Agenda item

Councillor Osman Dervish presented the report of Jerry Haley, Senior Community Safety and Development Officer to Cabinet recommending the Havering Community Safety Partnership Plan (HCSP) 2017-2020 be recommended for approval by Council.

The Lead Member stated that this is a Statutory Plan as the HCSP, comprised of five responsible authorities, are required by law to work together to reduce crime, disorder, substance misuse and reoffending.  It is also required that HCSP produces an annual strategic assessment of these issues within a community safety strategy or plan.

The strategic themes are addressed in the report and the Council priorities are reflected in the plan together with those of MOPAC (Mayors Office for Policing and Crime) who are a major source of funding.  The Plan is a high level document which supports a number of strategies all separately detailed within it and also gives details of how the HCSP intends to address the highlighted issues and priorities. 

Cllr Ray Morgon asked how outcomes would be measured and data collected and also expressed concern as to whether the data can be considered to be sufficiently robust.

It will be for the Partnership to decide how that will be done and such issues will be addressed in the various strategies and subsidiary policies that run alongside the Plan.

Some performance indicators are set by MOPAC and further detail can be made available.  There is engagement with the Community Ward Panels and Safer Neighbourhoods Board (SNB).  A separate briefing could be arranged for Members.

The SNB address the latest statistics at meetings and this promotes discussion.  These aspects should be challenged on a local level by the community based ward Councillors who are well placed to put forward the views of the local community. A new Chair has recently taken up post on the SNB.

These issues could also be raised at the Crime and Disorder Overview and Scrutiny Sub Committee if necessary. It is important these issues are raised and scrutinised on behalf of the residents of Havering. There is a need to ensure that strategies are working as they should. Any issues can be fed back through to the Borough Commander to ensure all aspects of concern are being addressed and Councillors should be invited to attend to participate within their local area at Safer Neighbourhood Panel Meetings.

Cabinet:

• AGREED to recommend the Havering Community Safety Partnership Plan 2017- 2020 to full Council for approval.

Other Options Considered:

There were no other available options

Reasons for Decision:

• There is a statutory obligation under the Crime and Disorder Act, 1998 to produce a Community Safety Plan.