Agenda and minutes

The evacuation procedure was noted.

There were no interests declared.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 24 October 2024.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Community Safety Select Committee meeting which was held on 24 October 2024 for approval and signature.  Updates were provided on the following items that were on the agenda:

·       Scrutiny Review of Welcoming and Safe Town Centres: The Committee was yet to receive a response from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Cleveland regarding the request for additional information on the anticipated public scrutiny panel – this would be shared with Members once received.

·       Safer Stockton Partnership (SSP) – Previous Minutes (March, May and July 2024): As agreed, a letter had been sent to the Chair of the SSP regarding Committee concerns around stated truancy levels within the Borough, as well as the issue of home schooling and how this was being checked / quality controlled – any response would be shared with Members once received.

AGREED that the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 24 October 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider information from the following organisations in relation to this scrutiny topic:

·         Cleveland Fire Brigade

·         Town Councils

Cllr Mrs Ann McCoy wished it to be recorded for transparency purposes only that she was currently a member of Billingham Town Council as well as a Ward Councillor.

The fourth evidence-gathering session for the Committee’s ongoing review of Welcoming and Safe Town Centres considered submissions in relation to this scrutiny topic from Cleveland Fire Brigade and Town Councils across Stockton-on-Tees.

CLEVELAND FIRE BRIGADE

Presented by the Cleveland Fire Brigade (CFB) Group Manager / Head of Prevention & Engagement, several documents were summarised which covered the following:

·       Fire Incidents (Stockton District): Town Centres / High Streets

·       Fire Incidents (Stockton District): Economic Cost of Deliberate Fires

·       Stockton District Station Work (2024)

·       Stockton Community Hub Work (2024)

·       Stockton Community Liaison Officer (CLO) Work (Aug 23 – Oct 24)

·       Commissioned Services Work (2024)

Data on recorded incidences of deliberate primary and secondary fires within the Borough’s town centres / high streets was provided for the current 2024-2025 year (up to 30 September 2024) as well as the previous five-year period (covering 2019-2020 to 2023-2024).  Subsequent analysis of this information was noted as follows:

·       Billingham Town Centre: Between 7.00pm and 9.00pm was the time where most fires occurred, with Thursdays being the most prevalent day for incidents.

·       Ingleby Barwick Town Centre: Early evening (6.00pm to 8.00pm) saw the highest number of incidents, with Sundays experiencing the most fires since 2019-2020.

·       Norton High Street: Wednesday was the most common day for recorded fires, though total numbers were low since 2019-2020.  Again, 6.00pm to 8.00pm was the time when most incidents took place.

·       Stockton Town Centre: Historically, the highest number of fire incidents were recorded in this area, with Thursdays being the most frequent day and 6.00pm to 7.00pm being the most common time.

·       Thornaby Town Centre: Like in Norton, Wednesdays saw the most incidents, with 5.00pm to 6.00pm and 8.00pm to 9.00pm providing the highest number of fires.

·       Yarm High Street: Recorded incidents were very low for each of the years since 2019-2020, with Sundays and Mondays seeing most fires.

Having access to this data enabled CFB to direct its crews to certain parts of the Borough at specific times in order to reduce incidents.

Separate analysis on the economic cost of recorded deliberate fires within the Borough across the previously completed five years (2019-2020 to 2023-2024) and the current 2024-2025 year (up to 30 September 2024) had been compiled.  For the six Stockton-on-Tees town centre spaces, it was estimated that the number of incidents since April 2019 had cost the local economy around £1.8m (with Stockton high street accounting for nearly half of this amount).

A summary of the work undertaken during 2024 by community fire stations across the Borough showcased several safety initiatives implemented by CFB – these included ‘Safer Homes’ visits, operational intelligence / station risk footprint visits, school visits, a property risk register, arson audit inspections, community engagement by fire stations crews, and Operation Autumnus (bonfire period work with partner agencies).  Future plans to aid in  ...  view the full minutes text for item CSS/32/24

Cllr Mrs Ann McCoy wished it to be recorded for transparency purposes only that she was currently the Chair of the Stockton Home Safety Association.

Consideration was given to the minutes of previous Stockton Home Safety Association meetings which took place in March 2024 and June 2024.

AGREED that the minutes of Stockton Home Safety Association meetings which took place in March 2024 and June 2024 be noted.

CHAIR’S UPDATE

The Chair confirmed the re-scheduling of the cancelled Committee meeting that was originally planned for 19 December 2024 – this would now take place on 9 January 2025.

WORK PROGRAMME 2024-2025

Consideration was given to the Committee’s current work programme (2024-2025).  As already noted, the next meeting was due to take place on 9 January 2025 where evidence-gathering for the ongoing review of Welcoming and Safe Town Centres would continue, with a focus on business forums / groups (initial feedback from the SBC Ward Councillor survey may also be relayed if available).

In other matters, Members were reminded that an update on progress of outstanding actions in relation to the Committee’s previously completed review of Tree Asset Management was due in early-2025 – relevant officers would be contacted shortly to identify an appropriate meeting date where this would be presented.

AGREED that the Chair’s Update and Community Safety Select Committee Work Programme 2024-2025 be noted.