Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2004 having been previously circulated were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 35.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5).

There were no urgent items for consideration.

The following declarations of interests were made by members:-

 

Messrs. Jones and Galton – personal and non-prejudicial as members of District based Community Safety Partnerships in relation to the Youth Justice Plan 2002/05 (Minute 70).

 

Messrs. Rushton and Preston as District Council representatives on the Leicestershire Rural Partnership in relation to the draft Rural Strategy 2004-2009 (Minute 71).

There were no declarations of the Party Whip.

The Chief Executive reported that there were no petitions to be presented.

The Commission considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning the 2004/05 update of the Youth Justice Plan for Leicestershire and Rutland.  A copy of the report marked ‘B’ is filed with these minutes.

 

The Committee was advised that:-

 

·                    the format and information requirements for the plan were specified by the Youth Justice Board.

·                    the Recidivism Analysis set out on page 1 of the report included additional statistical analysis which was not reflected in the table set out in Measure 2.

 

A number of concerns were expressed by members including:-

 

(i)         the failure of the Police and Probation Service to provide an inflation uplift to their share of the budget or any contribution to the growth required by the Service.  In this regard it was noted that the Chief Executive and Cabinet Lead Member had written to express their concern.

 

(ii)        Whilst noting the improvement in relation to Measure 11 – Accommodation, the target has not yet been met and the view was expressed that the co-option of a ‘housing representative’ on the Board might help to address this key issue.

 

(iii)       the continued absence of any representative on the Board from black or minority ethnic groups.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the concerns now expressed be drawn to the attention of the Cabinet.

 

(b)       That the Scrutiny Reference Group be asked to consider arrangements to invite representatives of the Police and Probation Service to a future meeting of the Commission to discuss their involvement in the Youth Offending Service and other Youth Justice matters.

 

(c)        That the decision of the Youth Justice Board to introduce a drugs related measure in the Plan, in the light of the comments of the Commission on the previous year’s plan, be welcomed.

[A copy of the report considered and approved by the Cabinet is attached.  The Commission’s views are sought].

The Commission considered a report of the Chief Executive on a draft of the Leicestershire Rural Strategy 2004-2009.  The draft strategy had been approved by the Cabinet for public consultation purposes.  A copy of the report marked ‘C’ is filed with these minutes.

 

In the discussion the following comments were made:

 

·                    the Strategy had described the key issues facing rural areas but had failed to give any indication of how these might be addressed and the options available to partners;

·                    the Strategy had not identified the added value of partnership working in addressing the problems of rural areas and would benefit if examples of effective joint working successes were included;

·                    whilst accepting that annual implementation plans would follow the strategy would benefit for the inclusion some broad targets and performance measures.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the views now expressed be drawn to the attention of the Cabinet and the Leicestershire Rural Partnership;

 

(b)       That arrangements be made for the Commission to consider the draft Strategy, the outcome of consultation thereon and responses thereto prior to its submission to the County Council for approval and that the Cabinet Lead Member be invited to attend that meeting.

Following consultations with the Chairman and Spokesmen, a special meeting will be held at 10.00am on Monday 5^th April 2004.

The Commission noted that arrangements had been made for a special meeting of the Commission to be held at 10.00 a.m. on Monday, 5^th April, 2004 to consider the activities of the LeicesterShire Economic Partnership.

The date of the Commission’s next scheduled meeting will be Wednesday 28 April 2004 at 2.00 p.m.

The Commission noted that the next scheduled meeting would be held on Wednesday 28 April 2004 at 2.00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

2.00 p.m. – 3.25 p.m.                                                                        CHAIRMAN

3 March 2004.