Agenda item

To consider the following motions on the theme submitted by members of the council:

·  Basic Safety and Security for Residents

·  Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour.

The meeting had agreed that there would be a single debate on the two motions on the theme.

MOTION 1 – BASIC SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR RESIDENTS

(see pages 3 – 4 of the main agenda)

The Mayor announced that she had received notice of changes to the speakers on Amendment A, Councillors Dan Garfield and Mark Williams now wished to move and second the amendment rather than Councillors Cleo Soanes and Lorraine Lauder  The meeting consented to the change of speakers.

Councillor Michael Bukola, seconded by Councillor Adele Morris, moved the motion. 

Councillor Dan Garfield, seconded by Councillor Mark Williams, moved Amendment A.

MOTION 2 – HEALTH AND WELLBEING PRIORITIES

(See pages 4 - 5 of the main agenda)

Councillor Cleo Soanes, seconded by Councillor Lorraine Lauder, moved the motion. 

Councillor Lewis Robinson, seconded by Councillor Michael Mitchell, moved Amendment B.

Councillor David Hubber, seconded by Councillor Jonathan Mitchell, moved Amendment C.

Following debate (Councillors Mark Gettleson, Mark Williams, Paul Noblet, Gavin Edwards, Anood Al-Samerai and Helen Hayes), at 9.30pm the Mayor adjourned the meeting for a short comfort break.  The meeting reconvened at 9.35pm and moved to the vote on the amendments and motions.

Vote on Motion 1 and Amendment A – Basic safety and security for residents

Amendment A was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

The substantive motion was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

Motion 2 was the same as Amendment A, which had been carried as the substantive motion, therefore Motion 2 fell.

RESOLVED:

1.  That council assembly believes that crime and the fear of crime are among our residents’ main concerns and notes the council’s fairer future promise to crack down on anti-social behaviour and implement a violent crime strategy.

2.  That council assembly notes the progress being made against the 5 priorities in the violent crime strategy including:

·  9% reduction in violence with injury

·  4% reduction in most serious violence

·  22% reduction in knives used to injure

·  19% reduction in youth violence

·  10% reduction in domestic abuse.

3.  That council assembly notes that despite savings to Southwark’s anti-social behaviour unit, the number of anti-social behaviour cases that have been managed by Southwark antisocial behaviour unit (SASBU and housing officers over the last three years has actually increased by 40%; the number of acceptable behaviour contracts issued increased by 19% on last year.

4.  That council assembly welcomes the establishment of the Southwark anti-violence unit (SAVU), a multiagency team working together to support individuals and families affected by gang and serious youth violence.It welcomes the fact that, the first 10 months evaluation highlights that following engagement with SAVU, 45% of SAVU clients have not come to police notice, compared with the 12 months prior to their involvement in the scheme when 100% had come to notice. Council assembly further notes the favourable review of this work by the Home Office in October 2012, in which the council was praised by the review team for its 'political leaders recognising and prioritising ending gang and youth violence work and sending out a very strong signal that this is a priority for the borough and will be resourced and supported'.

5.  That council assembly also welcomes the announcement in last month’s budget of £1.4m to upgrade outdated camera systems on Southwark’s housing estates as well as 30 new redeployable cameras and an upgraded controlroom. It notes that CCTV has supported the police in making around 900 arrests between April and March of 2012/13. 

6.  That council assembly regrets the government’s decision to cut the Met’s budget by 20% and the impact this has had on police officer numbers in the borough and on closures to police stations in Rotherhithe and East Dulwich. It welcomes the council’s decision to identify £750,000 for community safety initiatives including alternative police front counters. 

7.  That council assembly asks the cabinet to develop plans to:

·  Work collaboratively with customs and excise, police and neighbouring boroughs to tackle the drugs trade

·  Work with communities and registered social landlords to develop new approaches to resolve conflicts within communities

·  Help communities gain confidence to tackle anti-social behaviour in their midst

·  Continue the excellent work of SAVU despite government cuts

·  Develop further the work with our partners to reduce re-offending

·  Work with Solace, the voluntary sector and local hospitals to develop innovative approaches to tackling violence against women and girls.

Note: This motion will be referred as a recommendation to the cabinet for consideration.

MOTION 2 – CRIME AND ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

(see pages 4 – 5 of the main agenda)

Motion 2 fell.