Issue - meetings

The Committee considered the report of the Chair of the Safe City Partnership providing the Committee with an update for 2021/22 on community safety in Southampton and the Safe City Partnership.

Barbara Swyer - Chair of the Safe City Partnership, Cabinet Member for Safe City – Councillor Renyard, Chief Inspector Marcus Kennedy - Hampshire Constabulary, Claire Edgar - Executive Director Wellbeing and Housing and Chris Brown - Community Cohesion Manager were in attendance and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED that the Committee recommended that:

(1)  To improve confidence in the safe city partners, the Safe City Partnership reflects on the importance of communicating positive actions and outcomes to the public.

(2)  The Sector Sergeants within the Neighbourhood Policing Teams seek to develop effective relationships and lines of communication with Ward Councillors to ensure that the Constabulary are informed about issues and concerns impacting on the local community.

(3)  Consideration is given to refreshing and rebranding the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme in Southampton to reflect the technological opportunities that are now available.

(4)  To raise its profile and public support, the connection between community groups, Councillors and Community Payback is enhanced.

(5)  To build on the strengths of the Safe City Partnership, the Partnership reviews good practice from high performing comparable partnerships across England and Wales.

(6)  To provide a more accurate insight into the effectiveness of the Safe City Partnership, the next iteration of the annual report to scrutiny is more strengths based, providing a balanced narrative outlining positive outcomes alongside the published crime data.