CRIME AND DISORDER REDUCTION PARTNERSHIP TASK & FINISH GROUP DRAFT TERMS OF REFERENCE AND WORK PROGRAMME

A. TERMS OF REFERENCE

General

The purpose of the working party has been to establish a member led cross party scrutiny of key crime and disorder topics in Thanet

Membership, Chairmanship and Quorum

Number of Members	5
Substitute Members Permitted	Yes
Political Balance Rules apply	No
Appointments/Removals from Office	By the Overview and Scrutiny Panel
Restrictions on Membership	None Executive Members only
Restrictions on Chairmanship	None. Joint Chairmanship
Quorum	Four
Number of ordinary meetings per Council Year	Meetings will be called as required and as reflected in the work programme below

2. Terms of reference

The full terms of reference for the working party are given below under the Crime and Disorder (Overview & Scrutiny) Regulations 2009, hereby attached. The scope of the group for 2011/12 has been specifically to:

i. Scrutinise the Council’s and key partners approach to anti-social behaviour investigations and Street Scene Enforcement;

ii. Specifically look at housing management of anti-social behaviour and powers to deal with issues especially in terms of tenancy agreements;

iii. Debate key issues relevant to the two areas listed, interview key witnesses, make findings and suggest recommendations for improvement.

Notes

This Task & Finish Group was established in principle by the decision of the Overview & Scrutiny Panel on 01 October 2009.

The Crime and Disorder (Overview and Scrutiny) Regulations 2009

Made

6th April 2009

Laid before Parliament

8th April 2009

Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1(2)

The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 20(3) and (4) of the Police and Justice Act 2006(1).

In accordance with section 20(4) of that Act, the Secretary of State has consulted with the Welsh Ministers (2) regarding the provisions in relation to local authorities in Wales.

Citation and commencement

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Crime and Disorder (Overview and Scrutiny) Regulations 2009.

(2) These Regulations shall come into force in respect of local authorities in England on 30th April 2009 and in respect of local authorities in Wales on 1st October 2009.

Interpretation

2. In these Regulations—

“2006 Act” means the Police and Justice Act 2006;

“depersonalised information” means information which does not constitute personal data within the meaning of the Data Protection Act 1998(3).

Co-opting of additional members

3.—(1) The crime and disorder committee of a local authority may co-opt additional members to serve on the committee subject to paragraphs (2), (3), (4) and (5).

(2) A person co-opted to serve on a crime and disorder committee shall not be entitled to vote on any particular matter, unless the committee so determines.

(3) A co-opted person’s membership may be limited to the exercise of the committee’s powers in relation to a particular matter or type of matter.

(4 A crime and disorder committee shall only co-opt a person to serve on the committee who—

(a) is an employee, officer or member of a responsible authority or of a co-operating person or body; and

(b) is not a member of the executive of the committee’s local authority (or authorities).

(5) The membership of a person co-opted to serve on a crime and disorder committee may be withdrawn at any time by the committee.

Frequency of meetings

4. A crime and disorder committee shall meet to review or scrutinise decisions made, or other action taken, in connection with the discharge by the responsible authorities of their crime and disorder functions as the committee considers appropriate but no less than once in every twelve month period.

Information

5.—(1) Where a crime and disorder committee makes a request in writing for information, as defined in section 20(6A) of the 2006 Act(4), to the responsible authorities or the co-operating persons or bodies, the authorities, or persons or bodies (as applicable) must provide such information in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) The information referred to in paragraph (1) must be provided no later than the date indicated in the request save that if some or all of the information cannot reasonably be provided on such date, that information must be provided as soon as reasonably possible.

(3) The information referred to in paragraph (1)—

(a) shall be depersonalised information, unless (subject to sub-paragraph (b)) the identification of an individual is necessary or appropriate in order to enable the crime and disorder committee to properly exercise its powers; and

(b) shall not include information that would be reasonably likely to prejudice legal proceedings or current or future operations of the responsible authorities, whether acting together or individually, or of the co-operating persons or bodies.

Attendance at committee meetings

6.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a crime and disorder committee may require the attendance before it of an officer or employee of a responsible authority or of a co-operating person or body in order to answer questions.

(2) The crime and disorder committee may not require a person to attend in accordance with paragraph (1) unless reasonable notice of the intended date of attendance has been given to that person.

Reports and recommendations

7. Where a crime and disorder committee makes a report or recommendations to a responsible authority or to a co-operating person or body in accordance with section 19(8)(b) of the 2006 Act, the responses to such report or recommendations of each relevant authority, body or person shall be—

(a) in writing; and

(b) submitted to the crime and disorder committee within a period of 28 days from the date of the report or recommendations or, if this is not reasonably possible, as soon as reasonably possible thereafter.

Vernon Coaker

Minister of State

Home Office

6th April 2008

B. TASK & FINISH GROUP WORK PROGRAMME 2012/13

NAMES OF MEMBERS

ELECTED MEMBER	DESIGNATION
Cllr	Chairman
Cllr	Vice Chair
Cllr
Cllr
Cllr
Cllr
Cllr
SUPPORTING OFFICERS	DESIGNATION

DATE OF MEETING/ACTIVITY	AGENDA ITEM	WITNESSES TO BE INVITED
Meeting 1 Date/time	a. Election of Chairman b. Agreement of Draft Terms of Reference c  Agreement of all items of business to be considered by Task & Finish Group d. Agreement of timetable for all future meetings before final report is presented to Overview and Scrutiny Panel
Meeting 2 Date/time
Meeting 3 Date/time
Meeting 4 Date/time
Meeting 5 Date/time
etc
Final meeting Date/time	a. Completion of final report b. Agreement of recommendations to be presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel