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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

COMMUNITIES OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

15 JANUARY 2013

 

REPORT OF T         HE HEAD OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

 

Report prepared by Sarah Robson 

 

1.           Maidstone Community Safety Partnership Plan 2013 - 2018

 

1.1        Key Issue for Decision

 

1.1.1   The Cabinet Member is asked to endorse the new Maidstone Community Safety Partnership Plan 2013 – 2018.

 

1.2        Recommendation of the Head of Housing and Community Services

        

1.2.1 As part of the consultation period for the Maidstone Community Safety Partnership Plan 2013 – 2018, that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee review the report and where appropriate make recommendations and provide approval.

1.3        Reasons for Recommendation

 

1.3.1   The Plan is based on robust evidence and places Maidstone in a stronger position as we prepare for the election of a Police and Crime Commissioner in November 2012.

1.3.2   The Maidstone Community Safety Partnership Plan 2013 – 2018 will be delivered by the Community Partnerships unit, which incorporates the Community Safety and Community Development teams, alongside statutory partners, including Kent Police, Kent County Council, Kent Fire and Rescue Service and Kent Probation.

1.3.3   The Maidstone Community Safety Partnership Plan 2013 – 2018 provides a strategic framework to deliver the priorities, which have been reviewed and determined using evidenced based information, including comparative county-wide performance, through the annual Strategic Assessment.  The Plan will focus on the following strategic priorities:

·           Antisocial behaviour

·           Domestic Abuse

·           Reducing reoffending

·           Road safety (killed or seriously injured)

·           Substance misuse

 

1.4        Alternative Action and why not Recommended

 

1.4.1   Because the Plan focuses on the role of one unit within the council, there is an argument that consultation with partners or the public isn’t strictly necessary. However, as a partnership plan, it will contribute towards the Council’s statutory requirement to reduce crime under Section 17 Crime & Disorder Act and will have a high profile. The Plan is an enabling one, co-ordinating the work of a range of partners to benefit residents and as such it is essential that partners have the opportunity to understand and comment on the approach being developed by the Council and its partners. Finally, it is essential that the public has the opportunity to consider and comment on the approach being promoted by the Council as they are the key partners and beneficiaries of the work of the team.

 

1.5        Impact on Corporate Objectives

 

1.5.1   The Community Safety Partnership Plan will contribute to the delivery of the Strategic Plan priorities; For Maidstone to be a decent place to live and Corporate and Customer Excellence. In addition, the Community Safety Partnership Plan supports the delivery of two out of three cross cutting objectives within the Borough Council’s Community Development Strategy; Tackling Disadvantage and Building Stronger Communities.

 

1.6        Risk Management

 

1.6.1   Risks associated with delivery against the strategic priorities within the Plan will be managed by the Safer Maidstone Partnership and the individual agencies that make up the partnership.

 

1.7        Other Implications

1.7.1    

1.      Financial	x
2.           Staffing	x
3.           Legal	x
4.           Equality Impact Needs Assessment	x
5.           Environmental/Sustainable Development
6.           Community Safety	x
7.           Human Rights Act
8.           Procurement
9.           Asset Management

 

1.7.2   Financial – Maidstone received its last Community Safety Grant allocation directly from the Home Office in early 2012/13, this reduced amount of £45,380, was more than half of its previous allocation, and has been allocated by the Safety Maidstone Partnership to identified areas of need. From 2013/14, all Community Safety Grant funding will be allocated directly to the new Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) who will be able to use this money to target their identified priorities and support the ongoing delivery of the Crime Plans. Maidstone has prepared for the arrival of the new PCC by evidencing and demonstrating its ongoing successes in order to attract PCC funding and support, it is unknown at this time how successful this will be and the level of funding that will be allocated. However, the plans and strategies detailed within the plan cover a wide range of services provided by the Council and partner agencies with the majority of activity being either mainstream funded or funded via other grants or allocations not directly allocated to community safety. As such even in the uncertain world created by the arrival of the PCC, delivery against the plan can still continue albeit this may be more challenging in the future. It is also important to note that this plan will be refreshed again next year and will reflect any changes following the introduction of the PCC.

1.7.3   Staffing – The priorities within the Plan cross cut the agencies that make up the Safer Maidstone Partnership. Delivery against the priorities will be via mainstream activity and any grant funding that the borough is able to secure, including this year’s Community Safety Grant allocation.

 

1.7.4   Legal – Sections 5 to 7 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (the 1998 Act), headed “Crime and Disorder Strategies”, require “responsible authorities” to comply with section 6 of the 1998 Act which stages that “responsible authorities” shall formulate and implement;

 

a)   A strategy for the reduction of crime and disorder in the area; and

b)   A strategy for combating the misuse of drugs, alcohol and other substances in the area; and

c)   A strategy for the reduction of re-offending in the area.

By virtue of section 5(1)(a) of the 1998 Act, the Council is the “responsible authority”.

 

By completing an annually refreshed its Community Safety Plan based on the findings of a comprehensive Strategic Assessment, Maidstone is fulfilling its statutory requirement.

 

1.7.5   Equality implications – The benefits of delivery against the plan will apply across the Maidstone borough, although by adopting an evidence based approach more benefit should be felt in areas where identified problems are greatest.

 

1.7.6   Community Safety – The Community Safety team has been brought under the reporting line of the Community Partnerships unit, with reduced number of staff. The focus will be strongly on preventative work while continuing to be co-located and working closely in partnership with the police and other community safety related partners.

 

1.8        Conclusions

 

1.8.1   The plan has been subject to widespread consultation with the agencies that make up the Safer Maidstone Partnership. The Plan was approved by the Safer Maidstone Partnership in June 2012. Further public consultation will be undertaken in September 2012. The Plan will need to be updated in December 2012 to reflect the arrival of the new PCC, with final endorsement of the Plan by full Cabinet being sought in early 2013.

 

1.9        Relevant Documents

 

1.9.1   Appendices 

Appendix A – Community Safety Partnership Plan 2013-18

 

1.9.2   Background Documents

 

Strategic Assessment 2012-13

 

 

IS THIS A KEY DECISION REPORT? x     Yes                                         No     If yes, when did it first appear in the Forward Plan?   ..     This is a Key Decision because:   .     Wards/Parishes affected: All wards and parishes ..   ..

 

How to Comment   Should you have any comments on the issue that is being considered please contact either the relevant Officer or the Member of the Executive who will be taking the decision.   Cllr John A Wilson                                   Cabinet Member for Community Services                                                                                    Telephone: 01622 602242                                                                E-mail:  johnawilson@maidstone.gov.uk   Sarah Robson                                                    Community Partnerships Manager                                                                                    Telephone: 01622 602827                                                               E-mail:  sarahrobson@maidstone.gov.uk