Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director – Environmental Services and Community Safety

The Assistant Director – Environmental Services and Community Safety submitted a report (previously circulated) outlining the consultation responses and the draft Community Safety Plan 2026-2029 (also previously circulated) prior to its consideration by Cabinet and Full Council.  

The submitted report provided Members with details of the membership for the Community Safety Partnership (CSP); the agencies that make up the CSP have a statutory duty to work together to tackle crime and disorder; and additional members of the CSP include the County Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner and a representative from the voluntary and community sector.

It was reported that the current CSP partnership plan 2021-2026 is coming to the end of its life cycle; that the CSP consulted with the public to understand the priority areas for the community to address as part of the new plan; and the new CSP Plan will be a three-year plan (2026-2029).

Details were provided of the consultation process undertaken by the CSP to understand the public’s views and perceptions on crime and anti-social behaviour and priorities for the CSP; this commenced on 13 October 2025 and concluded on 25 November 2025 and was promoted by partners via various social media platforms and an article in the One Darlington magazine. Members noted that 117 responses were received from members of the public and reference was made to the headline results. It was also noted that the CSP had also considered other consultation exercises undertaken in recent months, these included the ‘Being Included In Your Community’ survey.

The submitted report detailed the four priority areas in the CSP Plan, which were identified from the results of surveys coupled with intelligence data and trend analysis.

Members raised concern regarding the low response rate to the consultation. Members noted that as part of the consultation process, the CSP had also considered other consultation exercises undertaken in recent months and that the process would be reviewed in future to improve response rates. However, overall Members felt that the four priority areas identified do reflect the concerns of residents across the borough.

Discussion ensued regarding begging and enforcement in the town centre. Members were assured that compared to last year, the numbers have reduced and noted work being done to address begging; and in relation to civic enforcement and police presence in the town centre, Officers felt that this was proportionate across the borough.

Reference was made to the performance measures outlined in the draft plan, with Members highlighting that residents are hesitant to report anti-social behaviour due to perceived lack of action. Members felt that there is a need for an overarching strand within the plan to improve public understanding of and to encourage reporting of incidents.

Further discussion ensued regarding the use of drones; the targeted work to address Nitrous oxide misuse in the borough; and Members requested figures for those receiving support from the Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Board.

RESOLVED – (a) That the content of the report, consultation responses and the draft Community Safety Partnership Plan 2026-2029, be noted.

(b) That Cabinet be advised of this Scrutiny’s view that:

(i)                  Members support the four priority areas in the draft Community Safety Plan 2026-2029.

(ii)                An overarching strategy within the Community Safety Plan 2026–2029 should be developed to strengthen public confidence in reporting crime and anti-social behaviour, improve public understanding of how and when incidents should be reported, and streamline reporting mechanisms to ensure residents can easily and consistently report crime and anti-social behaviour through accessible and well-understood channels.