text: Agenda for Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, 23rd April, 2019, 10.00 am
  An apology for absence was received from Councillor M A Whittington.
  It was reported that, under the Local Government (committee and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, Councillor S P Roe had been appointed as a replacement member for Councillor M A Whittington, for this meeting only.
  In relation to agenda item 6, Councillor C J T H Brewis declared a non-pecuniary interest as a Community Hub Volunteer.
  Minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 March 2019 PDF 107 KB
  It was proposed that the first paragraph of minute 60 be amended to read as follows:
  The Executive Councillor for Community Safety and People Management announced that Chris Davison had been would be leaving his role as County Public Protection Officer and returning to Lincolnshire Police to start a new role in June 2019. There were discussions as to who would be the replacement County Public Protection Officer.
  That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 March 2019, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the above amendments.
  The Chairman encouraged all Members to attend the visit to The Collection Museum and the Usher Gallery which was taking place after the meeting.
  The Chairman announced that it was Chris Davison's last meeting as the County Public Protection Officer, and thanked him for his work. The position of County Public Protection Officer would be taken over by Shaun West, who was the current Assistant Chief Constable for Lincolnshire Police.
  Future Model of the Heritage Service Update
  (To receive a verbal update from Will Mason (Cultural Services Manager) on the Future Model of the Heritage Service, including an update on the public consultation process)
  The Cultural Services Manager gave a verbal report on the Future Model of the Heritage Service consultation process, which highlighted the following:
  · The 10 week consultation was due to end on the 24 April 2019.
  · Once the consultation had closed, there would be a full analysis of all of the data and a report would be produced to include the results.
  · The main focus from both the media and the public had been the closure of the Usher Gallery.
  · Officers had worked with the consultation institute at every stage of the process, which had included a half way review in which all relevant partners were invited to meet with officers to discuss the proposals. The responses from key partners and stakeholder would all be included in the report.
  · In response to a question from a member of the public, the Cultural Services Manager explained that there were a broad number of environmental standards which were considered essential for displaying valuable art exhibits. The required standards varied significantly dependent on different pieces of artwork.
  · It was explained that it was becoming more difficult to hold some pieces of artwork at the Usher Gallery, due to the environmental standards expected.
  · It was clarified that the Collection Museum had significantly better environment and safety standards than the Usher Gallery.
  · The Executive Councillor for Culture and Emergency Services explained that there had been some major exhibitions that had come to the Usher Gallery in the last couple of years. However, many of those lending the artwork were extremely specific about the environmental standards that they were held in. Many pieces were not suitable for the usher gallery due to the environmental conditions that were determined by the lender.
  · It was noted that many touring exhibitions were also looking for larger spaces than the Usher Gallery could offer, as they would not be able to engage the audience in the way that they intended due to the limited amount of space available.
  · It was explained that it would cost a significant amount to improve the environmental elements in the Usher Gallery so that they matched those in The Collection. Climates were sometimes able to be managed through micro-climating but this was also an expensive process.
  · The proposals focussed on the development of The Collection as a supersite, which allowed the location to grow as part of the heritage service and provide more people with the opportunity to engage with heritage and art.
  · It was confirmed that the Collection Museum currently received five times the number of visitors of the Usher Gallery.
  · The Cultural Services Manager informed Members that there was a significant amount of development space available in The Collection.
  · A member of the public asked Members to consider that the Usher Gallery was the only standalone art gallery in Lincolnshire, and provided children in Lincolnshire with the opportunity to visit an art gallery and engage with the art form.
  · A member ... view the full minutes text for item 70.
  Update on Community Hubs PDF 156 KB
  (To receive a report from Louise Egan (Library and Heritage Client Lead), which provides an update on the performance of the Community Hub Model)
  6.0 APPENDIX A - Community Hub Agreement , item 71. PDF 363 KB
  6.0 APPENDIX B - Community Hubs Update , item 71. PDF 259 KB
  Councillor S P Roe declared a non-pecuniary interest as a Member of North Hykeham Town Council.
  Consideration was given to a report by the Library and Heritage Client Lead, which provided an update on the performance of the Community Hub Model.
  Members were referred to appendix B of the report for a list of the activities that were being provided by each of the Community Hubs.
  The Library and Heritage Client Lead explained that the Community Hub model had proven to be very successful and continued to receive positive feedback. The majority of communities had taken ownership and pride in their Community Hubs, and the Hub volunteers were doing an excellent job and exceeded all expectations.
  The Chairman welcomed Alex Peterson (Sutton Bridge Community Hub); Peter Stowe (Crowland Community Hub); Ian Gordon (Crowland Community Hub); and Paul Bywater (Crowland Community Hub), and thanked them for their attendance to the committee. The Chairman invited the volunteers to give feedback about their experiences of volunteering at the Community Hubs, and to highlight anything that they felt worked particularly well, or could be improved. The following points were noted:
  · It was felt it would be beneficial for the new best-sellers to be distributed more widely to the smaller hubs and libraries.
  · All volunteers were extremely committed and a credit to the Hubs.
  · There had been issues with the IT services provided to the Hubs.
  · It was noted that the Hub model was working extremely well at Crowland and the volunteers had managed to establish an identity as Community Hub that offered a range of activities and services.
  · It was felt it would be useful to have some mechanism to look at best practice across all of the community hubs.
  The Library and Heritage Client Lead acknowledged the points that had been raised by the volunteers, and agreed to look into resolving any issues.
  Members were then invited to ask questions, in which the following points were noted:
  · Concerns were raised over the sustainability of volunteers for the Hubs, and whether the next generation of volunteers would be as committed and willing as the current volunteers. The Library and Heritage Lead explained that GLL, the provider of some of the council's libraries were focussing on the recruitment drive within the libraries.
  · It was noted that Community Hubs were required to be open 6 hours a week for 50 weeks of the year, and it was at the hubs discretion as to whether they chose to extend those opening hours.
  · It was confirmed that the initial capital grant payments were just a one off payment, but hubs would continue to be provided with revenue support where possible.
  · It was explained that the books were fairly distributed between the libraries.
  That the report and associated comments be noted.
  Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee Work Programme PDF 164 KB
  It was noted that the decision on the Future of the Heritage Service Decision had been deferred, and would be reported to a later meeting.
  Members were also informed that the July meeting of the panel would take place at the new Police, Ambulance and Fire Station at South Park.
  Update on the Response to Domestic Abuse in Lincolnshire PDF 172 KB
  (To receive a report from Sara Barry (Safer Communities Manager), which provides an update on the work that is being undertaken in relation to Domestic Abuse in Lincolnshire)
  Consideration was given to a report by the Community Safety Strategy Co-ordinator, which provided an overview of the work that was being undertaken in relation to Domestic Abuse within Lincolnshire.
  The report outlined the following key areas of activity that were taking place in respect of Domestic Abuse:
  · Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference review
  · Domestic Homicide Reviews
  · The Domestic Abuse Multi Agency Training
  · A Community-based Perpetrator Programme
  · Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts
  · Child to Parent/Carer Abuse
  · Employer Awareness/Support Scheme
  · The Draft Domestic Abuse Bill
  Members were informed that Ending Domestic Abuse Now in Lincolnshire (EDAN Lincs) had been awarded the contract for specialist Domestic Abuse services for Lincolnshire. EDAN offered a range of support services across the county.
  Members were provided with an opportunity to ask questions, in which the following points were noted:
  · The County Officer for Public Protection explained that the Domestic Abuse Courts would work in a similar way to the Magistrates' Court; however everybody involved would be fully trained in Domestic Abuse.
  · It was confirmed that there were cross border arrangements in place to support victims who lived within the county but used hospitals outside of the county.
  · Tackling Domestic Abuse within Lincolnshire was a high priority for both the council and health providers.
  · Lincolnshire Police received around 11,000 incidents of Domestic Abuse a year, but there were also many unreported cases
  · It was thought that the Domestic Abuse Commissioner role would be similar to the current Children's Commissioner Role, but with reference to Domestic Abuse.