Agenda item

Members noted the update paper and made the following points:

·         On body-worn cameras, a suggestion was made that officers seek feedback about police use of the cameras, how well this was working and what the rights of the public were to access the footage.

·         The future of the FGM Advisory Board was discussed and a number of questions were asked about funding for the National FGM Centre and what that meant for the future membership and chairmanship of the Board. Mark Norris, LGA Principal Policy Adviser, said that the LGA and Barnardo’s were having ongoing conversations with the Department for Education (DfE) about funding for the National FGM Centre both in the short and longer term. Officers would keep members updated of their conversations with DfE and Barnardo’s.

·         Cllr Morris Bright noted that a multi-agency conference on modern slavery would be held in Hertfordshire on 29 March 2017 and that he would be happy to provide feedback to members. It was noted that the aim is to get the message across that modern slavery was not just a national issue, but one which affected all local areas.

·         Further comments were made about modern slavery and the National Referral Mechanism which offers those referred support while a decision is made about whether an individual is a victim of human trafficking or modern slavery over a 45-day period. Concerns were raised about what happens after the 45 days are up and whether there was any ongoing support offered to victims.

·         It was noted that the Water Safety Conference run by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents had been postponed until November but that messages on water safety need to get out to councils as soon as possible. It was also suggested that council encourage school assemblies on water safety.

·         Cllr Kate Haigh offered feedback to the Board following her attendance at a conference about gambling related harm hosted by Leeds City Council. It was mentioned that gambling related harm is a big area of work which comes under the remit of the SSC Board but that it is not an issue on the radar of many councils. Members said that it is clear that most communities will experience substantial levels of direct and indirect harm related to gambling abuse but that minimal research has been carried out in the UK about its impact. Members asked if this could be discussed as part of the agenda for the next SSCB meeting.

·         Cllr Woodbridge and LGA officers met with the Home Office on 23 January to discuss the Prevent Champions Network (PCN). Following this meeting, regional PCN events will be scheduled later this year. At the meeting it was also discussed whether the Prevent initiative, including its safeguarding role, could be featured at the LGA’s annual conference. The Chair confirmed that there would be a session on Prevent and community cohesion at the LGA’s annual conference. It was noted that members could offer feedback after the conference about their views of the agenda or to provide suggestions of what they might want to see discussed in years to come.

·         Cllr Joy Allen and Cllr Anita Lower also noted that they had met with the Home Office to discuss Prevent and it was agreed that a regional PCN conference would be held in the North East. They also noted the lack of awareness about on-line training courses available for councillors around Prevent.

Decision:

Members noted the update paper.

Actions:

1.    Officers to look into the possibility of getting feedback about police use of body-worn cameras.

2.    Officers to work with Barnardo’s to draft a joint public statement on the future of funding for the FGM Centre and to keep members updated on the future membership and chairmanship of the centre.

3.    Mark Norris to attend a meeting about the National Referral Mechanism to discuss what support is available to victims of modern slavery 45 days after their referral.

4.    Officers to review the research undertaken by Leeds Beckett University on gambling related harm and produce a report to be discussed as an item on the agenda for the next SSCB meeting.

5.    Officers to discuss the design of the Board’s session at the LGA annual conference with lead members.

6.    Officers to consider ways of promoting the on-line Prevent training courses for members to councils.