Agenda item

To inform the Committee of the performance of the Public Protection Partnership in line with the operating model and business plan and provide an update setting out performance during the second quarter of 2023/24.

The Committee considered the report (Agenda Item 8) which informed Members of the performance of the Public Protection Partnership, in line with the operating model and business plan, during the second quarter of 2023/24. The Committee worked through the different sections of the report.

Finances and Resources – Sean Murphy explained that while there was an underlying underspend of approximately £200k this was being deployed to help offset in-year pressures faced by both Councils.

As at the 30 November 2023, the Service was reporting a zero outturn which included the management of an estimated £80k shortfall in income. Mitigation measures included the management of vacancies and reduced spend on agency staff.

Customer Satisfaction Rates – the majority of respondents to customer satisfaction surveys gave positive feedback. This was in line with previous reports. Efforts were ongoing to increase the number of responses.

Officers were busy responding to Freedom of Information requests with 89 requests received during Q2.

Only a small number of complaints (three) had been received. They had all been responded to. Moira Fraser explained that lessons had been learned and actions taken as a result. Councillor Lee Dillon asked that this information be shared.

Officers agreed that customer satisfaction data would be provided at a local authority level.

Human Resources – recruitment difficulties continued, this was the case across many local authorities and created some competition for staff. However, 1.5 FTE Licensing Officers had been appointed. Further recruitment was planned.

It was also the case that some officers had left the authority, in one case to a another Berkshire Council.

The approach of investing in apprentices continued. Four level 4 apprentices were expected to qualify in the near future.

ICT – Members asked to receive a detailed paper on progress with implementing the single system database including information on costs and whether the business case should be reviewed. This would be provided.

Property and Assets – a relatively minor capital receipt had been received from the disposal of one animal warden van.

Operational delivery – Measures of Volume – this data was set out in Appendix A.

Communication, Consultation and Engagement – the Lead Communication Officer had left the service. While communications activity had fallen behind as a result, officers had worked hard to bring this back on track with press releases, articles etc being published.

The report also noted that officers had attended water safety partnership events.

Community and Trading Standards – a high volume of investigative work had been undertaken. This included investigations into non-compliant vape products resulting in seizures being made, scams, noise nuisance complaints, as well as working with Thames Valley Police on a child sexual exploitation operation.

Commercial (Food Safety and Health & Safety) – a number of service requests had been received for both areas. This was alongside officers working to catch up on low risk inspections that had fallen behind since Covid. Rosalynd Gater explained that cost of living pressures were impacting on businesses and this was resulting in more action needing to be taken following some, generally low risk, inspections.

Licensing (including applications and Licensing Governance) – several matters in relation to taxis had been resolved as explained in the report. Fees and charges were going through consultation.

Licensing hearings were taking place in West Berkshire and one was due to be held in Bracknell Forest.

Environmental Health Housing – residents were seeking help with resolving issues with their landlords. Particular issues needing to be resolved in the winter months were damp and mould.

Work was ongoing in relation to Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs). Officers had secured evidence against the operation of an HMO.

The annual caravan site inspection programme had started. There had been a growth in enforcement work in this area to ensure that repairs were taking place. Cost of living pressures were in some cases impacting on work being done.

Councillor Lee Dillon declared a personal interest at this point by virtue of the fact that he worked for Sovereign National Group.

He then asked for a breakdown of the information relating to instances of damp and mould, including the landlords concerned. Sean Murphy explained that officers were working closely with social landlords in order to make progress on this matter.

Environmental Quality – noise monitoring activity had taken place. Officers had attended two West Berkshire planning committees to provide specific noise and contaminated land advice.

Officers had served two Private Water Supply Notices due to the presence of E Coli. These were generally provided with a Boil Water Notice. Notices would also be provided to the Drinking Water Inspectorate.

Councillor Iskandar Jefferies queried the process followed post the issuing of a water supply notice. Suzanne McLaughlin advised that the manager of the water supply would be required to resolve the issue. It was often the case that water cleaning was not maintained.

Emerging issues – dog kennelling provision – kennelling for larger dogs was an issue within many areas including Berkshire. Local authorities had a duty to take ownership of stray dogs for up to seven days whilst looking to reunite them with their owners or potentially looking to rehome dogs. Solutions to this issue were being worked on.

Regular kennel providers had ceased to take in aggressive dogs, larger dogs, or dogs of a certain breed, i.e. XL bullies. Registration requirements for XL bullies were expected to be confirmed shortly and this would be the subject of a press release.

Councillor Dillon queried if local authorities were required to kennel banned dogs for a period of seven days. Sean Murphy agreed to provide a fuller response, but advised that efforts would still be made to trace the owner in the first instance.

Councillor Woollaston queried whether charities, i.e. RSPCA, could assist. Sean Murphy explained that the service did work with charities for rehoming.

Councillor Jefferies queried if there was a cross Berkshire kennelling arrangement and Sean advised that each unitary authority had its own individual arrangement but a shared model was being explored.

Governance – discussions were ongoing with Wokingham about ways to involve Wokingham Members more in aspects of the services shared with Bracknell Forest and West Berkshire. Councillor Ian Shenton and Narinder Brar were in attendance at this meeting from Wokingham and were welcomed by the Committee.

Investigations and Case Management – the Case Management Unit continued to be busy working on cases and providing advice across the PPP and also to partner organisations. The Investigations Team had 15 ongoing investigations involving a significant number of suspects. Cases were due to go to trial in 2024.

Recent case examples were provided in the report, in some cases these resulted in custodial sentences for the offenders.

Committee Members thanked officers for all their hard work and for the provision of this comprehensive report.

RESOLVED to note:

·       The 2023/24 Q2 performance for the Public Protection Service.

·       The Service Update since the last meeting.