Decision details

The Partnership considered a briefing paper that reviewed both the terms of reference of the Safer and Stronger Communities Thematic Partnership (SSCTP) and its membership.

The briefing paper indicated that the Home Office had reviewed various Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRP’s) and recognised that many were balancing various operational and strategic responsibilities within the same management framework; that in its review, the Home Office recommended that CDRP’s should, in future, ‘split’ their operational and strategic accountability, the former remaining with the CDRP, with the latter moving to the SSCTP under the umbrella of the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP); and that if the SSCTP incorporated the strategic decision-making of the CDRP, then it would have to retain a core of partner agencies that had been defined by statute.

However as the role of the SSCTP extended beyond that of the CDRP, its membership would also need to reflect those key agencies and partners who would have the lead responsibility for delivering the mandatory outcomes of the Safer and Stronger Communities Block of the Local Area Agreement (LAA). The membership of the SSCTP also needed to recognise the added value of providing sufficient representation from the Community and Voluntary Sector, especially as this new thematic partnership would incorporate the work previously aligned with the ‘Liveability’ and ‘Voluntary and Community Development’ Thematic Partnerships. As such it was proposed that the SSCTP would accommodate two representatives from the Community Empowerment Network, one representative from the Community and Voluntary Sector and one Resident representative.

The briefing paper concluded that from the guidance published by the Home Office and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister it was evident that the strategic and operational functions of the CDRP should be realigned; and recommended that the strategic function of the CDRP become embedded within the new SSCTP and that the ‘partnership’ incorporated all the statutory responsibility associated with the CDRP but also extended its remit to take on the additional responsibility associated with the delivery and performance management of the Safer and Stronger Communities Block of the LAA, whilst recognising that the overall governance of the LAA rested with the LSP. 

At the meeting, Chris Jones, Service Manager – Corporate Commissioning, circulated an updated draft terms of reference (DToR), the purpose of which was to provide the strategic lead for community safety in Sefton.

The DToR detailed 8 responsibilities of the Partnership.

Following discussion by Partners, it was agreed that included within the responsibilities should be reference to the Partnership being the governing body for Domestic Homicide Reviews; and offering responses to the PCT as requested.

The DToR also set out the membership of the Partnership and identified that  the Chair would be elected annually; the 6 statutory Partners; other relevant bodies who could be co-opted onto the Partnership; the decision making process; and the quorum arrangements.

Following discussion by Partners, it was agreed that, bearing in mind that Domestic Violence was a standing agenda item, an expert in this field could be a co-opted member.

It was also noted that the role of the PCT representative may have to be reviewed in 6/9 months time.

With regard to the meeting arrangements, the DToR detailed the frequency of meetings; the formation of Task and Finish Groups; agenda management; and that there would be standing agenda items on the following:

·        Prevent

·        Domestic Violence

·        Anti Social Behaviour

·        Integrated Offender Management

·        Opportunities and Challenges facing each Responsible Authority

·        Youth Offending Service

Following discussion by Partners, it was agreed that Hate Crime should be a standing agenda item; and that issues associated with the availability of resources from Government should be included in the item relating to “Opportunities and Challenges facing each Responsible Authority”.

The ‘Delivering Safer Communities’ guidance suggested that there should be clear roles and responsibilities within the Strategic Group and these were identified in the DToR under the following headings:-

·                 Chair Role of the

·                 Role of the NHS Representative

·                 Role of the Elected Member with Community Safety responsibility

·                 Role of the Police Representative

·                 Role of the Police Authority Representative

·                 Role of the Fire Service Representative

·                 Role of the Local Authority Representative (Chief Executive or      nominated representative)

·                 Role of the Youth Offending Team Representative

·                 Role of the Probation Service Representative

Following discussion by Partners, it was agreed that the following be added to the role of the NHS Representative – “impact of community safety issues on health”

Chris Jones advised that the Terms of Reference would be reviewed annually with the next review date being April 2013.

RESOLVED:

That the comments made be incorporated into the draft Terms of Reference and circulated to Partners and thereafter the Terms of Reference be submitted to the next meeting for approval.