PAPER D

POLICY COMMISSION ENQUIRY SCOPING DOCUMENT

RESPONSIBLE BODY

POLICY COMMISSION FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES

ENQUIRY NAME

ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME STRATEGY

REFERENCE NUMBER

Saf3/06

PROPOSED OUTPUTS

To deliver an Island-wide strategy to tackle littering, abandoned vehicles, fly-tipping and other such anti-social environmental offences on the Island.

RISK

High
Medium
Low	ü

PROPOSED DATE OF INITIATION

July 2006

PROPOSED DATE OF COMPLETION

2007

REASON FOR ENQUIRY

· Section 17 (1) of The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 places a duty on a local authority ‘to exercise its various functions with due regard to the likely effect of the exercise of those functions on, and the need to do all that it reasonably can to prevent, crime and disorder in its area.’

· Paragraph 2.3.3 of the Council’s Aim High Strategy identifies the Council’s objective to ‘Create Safer and Stronger Communities’. In order to reach this objective the Council aims to ‘have well maintained public places used only for purpose’ and has a goal to ‘improve the local environment’.

· According to the Government’s white paper Respect and Responsibility - taking a stand against anti-social behaviour, ‘the community setting clear standards of behaviour’ and ‘[t]he police, local authorities and others enforcing these standards and taking swift, effective action if they are breached’ are key factors in combating antisocial behaviour.

· Initiated by the Council’s administration.

PROPOSED OUTCOME OF POLICY IMPLEMENTATION

· Reduced levels of crime on the Island.

· Reduced levels of littering, fly-tipping, abandoned cars and other such antisocial behaviour

· Improved local environment.

· Support the Civic Pride agenda.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

To receive evidence from stakeholders on:

· The effectiveness of environmental enforcement schemes nationally and locally

· National Best Practice

· Identify local need

· How the Council can work effectively with Town/Parish Councils and other stakeholders with respect to tackling antisocial environmental offences

· Capacity issues relating to the provision of service

In order to:

· Identify the powers currently employed by the Council.

· Identify other powers available to the Council.

· Identify best practice.

· Develop an efficient and effective joined up strategy to be rolled out across the Island

What will not be included

· Individual offences / issues

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

· Hampshire Constabulary

· Town and Parish Councils

· Safer Communities Partnership

RELEVANT CORPORATE AND/OR COMMUNITY STRATEGY/IES

Corporate Priorities fit:

	Economic development and regeneration
	Healthier communities and older people
ü	Safer communities
	Children and young people
ü	High-Performing Cost-Effective Council

Community strategy:

2020 Vision, Theme 1: ‘A Safe and Strong Island’

Aims to ‘create an Island where people value & respect one another

and feel safe and secure.’ By:

· Creating cleaner, greener & safer public spaces.

· Empowering local people to have a greater voice & influence over decision-making & the delivery of services.

· Improving the quality of life for people in the most deprived neighbourhoods.

IW Safer Communities Partnership Crime and Drugs Strategy 2005 – 2008

2.5 Partnership Development & Communication

RELATED PROJECTS

LEAD MEMBER

Councillor Vanessa Churchman (TBC)

OFFICER INVOLVEMENT

Lead Link Officer:

Rob Owen, Head of Consumer Protection

Overview and Scrutiny Team:

Andrew Shorkey, Overview and Scrutiny Officer

OTHER RESOURCES REQUIRED

Expert IW Council Officer input.