a consistent approach to this across all providers in the city;

·         How soon ASB Case Reviews took place once a report had been made;

·         When partners would become involved in ASB Case Reviews;

·         What work was being undertaken with reoffenders of ASB;

·         The other partnerships in place across Manchester to tackle ASB;

·         How proceeds of crime funds could be used to tackle ASB;

·         How the Council and partners dealt with instances of multi-generational cases of ASB;

·         How aggressive begging could be addressed;

·         Requesting a breakdown of all areas in the city where a PSPO has been issued;

·         What youth provisions were in place to reduce ASB;

·         The lack of feedback on cases that were reported, and querying how complainants could receive updates on cases they report to GMP;

·         Whether there was a link between lack of local provisions and ASB;

·         The criteria for different levels of ASB, and what made a specific case severe;

·         How the effectiveness of dealing with ASB was monitored;

·         When mediation would be offered and how long this would be undertaken for;

·         How closure orders could be used to tackle ASB; and

·         The need to understand a young person’s experiences of ASB.

In introducing the report, the Strategic Lead for Community Safety informed members that a representative of the Withington and Old Moat Youth Outreach Service could not attend the meeting. She provided an overview of the work of the service in his absence, advising the Group that this was established through a 12 month project with partners in response to antisocial behaviour. The service engaged with young people in the area and provided services such as drug and alcohol awareness courses and arts and crafts, and that there had been a reduction in the amount of ASB reported in the area.

The Strategic Lead for Community Safety also advised the committee that the Council was undertaking other targeted work and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit

Members are invited to review the Terms of Reference and agree the Work Programme of the Task and Finish Group.

The Task and Finish Group considered the terms of reference and future work programme and were invited to make any amendments.

Decision:

That the Terms of Reference and Work Programme be noted and approved.