Agenda item

Report from the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendation:

That Cabinet note the progress to date.

Consideration was given to the report which provided an update on the development and progress of the new Street Safe Team for 2026. Established as part of the Council’s approved revenue budget investment in March 2025, the initiative was designed to strengthen community safety and enhance public confidence in the town centres. Detail was provided on the progress achieved so far, and emphasised the vital role of partnership working, ongoing staff training, and meaningful community engagement in supporting the successful delivery of the Street Safe Team’s objectives.

The aim of the Street Safe Team was to reduce both actual, and perceived crime and Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), and increase feelings of safety, also identified as a priority in the Safer Rotherham Partnership Strategy 2025 – 2028. The Safer Rotherham Partnership provided governance across varying partnership activities to maximise impact and track progress and performance, through the Safer Neighbourhoods Priority.  The Street Safe Team aimed to improve feelings of safety and security in the Town Centres of Rotherham, Wath, Swinton, Dinnington and Maltby. The team provided a visible, uniformed Council presence, with a particular focus on hot spot areas.

To measure the effectiveness of the new Street Safe team, a combination of quantitative and qualitative performance indicators had been identified, aligned with community safety objectives. These included:

·       Reduction in reported incidents - Monitoring trends in anti-social behaviour, street crime, and environmental nuisance reports within the designated areas.

·       Number of proactive patrols, community interactions, and engagement events conducted by the team.

·       Feedback from residents through surveys and Street Safe reporting tools to assess perceived safety and trust in the service.

·       Evidence of collaborative working with police, housing, and other agencies, including joint operations and referrals.

·       Volume and effectiveness of enforcement actions (e.g., warnings, notices) and compliance rates following interventions.

·       Visibility and presence - Measured through patrol logs and community feedback on the visibility of the Team in priority areas. 

Paragraph 2.3 detailed the work that had been completed by the Team up to February 2026. Overall, the Team had provided a high-profile community presence across Rotherham to challenge negative behaviours and help to minimise harm to communities. The Team had been through a significant training and upskilling programme with the aim of meeting the requirements for initial deployment. The aim was to map out the further training requirements of the team to support an omnicompetent skill set that could support the wider enforcement opportunities held by the Council.

Resolved:

1.    That Cabinet note the progress to date.