Agenda item

To receive an update on the progress of the Council’s Safer & Stronger Communities programme.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member: Highways, Housing & Enforcement presented the report of the Director: Neighbourhood & Enforcement Services. The report outlined the progress and impact of the programme since its initial launch in April 2021 in partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to tackle crime, anti-social behaviour and environmental issues across the Borough.

The programme had grown from an initial £2.5m investment to £6m following a combination of Council funds, PCC contributions and successful securement of external bids. Through the use of a data and intelligence-led approach, it had delivered targeted interventions in high-need areas, resulting in a reduction in crime, fly-tipping, and anti-social behaviour.

Key achievements included the expansion of youth services, improved housing standards, targeted crime reduction through use of local action plans and enhanced community safety infrastructure through the installation of 170 new streetlights and CCTV cameras.

Working in partnership with external organisations and educational settings, the programme had provided a range of youth activities including the Urban Games initiative aimed at children and young people aged between 8 – 16 years old and offered opportunities to participate in sports activity. During the 2024 summer holidays, over 3,000 children and young people had attended the free sessions with a total of 9,000 children and young people attending sessions since its launch in 2022. Telford Kicks, which was another youth activity provided through the programme had offered free Friday night football sessions to over 130 children and young people with a number of attendees securing their own coaching qualifications.

The use of local area action plans had resulted in a 5% reduction in the number of shop lifting incidents in Telford Town Centre and Newport. Other interventions had included tackling the illegal use of motorbikes, mini motos and quadbikes. CCTV had also been extended into taxi’s on a voluntary basis through funding provided in conjunction with the Community Safety Partnership which would see 20% of Telford and Wrekin licensed taxi’s fitted with CCTV units.

A review of anti-social behaviour reports in August 2024 had shown a reduction of 28% when compared to the previous year with recorded crime also continuing to reduce. The Council had continued to engage with residents on tackling fly tipping to reduce the impact on the community and environment. Over the past 12 months, the number of fly tips reported to the council had decreased up to 48% in some areas of the Borough. During 2024/25, the Council had investigated over 1,200 fly tips, issued 186 warning letters, 130 statutory notices and 40 fixed penalty notices.

The report underpinned the core values of partnership working and the programme’s success in protecting vulnerable residents and fostering a community resilience approach through continued investment and effective use of CC funding to deliver tangible outcomes for residents.

Cabinet Members praised the work of Council officers and highlighted how the programme had had a clear impact on reducing crime, anti-social behaviour and fly tipping. Members recognised that as a result of the programme, crime rates in the Borough had remained below regional and national averages since 2023. They welcomed the expansion of youth activities including the introduction of new youth clubs in areas such as Woodside, Arleston and Dawley as well as the Council’s approach to providing targeted support for vulnerable children and young people through partnerships such as the St Giles Trust.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group welcomed the report and praised the progress that had been made in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour in the Borough. He supported the introduction of CCTV cameras in taxi’s and noted the dual role it would play in protecting both passengers and drivers. He asked the Council to consider exploring the use of CCTV measures on buses operated by the Council and Arriva. He commended the Council’s collaborative work with West Mercia Police and partners and emphasised the importance of providing safe and structured environments for children and young people.

The Leader of the Conservative Group thanked officers for the detailed briefing that had been provided prior to the meeting and supported the use of data intelligence to guide interventions. He urged the Council to take caution around surveillance and asked for considerations to be made in regard to the deployment of CCTV in areas such as Priorslee and for the Council to be flexible in identifying solutions to CCTV issues following the recent criminal damage in Strine Valley Park. He endorsed the Council’s continued focus on tackling crime, anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping, noting the importance of residents feeling safe in their communities. He also highlighted the importance of community pride and encouraging elected Members to support residents in maintaining their neighbourhoods.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member: Highways, Housing & Enforcement noted that whilst certain wards had been a key focus for the programme, data had shown a borough-wide impact with continued reductions in crime and anti-social behaviour. He confirmed that many local buses had CCTV installed including buses owned and operated by the Council. He responded to concerns raised in relation to double taxation, emphasising that Parish & Town Councils who had purchased additional services such as Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers (NEOs) were paying for an enhanced service rather than duplicating existing services.

The Leader praised the outcomes within the report as a key policy in delivering the administration’s ambition for every neighbourhood to be a great place to live and highlighted how the programme’s success was underpinned by consistent budget investment. He thanked Town & Parish Council’s for the vital role they had played in enhancing the initiative and reaffirmed the Council’s position in relation to holding irresponsible private landlords to account.

RESOLVED that:

a)    the partnership working and continued focus Building Safer & Stronger Communities has on tackling the root causes of crime across the borough be noted;

b)   the data and intelligence led approach to focus resources and partnership working to tackle crime, anti-social behaviour and fly tipping across the borough be endorsed; and

c)    delegated authority be granted to the Director for Neighbourhood & Enforcement in consultation with the Deputy Leader, and Cabinet Member for Highways, Housing & Enforcement, to submit bids for external funding that supports Building Safer & Stronger Communities.