01 safer gravesham. q2...construction work has been progressing on the rathmore road scheme by kcc...

01 Safer Gravesham

“where local residents and visitors can live, work and travel in a safe, clean and green borough”

Policy Commitment

1. Reduce crime and anti-social behaviour with a particular focus on; violent crime, including domestic abuse; theft and robbery;

drug and alcohol related misuse; reducing reoffending.

Total crime recorded in Quarter 2 2016-17 has seen a significant rise of 27.4% compared to the same period last year from 1,781 to

2,269 offences. Increases are seen in most crime categories with the exception of burglary other than dwelling, theft and handling

stolen goods and drug offences. This is not unique to the Borough – the average rise across Kent is 17.1%. In real terms, the total

crime figure equates to 21.5 offences per 1,000 population in Gravesham compared to an average rate of 18.6 offences in Kent as a

whole and 23.6 offences in neighbouring Dartford.

Specific work carried out to improve community safety and address anti-social behaviour (ASB) in this Quarter has included:

• The initiation of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in Gravesend town centre to tackle several forms of persistent ASB

including street drinking, sleeping/lying in the street (not homeless), littering related to the use of legal highs and cycling in

pedestrianised areas within specific times. The conditions of the Order are being enforced by both Kingdom Enforcement Team and

Kent Police;

• Use of temporary CCTV camera units in key areas to tackle persistent ASB and the installation of a new permanent camera as part

of the Woodlands Park Play Area Project. In Quarter 2 July-Sept 2016, CCTV dealt with 772 specific incidents (these most commonly

related to concerns for welfare and shoplifting). Almost half (48.4%) of calls to CCTV were from G-Safe and 30.6% from the Police

Force Control Room.

• Targeted multi-agency work has taken place in key areas to address ASB including Windmill Hill, Canal Basin and the Clock Tower

area/Heritage Quay. Work has been carried out by Community Payback Teams and the KCC Community Warden in Windmill Hill;

businesses, Council senior management and officers across departments have been identifying factors contributing to problems and

addressing these in the Clock Tower area and a Police/Public engagement exercise took place in the Canal Basin;

• A Hate Crime Project to encourage the reporting of all forms of Hate Crime has been developed via the Council’s Corporate

Community Cohesion Group and CSU; training on Ideology (Violent and Non-Violent Islamic Extremism and Far Right Extremism) has

been delivered to key frontline Council staff and partner agency representatives with further training sessions planned for October

2016;

• Community Payback Teams have continued to visit the Borough every fortnight, mainly carrying out environmental clean-up work

which in this Quarter saw them attending the following locations: Shears Green, St. Patrick’s Gardens, Huntley Avenue, Bankside,

Windmill Hill (in and around the play area);

• The CSU has agreed to make financial contributions to support the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor, the Kent & Medway

Independent Domestic Violence Service and funded 5 Sanctuary referrals (helping victims of domestic abuse to remain in their own

homes);

• Joint work with the KCC Community Warden and G-Safe has provided a number of sessions to tenants in sheltered housing

schemes and to elderly residents in targeted locations to raise awareness of ‘scams’ and tactics being used to support distraction

burglaries and theft through deception.

Actions for improvement

N/A

Gravesham Borough Council

Performance Report - Business Development and Planning & Environment Committee: Quarter Two 2016/17

PI 1

Q1

2015-16

Q2

2015-16

Q3

2015-16

Q4

2015-16

Q1

2016-17

Q2

2016-17

Q3

2016-17

Q4

2016-17

Outturn 1,866 1,781 1,980 1,928 2,132 2,269

Direction

of TravelN/A

PI 2

Q1

2015-16

Q2

2015-16

Q3

2015-16

Q4

2015-16

Q1

2016-17

Q2

2016-17

Q3

2016-17

Q4

2016-17

Outturn 249 283 278 318 383 376

Direction

of TravelN/A

PI 3

Q1

2015-16

Q2

2015-16

Q3

2015-16

Q4

2015-16

Q1

2016-17

Q2

2016-17

Q3

2016-17

Q4

2016-17

Outturn 952 961 706 744 830 968

Direction

of TravelN/A

PI 4

Q1

2015-16

Q2

2015-16

Q3

2015-16

Q4

2015-16

Q1

2016-17

Q2

2016-17

Q3

2016-17

Q4

2016-17

Outturn 78 71 67 85 92 102

Direction

of TravelN/A

PI 5

Q1

2015-16

Q2

2015-16

Q3

2015-16

Q4

2015-16

Q1

2016-17

Q2

2016-17

Q3

2016-17

Q4

2016-17

Outturn TBC

Direction

of Travel

PI 6

Q1

2015-16

Q2

2015-16

Q3

2015-16

Q4

2015-16

Q1

2016-17

Q2

2016-17

Q3

2016-17

Q4

2016-17

Outturn 9.3% 6.4% 8.1% 6.7% 5.40% 8.4%

Direction

of TravelN/A

Performance Indicators

Total crime offences

Number of domestic abuse crimes

Number of anti-social behaviour incidents

Number of domestic burglaries

Recorded reoffending rate

Collected Annually Collected Annually

N/A N/A

Percentage of occurrences captured on CCTV leading to arrest

Policy Commitment

2. Commit to turning round the lives of local families taking part in the Gravesham Families First programme.

Strong progress has been made locally in embedding the Troubled Families Programme requirements; including meeting the needs

of all family members and delivering outcomes that demonstrate ‘significant and sustained’ progress across a range of indicators.

In the last quarterly update we made reference to the ‘claims windows’, which occur at three or four points during the financial

year, that enable the county Programme to draw down Payment by Results Funding (PbR) from the Department for Communities

and Local Government (DCLG). In the August claims window we successfully ‘turned around’ a further 40 families locally. To date the

Gravesham Families First Programme has successfully claimed for 66 families during Phase Two.

The Families First Programme locally, is required to ‘turn around’ and successfully claim for a minimum of 111 families during this

financial year. The actual budgetary aim for Gravesham for this financial year is 142 families successfully claimed for. Over future

years, the Families First Programme is required to successfully claim for 180 families in 2017 & 2018, and 141 families in 2019/2020.

The county Programme continues to make available central funding, in the form of a Troubled Families District Grant, to support

meeting local needs and testing innovative approaches. The District Grant is intended to help achieve positive outcomes for local

families and contribute to the Families First Programme achieving its claims target. For the first time, the District Grant will have a

claims target attached to it. Early Help and Preventative Services are able to support identifying barriers to achieving claims targets.

As in previous years, the grant will be accessed via the District Council submitting a Business Case for approval by Kent County

Council (KCC).

Early Help and Preventative Services (EHPS) supports children, young people and families whose needs are just below the thresholds

for statutory social care. There are a wide range of services provided for vulnerable children, young people and families with

multiple problems and disadvantages under the umbrella of EHPS. These services include Youth Services, Children’s Centres, the

Kent Troubled Families Programme, Headstart and Triage.

Universal services such as early year’s settings, Children’s Centres, and Youth hubs seek to meet the needs of children, young people

and families so they are happy, healthy and able to learn and develop securely. Children, young people and families with additional

needs are best supported by those who already work with them or in settings where they feel safe to make changes or resolve

problems. This is often provided in universal settings or through targeted or outreach work. For those children whose needs are

intensive, a key worker or multi-agency approach usually achieves the best outcomes; working in partnership with other

professionals to build resilience and develop solutions to problems the family may be experiencing.

A new KCC Early Help commissioned Family Support Service will commence in early December. This new Service supersedes a

number of Early Help Commissioned Services, including the Family Intervention Project Worker (FIP) Services delivered by Addaction

and Project Salus. The new Family Support Service locally will be delivered by Project Salus. Early Help notifications will continue to

be required to access a range of Early Help and Preventative Services that will work intensively with Gravesham Families to turn

their lives around.


N/A

Policy Commitment

3. Enforce the licensing requirements for premises selling alcohol, providing entertainment and also for

taxi/private hire licenses.

Licensed Premises (alcohol, entertainment and late night refreshment)

The Licensing Team work closely with partner agencies who are 'responsible authorities' under the Licensing Act 2003 to ensure that

visits (including out of hours) and interventions are made to premises where problems are identified so as to take action; informally

and advisory at first but escalating this where problems continue.

More compliance work has been taking place around the Milton Road/Clocktower area following complaints about street drinkers

being served at the various off-licences and also in light of the new Public Space Protection Order. Working closely with the police, 3

premises were found to be selling high strength beers, lagers and ciders in breach of licensing conditions. The products were

removed from sale and formal warnings issued. Premises monitoring continues.

Taxi Licensing

The Licensing Team continues with programmed, ad hoc and out of hour’s checks on taxis.

During Q2 we consulted with the hackney trade, Gravesham Access Group and the general public regarding the ‘wheelchair

accessible vehicle’ requirements of our taxi licensing policy. A revised and clarified policy was then agreed and published such that

all new vehicles provided by new drivers would have to be wheelchair accessible , and that existing drivers would have until May

2020. The taxi tariff was also subject to public consultation and was confirmed as no change.


N/A

03 Sustainable Gravesham "a thriving and sustainable local economy, built on the foundations of high quality

regeneration and development projects"

Policy Commitment

1. Work to ensure relevant physical infrastructure is in place to improve our local, national and international

connectivity.

Construction work has been progressing on the Rathmore Road scheme by KCC and Cyclohub at the station by Southeastern. Both

will assist directly or indirectly with provision of public transport. Transport modelling work being undertaken by Ebbsfleet

Development Corporation will provide evidence on future public transport needs arising from development. Detailed design work

for a Wayfinding Strategy for Gravesend Town Centre has been completed. This will be used when putting the scheme out to

tender.


N/A

Policy Commitment

2. Allocate a ready supply of quality sites for economic development as identified through the Local Plan Core

Strategy.

The North Kent Enterprise Zone implementation plan has been submitted to Government and the council is committing officer time

to its delivery. The North Kent Innovation Zone includes areas of vacant land zoned for commercial and industrial use, specifically

Northfleet Embankment East, Northfleet Embankment West and the area to the North East of the International Station. The

Enterprise Zone comes into force on the 1st April 2017.


N/A

PI 36a

- RESIDENTIAL

Q1

2015-16

Q2

2015-16

Q3

2015-16

Q4

2015-16

Q1

2016-17

Q2

2016-17

Q3

2016-17

Q4

2016-17

Outturn 89%

Direction

of TravelN/A

PI 36b

- EMPLOYMENT

Q1

2015-16

Q2

2015-16

Q3

2015-16

Q4

2015-16

Q1

2016-17

Q2

2016-17

Q3

2016-17

Q4

2016-17

Outturn 100%

Direction

of TravelN/A


Percentage of residential and employment development completed on previously developed land

(NB: Collected Annually - outturns relate to previous year)


N/A N/A

Percentage of residential and employment development completed on previously developed land

(NB: Collected Annually - outturns relate to previous year)


N/A N/A

Policy Commitment

3. Complete the regeneration of the town Charter Market, progress the Heritage Quarter project and ensure

Gravesham's interests are fully represented in the Ebbsfleet Garden City and Paramount projects.

Refurbishment works are progressing with compleiton of the roof, window replacement and commencement on the internal fit out

of stalls. The refurbished Gravesend Borough Market will reopen on Saturday 3 December with a Christmas Market as part of the

council's Christmas programme. Following a series of business support and business planning sessions, new stall holders are in the

process of confirming their licences for the 21 permanent stalls. The Interreg VA Channel Programme project associated with

traditional markets and comprising partners from France and UK has been re-submitted to the European Commission.


N/A

Policy Commitment

4. Encourage economic participation through the use of apprenticeship schemes and support for those looking to get back into

work, and work with education and training providers to raise local skill levels.

The council's economic development team worked closely with the KCC Community Liasion Officer to shape the Next Steps Careers

Fair held on 22 September 2016 for the Northfleet West Forum. This included identifying and encouraging the participation of GBC

HR, local businesses, Jobcentre Plus and training providers to exhibit. ED also attended the Careers Fair with the Councils

apprenticeships alongside HR to explain to young people the benefits of being an apprentice and to provide information on what

support is available to young people looking to start up their own business. 114 young people signed in for the event.


N/A

PI 28

Q1

2015-16

Q2

2015-16

Q3

2015-16

Q4

2015-16

Q1

2016-17

Q2

2016-17

Q3

2016-17

Q4

2016-17

Outturn 21% 42% 43% 9% 25% 6%

Direction

of TravelN/A

PI 29

Q1

2015-16

Q2

2015-16

Q3

2015-16

Q4

2015-16

Q1

2016-17

Q2

2016-17

Q3

2016-17

Q4

2016-17

Outturn 62% 61% 61% 62% 63% 62%

Direction

of TravelN/A


Percentage of advertised posts filled by unemployed Gravesham residents

Percentage of posts filled by Gravesham residents

Policy Commitment

5. Develop a strong support package to enable businesses to sustain themselves and deliver local employment

opportunities, through initiatives such as a 'free' Saturday parking offer.

No further update.


N/A

PM 7

Q1

2015-16

Q2

2015-16

Q3

2015-16

Q4

2015-16

Q1

2016-17

Q2

2016-17

Q3

2016-17

Q4

2016-17

Outturn 11.0% 10.4% 8.2% 8.7% 9.1% 9.5%

Target 10.0% 10.0% 10.0% 10.0% 9.0% 9.0% 9.0% 9.0%

Target Met O O P P O O

Performance Measures

Retail vacancy percentage rates

Exception

Notes

Q2 saw the closure of BHS in Gravesend and nationally and together with a couple of other new vacancies,

including the franchised Claires Accessories at Thamesgate, the target was not met. The council will continue to

work closely with property owners to get properties onto the market and let.

5.0%

6.0%

7.0%

8.0%

9.0%

10.0%

11.0%

12.0%

Q12015-16

Q22015-16

Q32015-16

Q42015-16

Q12016-17

Q22016-17

Outturn

Target

Policy Commitment

6. Actively support businesses through the planning process as part of our 'pro-growth' economic agenda.

No further update.


N/A

Policy Commitment

7. An effective and efficient development management service.

N/A


N/A

PM 8a

Q1

2015-16

Q2

2015-16

Q3

2015-16

Q4

2015-16

Q1

2016-17

Q2

2016-17

Q3

2016-17

Q4

2016-17

Outturn 67% 75% 80% 75% 100% 100%

Target 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50%

Target Met P P P P P P

PM 8b

Q1

2015-16

Q2

2015-16

Q3

2015-16

Q4

2015-16

Q1

2016-17

Q2

2016-17

Q3

2016-17

Q4

2016-17

Outturn 65% 79% 75% 87% 70% 63%

Target 60% 60% 60% 60% 60% 60% 60% 60%


Performance Measures

Percentage of planning applications processed inside set timescales - MAJOR applications

Exception

Notes

Percentage of planning applications processed inside set timescales - MINOR applications

Exception

Notes

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Q12015-16

Q22015-16

Q32015-16

Q42015-16

Q12016-17

Q22016-17

Outturn

Target

0.0%

20.0%

40.0%

60.0%

80.0%

100.0%

Q12015-16

Q22015-16

Q32015-16

Q42015-16

Q12016-17

Q22016-17

Outturn

Target

PM 8c

Q1

2015-16

Q2

2015-16

Q3

2015-16

Q4

2015-16

Q1

2016-17

Q2

2016-17

Q3

2016-17

Q4

2016-17

Outturn 78% 92% 87% 91% 88% 82%

Target 60% 60% 60% 60% 60% 60% 60% 60%


PI 34

Q1

2015-16

Q2

2015-16

Q3

2015-16

Q4

2015-16

Q1

2016-17

Q2

2016-17

Q3

2016-17

Q4

2016-17

Outturn 5.07% 4.15% 5.24% 4.18% 1.41% 0.00%

Direction

of TravelN/A

PI 35

Q1

2015-16

Q2

2015-16

Q3

2015-16

Q4

2015-16

Q1

2016-17

Q2

2016-17

Q3

2016-17

Q4

2016-17

Outturn 33.3% 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% 50.0% 33.3%

Direction

of TravelN/A

Exception

Notes


Percentage of planning applications withdrawn

Percentage of planning appeals allowed

Percentage of planning applications processed inside set timescales - OTHER applications

0.0%

20.0%

40.0%

60.0%

80.0%

100.0%

Q12015-16

Q22015-16

Q32015-16

Q42015-16

Q12016-17

Q22016-17

Outturn

Target

Policy Commitment

8. To reduce the impact the council has on the climate and work to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

The Climate Change Act 2008 has key provisions that set out legally binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This

includes: 34% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020; 50% reduction by 2025 and 80% reduction 2050 (from 1990 levels).

To help with the UK target and reporting, we follow the Government's Guidance on how to measure and report Greenhouse Gas

Emissions as outlined in communications from the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Annual emissions data is collated

and analysed from various departments in the council; Property Services, Gravesham Services, HR, Parking and Leisure. The council

follows strict government guidance and use the web based tool developed by Carbon Smart, using conversion factors calculated by

Ricardo – AEA. We have to use the appropriate year’s conversion factors. Data analysis is also compared to the government’s

baseline year (2008/2009). The report is published (on the council website) on its performance on GHG emissions from our own

estates and operations. The returns for reporting year 2015-2016 has seen signifcant reduction in carbon emissions by the council.

There has been a decrease of 58% against baseline year (2005). The reduction has mainly been due to reduction in gas and electric

usuage. Fleet vehicles and staff mileage has continued to reduce.


N/A

PI 37

Q1

2015-16

Q2

2015-16

Q3

2015-16

Q4

2015-16

Q1

2016-17

Q2

2016-17

Q3

2016-17

Q4

2016-17

Outturn 35% 58%

Direction

of TravelN/A N/A


Reduction in council CO2 emissions (NB: Collected Annually: outturns relate to previous year)


N/A N/A


N/A

Policy Commitment

9. Ensure open and green spaces in future development areas and that any new external spaces prioritise

walking, cycling and mass transit.

N/A

01 safer gravesham. q2...construction work has been progressing on the rathmore road scheme by kcc...

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