Agenda and minutes

The Chair to note any apologies for absence.

The Chair advised the Scrutiny Panel that due to conflicting priorities, Councillor Brian Oldham had decided to step down from the membership of this Panel.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Janice Duffy and Brian Sargeant.

The Chair to note public address requests.

The public can speak on any agenda item for a maximum of three minutes per speaker per item.  You are not required to register your intention to speak in advance but should arrive at the meeting a few minutes early, complete a Public Address Protocol and notify the Scrutiny Officer of your intention to speak.

There were none.

Members to state any interests.

There were none.

Members to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 12 May 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 May 2016 were signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record.

The Scrutiny Panel to receive a presentation that sets the scene:

Ø    Definitions – CSE, human trafficking and domestic slavery

Ø    The Council’s responsibilities

Ø    Statistics and data

Phil Harris, Head of Housing and Wellbeing, gave the Scrutiny Panel a presentation that set the scene:

The presentation covered the following key areas:

·         Definitions – CSE, human trafficking and domestic slavery

·         The role of District and Borough Councils

·         Statistics and Data

·         Action being taken to prevent CSE

The Scrutiny Panel asked questions, made comment and heard:

·         In response to a concern regarding the commercialisation of exploitation and the need for understanding of this; Phil Harris advised that it would be hoped that this would be picked up by the Police and the RISE Team by sharing intelligence.

·         It was confirmed that CSE is everyone’s responsibility.

·         The Salvation Army estimates that there are between 10,000 and 13,000 victims of human trafficking living in the UK. Since 2011, it has worked with, and supported, around 3,000 victims of human trafficking in the UK.

·         A Modern Slavery Group, chaired by the Police, is in existence.

·         Concern was raised regarding HIMOs and vulnerable children, particularly where there are shared facilities.

AGREED:      That the information informs the evidence base of this Review.

The Scrutiny Panel to devise a list of core questions to be put to the expert advisors.

The Scrutiny Panel devised its list of core questions to be put to expert witnesses.  A copy of the finalised version is attached to the minutes.

The Scrutiny Panel to consider a site visit(s) to inform its evidence base.

The Scrutiny Panel discussed site visits to inform its Review.

It was AGREED:     

(1)          That Councillors Dennis Meredith and Rufia Ashraf observe a meeting of RISE.

(2)          That Councillors Dennis Meredith and Rufia Ashraf visit the MASH.

(3)          That the findings from the site visits are reported to a future meeting.

(4)          That the findings from the desktop research exercise are reported to a future meeting.

The Scrutiny Panel to approve the Community Impact Assessment (CIA) for the Review.

The Scrutiny Panel approved the Community Impact Assessment for this Review.  The document would be published on the Scrutiny Webpage.