Agenda item

Presentation by Rob O’Dell, South Yorkshire Police, supported by Karen Hanson, RMBC

The Chair referred to a survey undertaken in 2011 by the former coalition Government about levels of happiness and anxiety within society. According to data held by the National Office for Statistics, Rotherham is placed in the top ten towns in the country which have the widest disparity between happiness and anxiety amongst its residents.

 

In that context, the Chair welcomed Mrs. Karen Hanson (Assistant Director, Community Safety and Street Scene, RMBC) and Superintendent Sarah Poolman (South Yorkshire Police), who gave the following presentation about the Health and Wellbeing Strategy Aim 5: Rotherham has healthy, safe and sustainable communities as places:-

 

Safer Rotherham Partnership – “Working together to make Rotherham Safe, to keep Rotherham safe and to ensure the communities of Rotherham feel safe

-          Statutory partnership under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998

-          Six responsible authorities (Local Authority, Police, Fire and Rescue Service, Probation Service, Community Rehabilitation Company, Clinical Commissioning Group);

-          Statutory duty to develop an annual Joint Strategic Intelligence Assessment (JSIA)

-          Requirement to develop and implement a partnership plan

-          Safeguarding protocol linking Partnership Boards

 

Safer Rotherham Partnership Priorities

-          Reducing the threat of child sexual exploitation and harm to victims and survivors

-          Building confident and cohesive communities

-          Reducing the threat of domestic abuse and harm to victims and survivors

-          Reducing and managing anti-social behaviour and criminal damage

-          Reducing the risk of becoming a victim of domestic burglary

-          Reducing violent crime and sexual offences

 

Safer Rotherham Partnership Structure

-          Safer Rotherham Partnership Board

-          Performance and Delivery Group

-          Priority Theme Groups

-          Task and Finish Groups

-          Other meetings and networks

Countywide meeting

CIMs

Area Assemblies

 

Reducing Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour

-          Prevention

-          Early Intervention

-          Development of integrated neighbourhood model

-          Enforcement

-          Communication

 

Rotherham’s Local Plan

-          Health is a cross-cutting theme in Rotherham’s Local Plan – which guides all future development in our Borough

-          The Plan includes “Promoting Healthy Communities – Good Practice Guidance” which seeks to strengthen and integrate provision for health and wellbeing within the design of new development

-          It highlights key health impacts and requires the consideration of health and wellbeing in planning applications to promote healthy communities and sustainable development

-          Locating shops and services in accessible areas – can promote improved walking and cycling and use of public transport

-          Providing and protecting green spaces near to home – enables greater use and enjoyment of the outdoor environment

-          The Local Plan also has policies on the Natural and Historic Environment, Air Quality and creating Safe and Sustainable Communities

-          Examples of specific policies (development with Public Health partners)

Promoting hot food takeaways (AP25) to limit their proximity to local schools and colleges, the impact they have on local amenity and their concentration within local areas

 

Opportunities for people in Rotherham to use outdoor space for improving their health and wellbeing

-          Pensioners playgrounds

-          New and improved children’s play areas

-          Allotments

-          Improved changing rooms

-          Tennis courts

-          Footpaths

-          Cycling

-          Family friendly attractions

-          Watersports

-          Events and activities:-

Volunteer ramblers

Working with students

Park runs

Walking for Health Scheme

Foot golf

 

Discussion took place on the multi-agency approach to improving the environment and reducing crime in the Eastwood area of Rotherham. The Board noted that the ‘Eastwood Deal’ had resulted in some positive changes to the local area and concentrated upon the health and wellbeing of local people as well as focusing on reducing crime. It was suggested that this approach should eventually be used in other areas of the Rotherham Borough (Dinnington was one suggestion).  Later this year, in July 2017, there would be a multi-agency review of the work undertaken in Eastwood.

 

It was also noted that the appropriate Borough Council staff were available to attend a future meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board for discussion of the detail of the Rotherham Local Plan.

 

There was also a brief mention of the continuing development of the new Waverley settlement, which will eventually include a local retail centre, a health centre and a primary school.

 

Other issues raised by members of the Board were:-

 

·           serious crimes (eg: drugs, firearms, organised crime and gangs);

·           selective licensing of private sector landlords (whether there was any evidence of landlords aiding and abetting crime);

·           use of Police covert tactics to detect and disrupt crime;

·           marches and demonstrations in the Rotherham town centre and the use of Public Space Protection Orders;

·           displacement of crime from one area to another.

 

The Board thanked Mrs. Karen Hanson and Superintendent Sarah Poolman for their informative presentation.

 

It was noted that the action plans in respect of each of the aims of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy would be submitted to the next meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board, to be held on 17th May, 2017.