The Communities and Neighbourhoods Overview and Scrutiny Commission was scheduled to discuss the council's response to violence against women and girls, and the Food Service Plan for 2026-27. The meeting also included an update from the Executive Director for Housing and Communities and a review of the commission's work programme.

Violence Against Women and Girls

The commission was scheduled to receive an update on Hull's partnership response to violence against women and girls (VAWG). This included national and local strategic alignment, governance developments, partnership working, intelligence and performance activity, prevention efforts, and workforce development. The report highlighted Hull City Council's reaccreditation by White Ribbon UK and recent initiatives to improve perceptions of safety in parks and public spaces. The partnership's approach aims to focus on prevention, safeguarding, support for victims and survivors, accountability for perpetrators, and long-term cultural change. The report also detailed progress made, including the development of a 7-Point VAWG Briefing for professionals, the reinvigoration of Active Bystander training, and the introduction of VAWG-informed Street Safe signage in parks. Challenges such as data gaps, under-reporting, and capacity constraints were also outlined, with proposed mitigations.

Food Service Plan 2026-27

The commission was scheduled to consider the Food Service Plan for 2026-27, prepared under the framework agreement between Hull City Council and the Food Standards Agency (FSA). This plan outlines the service's scope, resources, risk profile, planned interventions, monitoring arrangements, and principal delivery risks. The report noted challenges including high business turnover, a substantial number of new businesses, and a relatively high number of complex approved establishments. It also detailed the impact of the FSA's new 'Food Standards Delivery Model' (FSDM) and highlighted staffing vacancies within both the Food Hygiene and Food Standards teams. The plan's priorities for 2026-27 include protecting high-risk work, recovering inspection programmes through recruitment and contractors, completing enforcement work, maintaining reactive responses to incidents, and maintaining officer competence.

Executive Director for Housing and Communities Update

The commission was scheduled to receive a verbal update from the Executive Director for Housing and Communities on any service, policy, or strategy developments within the commission's remit. The aim was for the commission to consider including these developments in its future work programme.

Communities and Neighbourhoods Work Programme

The commission was scheduled to consider and agree the latest version of its work programme. This included a review of planned items for the upcoming year, with specific dates and topics outlined for future meetings.

Communities and Neighbourhoods Outstanding Actions

The commission was scheduled to review outstanding actions from previous meetings to ensure they were being addressed in a timely manner.