Agenda item

Report of the Community Safety Manager

The Group received a report of the Community Safety Manager that provided the annual assessment of the Safer City Partnership Plan 2016-17.

The Community Safety Manager reiterated that there was an expectation that all partners contribute to the Safer City Partnership Strategy, and wanted to ensure that this was recognised.

The representative for the Partnership for Young London queried the outlook of future funding.  The Community Safety Manager explained that the Safer City did not have a significant budget of its own to manage, but rather relied on contribution of work from partners.  He explained that the majority of the Plan was “business as usual”, though care has been taken to ensure its alignment with Corporation, and to raise awareness of partnership opportunities.

The Chairman queried the allocation of funds from POCA.  The Town Clerk confirmed that discussion with CoLP was ongoing in this regard, with a bidding process expected to take place before the next meeting.  He explained that the sums had not yet been confirmed.  Members agreed that discussion of this funding stream should be able to take place with CoLP as a partner of the Safer City Partnership.  The Community Safety Manager explained that funding had been received from POCA in the past, and had been utilised for achievement of beneficial work.

The Director of Community and Children’s Services noted that the processes seemed to be robust, but queried the lack of outcomes.  The Community Safety Manager explained that there had been a significant period of unsupported Safer City Partnership, so it had been difficult to confirm impacts of work, nevertheless, improvements had been made from the previous year.  The Chairman explained that partners were expected to self-appraise their activities, actively report opportunities for contribution to Safer City Partnership and to provide outcomes.

The Chairman asked for clarification of the method of measurement employed in the successful testing of the noise app referenced in paragraph 20 of the report.  The Director of Markets and Consumer Protection confirmed that they were able to quantitatively prove its effectiveness.  The Chairman reiterated that partners should be providing not just raw data, but also meaningful analysis of their data.  The London fire Brigade Borough Commander confirmed that it was easy to quantify outputs, but much more difficult to prove real results.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and the strategic assessment be approved for 2016-17