PRESENT: Councillor Davison in the Chair.
Councillors Clark (vice-chair), Ali, Berry, Ellerby, C Sherwood and Whiteley.
Councillor Poole attended the meeting in accordance with Procedure Rule 37(b)
The Panel met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.
65 DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – There were no declarations of personal or personal and prejudicial interests.
No whip was declared.
66 MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of this panel held on 25 March 2008, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and signed by the chair.
67 PUBLIC SPEAKING – There were no requests from members of the public to address the Scrutiny Panel.
68 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE – SERVICE PROVISION AND AREAS OF VULNERABILITY – Interview with Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Baker of Humberside Police - The Chair welcomed Detective Chief Inspector Baker of Humberside Police to the meeting. This was to enable members of the panel to ascertain the role and the remit of Humberside Police with regard to tackling domestic violence in North Lincolnshire.
Members then engaged in a question and answer session with DCI Baker, covering issues such as staffing of the domestic violence unit, availability of an out of hours service, risk assessment, identification of repeat offenders and whether there was a robust training plan in place for members of the domestic violence unit.
Resolved – (a) That DCI Baker be thanked for his attendance and contribution at the meeting, and (b) that the information received be noted.
69 Notes of Sub-Group meetings - The Panel discussed the notes from the witness interviews held with the following partners –
- Hull Domestic Abuse Partnership
- North Lincolnshire Domestic Violence Unit
- Head of Safer Neighbourhoods
- Service Director Children, Strategy and Partnerships and the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services
- North Lincolnshire Homes
- Bench legal Manager – Scunthorpe Magistrates Court
Information from the meeting had been printed and circulated amongst the members who then engaged in further discussion over issues that had been highlighted.
Resolved – That the position be noted.
70 (18) Future Sub-Group meetings – The Service Director Legal and Democratic circulated details of future sub group meetings that had been arranged for the panel.
Resolved – That the position be noted.
71 Next Stages of the Review – The Service Director Legal and Democratic provided an oral update to the panel on the next stages of the review.
Resolved – That the position be noted.
72 (19) LEADER OF THE COUNCIL'S FORWARD PLAN – APRIL TO JULY 2008 - The Service Director Legal and Democratic circulated the Leader of North Lincolnshire Council's Forward Plan for April to July 2008.
The plan contained details of all matters and issues likely to be the subject of key decisions for a period of the next four months, updated on a monthly basis. Members discussed various items on the Forward Plan.
Resolved - That the Leader of the Council's Forward Plan for April to July 2008 be noted.
73 ADDED ITEM – There was no added item for discussion at this meeting.
74 URGENT BUSINESS – The panel engaged in a discussion over the availability and length of the questions to be used for witness interviews.
This matter was considered urgent as a resolution to the predicament would enable members to carry out their overview and scrutiny role with more clarity.
Resolved – That all questions for witness interviews be circulated with the agenda papers and that the panel meet at 1.30 pm on the day of the meeting to discuss the questions.