Friday 16 March 2007

Solving problems with new Joint Action Groups

A multi-agency task force is being in created in Redcar and Cleveland, aimed at focusing on troublespots across the Borough.

The Council has joined forces with senior officers from Cleveland Police, Cleveland Fire Brigade, Youth and Children's Services, Redcar and Cleveland Primary Care Trust and Coast & Country Housing to establish Joint Action Groups.

The Council's Cabinet Member for Community Safety Councillor Joyce Benbow explained: "These groups will be building on our existing partnerships at ground level, bringing together a wealth of expertise and experience to try and solve all sorts of problems.

"The issue might be off-road motorcylces, antisocial behaviour, even uncollected wheelie bins - issues which affect a number of partners for different reasons.

"It's all about our drive to ensure ongoing environmental improvements, making the Borough a greener, cleaner and safer place to live and work."

Redcar and Cleveland Police's District Commander Superintendent Ian Richards believes the new JAGs can only build better inter-agency work.

He explained: "This problem solving group will further cement the excellent multi agency working which exists within Redcar and Cleveland and can only be of benefit to the local community through the delivery of better all round services."

The six JAGs, which will be chaired by a senior Cleveland Police officer, will dovetail in between the schedule of meetings already scheduled for the Council's existing six Area Environment Committees, which meet on a six-week cycle. The first meetings are planned to start in May.

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