NOTICE is hereby given that the next meeting of the COMMUNITY SAFETY MEETING “CSM” which will be held under the powers contained within the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) ( and Wales) Regulations 2020 (“the 2020 Regulations”) which came in to force on 4 April 2020. The regulations enable local councils to hold remote meetings (including by video and telephone conferencing) for a specified period until May 2021. The 2020 Regulations apply to local council meetings, committee and sub-committee meetings in England.

The link is as follows (no registration required):

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87080371306?pwd=cjRta21SQm9yYWlTMVpqZjFIWlY0 UT09

Meeting ID: 870 8037 1306 Passcode: 599368

on Wednesday 30 September 2020 at 7.00 pm [Whilst the meeting will conclude at 9.00 pm – every effort will be made to provide at least 20 minutes for the Open Session item on the agenda]

[Meeting Open to Press & Public]

AGENDA

1. Chairman’s Welcome and Introductions

2. Apologies: To receive any apologies for non-attendance. At the time of agenda despatch, apologies have been received from Cllr C Clapper (HBC).

3. Declarations: To:

a) receive declarations of interest from Councillors on items on the agenda; b) receive written requests for dispensations for declarable interests; and c) grant any requests for dispensation as appropriate.

1 4. Minutes: To confirm and sign the Minutes of the Meeting held on 29 January 2020 (any update reports on issues discussed to be raised in the Public Session unless covered elsewhere on the agenda). - Attached

5. Policing: Members are asked to receive update statement, if available, from Constabulary (15 Minutes).

6. Neighbourhood Watch: Members are asked to receive update statement, if available, from Neighbourhood Watch (15 Minutes).

7. Herts Fire and Rescue: Members are asked to receive update statement, if available, from Herts Fire and Rescue (15 Minutes).

8. Clarion Housing: Members are asked to receive update statement, if available, from Clarion Housing (15 Minutes).

9. Council Reports: Members are asked to receive update statement, if available, Hertfordshire County Council and/or Borough Council (15 Minutes).

 A copy of the report of Cllr Terry Hone (HCC Exec Member Community Safety & Waste Management) of 14 September 2020 is attached.

- Attached

10. Open Session (Public Participation): To consider items raised by attendees or items for further discussion by the CSM at a future meeting.

(Attendees are kindly asked to state their name and their role or interest in the Forum) (20 Minutes).

2 11. Chairman’s Summary Report and date of next meeting: the next meeting is scheduled for

 2 December 2020 (subject to change)

12. Meeting Close: To close meeting at 9.00 pm or before.

H R O JONES Town Clerk 21 September 2020

Town Council Offices Fairway Hall Brook Close Borehamwood Hertfordshire WD6 5BT

Tel: 020 8207 1382 Fax: 020 8953 7645 [email protected]

3 TOWN COUNCIL (EBTC)

COMMUNITY SAFETY MEETING (CSM)

MINUTES of a meeting held at Fairway Hall, Brook Close, Borehamwood, WD6 5BT on Wednesday 29 January 2020 at 2.00pm

Present: Cllr Mrs S Parnell (CSM Vice Chairman - EBTC) (in the Chair) Cllr Mrs P Strack – EBTC Cllr A Collins – EBTC Cllr K Prabakar – EBTC PC T Bainbridge-Price – Hertfordshire Constabulary PCSO S Westlake-Cann – Hertfordshire Constabulary PCSO K Hamackova – Hertfordshire Constabulary D Sweeney – Watch Liaison Officer Hertfordshire Constabulary R Jarvis - Neighbourhood Watch L Stack - EBRA 10 additional Members of the Public H R O Jones - EBTC Town Clerk

[Only those attending on behalf of an organisation and/or wishing their names to be included in the Minutes are recorded above.]

Abbreviations: EBTC - Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council HBC - Hertsmere Borough Council HCC - Hertfordshire County Council EBRA - Elstree and Borehamwood Residents’ Association BETTA - Borehamwood and Elstree Twin Town Association

37. CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME AND HOUSEKEEPING NOTICES

The Vice Chairman, Cllr Mrs S Parnell, welcomed those present to the Town Council organised CSM. It was encouraging to note the high number of Hertfordshire Constabulary representatives at the meeting and it was hoped that the experimental start time of 2.00pm would prove to be popular with residents. It was noted that the intention was to alternate between daytime and evening meetings.

38. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr C Butchins (CSM Chairman), S Rubner (Mayor) - EBTC, Cllr T Hone (HCC), Cllr C Clapper (HBC) and Cllr C P Chowdhury (HBC).

39. DECLARATIONS OF COUNCILLORS' INTERESTS

There were none.

40. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

It was RESOLVED that: the minutes of the meeting of 4 December 2019 be approved as a correct record and duly signed by the Chairman.

41. POLICING

It was reported that whilst there had been an increase in crimes (22 per day) the figure was low when compared with County and national statistics.

It was reported that three key areas were being targeted by the Constabulary in order to reduce anti-social behaviour problems:

 Aberford Park (including Leeming Road and Aycliffe Road – with stop and search powers and a dispersal order being used together with a public meeting);  Parkfields (with extra high visibility police patrols); and  Paxton Court (working with Hertsmere Borough Council and Clarion Housing).

It was noted that in September 2019, the refreshed Community Safety and Criminal Justice Plan for Hertfordshire called “Everybody’s Business” was launched. The plan represented a continuation of the same principles that were endorsed by the electorate of Hertfordshire oin 2012 and 2016, and included an update to record progress made on the delivery of those pledges. Priorities included:

 protecting local policing;  Tackling fly-tipping;  Rural crime;  Anti-social behaviour; and  and targeting speeding motorists.

The document could be viewed online at hertscomissioner.org/police-and-crime-plan- herts-pcc

Some Members of the Public asked for the Police to provide a report on the topic of “County Lines” at the next CSM meeting, if possible.

42. NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

It was reported that neighbourhood watch numbers had increased by 2,000 new members with over a third in Hertfordshire as a whole (a greater than average coverage).

From April, rogue trader and distraction DVDs would be rolled out to other areas such as Enfield.

It was noted that Elstree had nearly 100% Neighbourhood Watch coverage.

43. HERTS FIRE AND RESCUE

There was no report.

44. CLARION HOUSING

There was no report.

45. COUNCIL REPORTS

The HCC written report included:

- Mental Health Board (this had been established to keep staff well and engaged in the Fire Service); and

- Honours Awards to Roy Aldwin MBE (the voluntary sector) and Veronica Adlam MBE (Health and Safety).

46. OPEN SESSION

Observations about local policing and community safety from the floor included:

- possible increases in crime because of street lights being switched off (responding to this matter, Hertfordshire Constabulary reported that burglaries were more likely to occur in the afternoon than in the evening whilst properties were empty);

- A desire to see more police patrols at night time;

- Concern was expressed at overgrown conifer trees in Borehamwood which were the responsibility of either HCC or private citizens;

- Parking outside John Fisher Catholic Church;

- Cars parking completely blocking footpaths.

It was RESOLVED that:

(i) Hertfordshire County Council be asked to provide further details of the rationale for switching off street lights at night time; and

(ii) at an appropriate time, the Town Crier magazine include a survey seeking to assess the public’s satisfaction levels with street lighting and crime prevention.

47. VICE CHAIRMAN’S SUMMARY REPORT AND DATE OF NEXT MEETING:

It was noted that the remaining meeting date for 2019/20 was as follows:

 25 March 2020 7.00pm at Fairway Hall, Brook Close, Borehamwood, WD6 5BT.

48. CLOSURE

The meeting closed at 3.00pm

Date:...... CHAIRMAN......

COMMUNITY SAFETY & WASTE MANAGEMENT

Report to Group for September 14th 2020 Community Safety

HMICFRS inspections Our Chief Fire Officer has been informed by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) that they have been commissioned by the Home Secretary to inspect the response to the COVID-19 pandemic of the fire and rescue sector in England. The Inspectorate will focus on: (a) what is working well and what is being learnt; (b) how the fire sector is responding to the COVID-19 crisis; (c) how fire services are dealing with the problems they face; and (d) what changes are likely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The inspection of all 49 FRS will be conducted entirely virtually, with virtual fieldwork commencing in Hertfordshire on the 21st September, including an interview with yours truly. We are told that the inspection report will be published by the end of this calendar year and instead of a rating we will receive a narrative summary. As you will remember from previous updates I reported that the regular inspection programme was being pushed back due to Covid. The feedback the service are currently getting suggests that the Inspectorate will restart its fire and rescue services inspection programme in early 2021 however they will first focus on those services that had a ‘cause for concern’ notice. Happily, our service is not one of those so I’m told that our next inspection is unlikely to be before spring. Recruitment New Firefighter Recruits Course Our latest recruits course commenced 1st September with 18 new firefighters starting their apprenticeship journey. This is the third course of 2020 to support long term recruitment and succession planning for HFRS. Recruits will train in a COVID- secure environment Fire Investigation Dog – New Member of the Team I have previously reported on the services new Arson Detection Dog. Having recently attended a certification course with the police Thor will now work alongside Reqs at Fire Investigations having been issued with a working licence, passing all tests with flying colours!

Operational News printers Ltd, Waltham Cross. On Saturday 5th September, in the early hours of the morning, the Police requested the attendance of a National Inter-agency Liaison Officer (NILO) from Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service to support them in their operations to deal with a number of protesters who had used ‘locking on’ techniques to secure themselves to a number of structures and vehicles to block the operation of the facility. There were approximately 50 protesters who were blocking the entrance/exit by various means. At 07:17 the services specialist Rescue Support Unit from St

Albans was mobilised to support the police with shoring up and stabilising of vehicles the protestors were on top of to enable the police to safely remove protesters (see below).

House fire persons reported, Hatfield At 01:13 on Saturday the 5th September Fire Control were informed of a kitchen fire in a block of flats at The Runway in Hatfield. The fire was quickly located in the kitchen of a ground floor flat and crews rescued 2 adults and 1 child from the flat. Fire crews used breathing apparatus and a hose reel jet to extinguish the fire and undertook positive pressure ventilation to clear the flats of smoke. Welham Green Industrial Unit

On 17th July at approximately 8pm, crews from , , Garden City, and Hatfield attended the fire on Travellers Lane. It took four main hoses and four hosereels to extinguish pallets and cabins that were had caught fire. Whilst there was no injury to life this was (as you can see below) a significant fire and took up a number of service resources to control.

House Fire, Northchurch

On the 6th of August a sizeable house fire occurred near . Nine fire engines from stations across Hertfordshire attended the house fire supported by a number of Officers and specialist appliances – it even saw the Chief Fire Officer attending! The fire affected the roof areas of multiple properties but was contain and extinguished quickly whilst the service worked with the police and council to support those effected.

Regulatory Services Product Safety Sampling As part of a safety sampling project Trading Standards have been testing various children’s products to ensure that they meet relevant safety standards. Items tested include nursery goods, pushchairs, highchairs and cots. Of the testing completed so far 7 out of the 9 products failed to comply, with 5 of the 9 found to have serious failures and therefore deemed unsafe for use. Investigations are underway and Trading Standards are working with suppliers to ensure products are recalled. Trading Standards Prosecution Update A business owner who had previously pleaded guilty to the supply of counterfeit tobacco has been sentenced at St Albans Crown Court. Aron Nawroz was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work. This follows several seizures of counterfeit tobacco products over several months from Mini Sam Express convenience store. In another case, a local importer of electrical products has pleaded guilty to 10 charges relating to the supply of unsafe candyfloss machines. This follows a consumer compliant and a test purchase by Trading Standards from an online retailer. The products were found to have serious safety issues and failed to meet basic electrical standards. Sentencing has been adjourned until October. Trading Standards have also recently commenced legal proceedings against a local landlord and letting agent following a serious fire in last year. The fire was believed to have been caused by a fridge freezer which had been supplied with the flat. The product had been subject to a recall but neither the landlord or letting agent had carried out any checks to ensure that products subject to a recall are not supplied to tenants. Enforcement of Emergency Closure Regulations With many businesses now reopen, Trading Standards continue to work closely with Environmental Health colleagues helping businesses to operate safely and in accordance with COVID secure guidelines. To support this, the Hertfordshire Better Business for All partnership (BBfA) has produced a toolkit of resources to help businesses become COVID-secure, resume trading safely, and protect staff and customers as lockdown is eased. Trading Standards continue to receive a large amount of contacts from businesses about interpretation of the regulations as well as other areas such as PPE requirements. The team have also seen an increase in contacts from consumers impacted by COVID-19 including problems obtaining refunds from businesses who have been unable to supply goods or services ordered. Total contacts into Trading Standards increased again during June and July with total demand across all Trading Standards teams at 50% above normal levels.

Scams Awareness Fortnight Scams Awareness Fortnight took place in June with the theme this year being COVID-related scams. Around 1000 scams have been reported by Hertfordshire residents during lockdown. Trading Standards have been working closely with the Communications Team to highlight the issue and help people avoid being scammed. To support the campaign one of our Trading Standards Officers carried out several local radio interviews and the team have also delivered virtual scams awareness sessions with a number of local groups and places of worship.

Waste Management – Fly tipping

Herts Fly Tipping Group (FTG) Lobbying - Defra For the past 18 months the Herts FTG, working with colleagues across the country, has been putting together and consulting on a fly tipping lobbying paper which identifies a significant range of proposed changes to the legislative framework relevant to waste and fly tipping. Consultations have included local authorities from across the UK as well as a number of professional associations. These efforts came to a head in June and July when the FTG initiated a lobbying effort with MPs. To date the FTG paper and covering letters have been sent to 47 MPs including all the Herts constituencies plus three House of Commons committees including the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, the Housing Communities, and Local Government committee

as well as the committee looking at the Environment Bill. The paper was also sent to the Secretary of State for the Environment. Responses so far include two Hertfordshire MPs both of which have been very supportive – including a current Secretary of State and a former Solicitor General. The FTG has also received a letter from Rebecca Pow MP Under-Secretary for Defra who has instructed Defra officials to setup up a dialogue with the FTG to discuss the proposals in the lobbying paper. In his capacity as FTG Chairman – Duncan Jones, the HWP Partnership Development Manager – is currently liaising with Defra officials over a suitable date. It is hoped that those that contributed to the lobbying paper will also be able to take part in the meeting. Herts FTG Lobbying – Magistrates & the Sentencing Council In a separate lobbying effort, following a recent successful prosecution for fly tipping in Hertfordshire, but one which resulted in a far from satisfactory level of fine from the Magistrates court in Stevenage, the FTG has initiated a lobbying effort targeting what it sees as court judgements that do not adequately reflect costs incurred by the public purse when tackling fly tipping. So far the lobbying effort has included the Senior Clerk of the Court for Hertfordshire, The Sentencing Council and the Magistrates Association. The timing of the Defra meeting noted in the previous item is being set to allow responses to FTG correspondence in this regard to be received so the issues arising can be incorporated into the Defra discussions. Further coverage of this effort can be found on the Letsrecycle.com website: https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/further-calls-for-stricter-fly-tipping-penalties/ Fly tipping Nos April – July 2020 Underlining the importance of the work being carried out by the FTG, including specifically its current lobbying efforts, provisional fly tipping numbers for April – July 2020 show an overall increase over 47.5% with the number of reported incidents almost doubling during June alone. Set against the substantial reductions in fly tipping up to March 2020 these numbers are clearly disappointing and reflect the impact of the COVID19 pandemic. In addition to the current FTG work programme in the coming months FTG representatives will be considering what additional measures might be taken especially in those boroughs and districts most affected.

Cllr Terry Hone HCC Exec Member Community Safety & Waste Management.