Minutes

Minutes of the Consultation Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 5 December 2002 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, SW1H 0NY.

Present:

Members:

• Cindy Butts (Chair)
• Kirsten Hearn
• Nicholas Long

MPA Officers:

• Catherine Crawford (Clerk)
• Ken Hunt (Deputy Treasurer)
• Philip Powell (Director of Communications)
• Julia Smith (Policy Officer, Consultation, Diversity and Outreach)
• Ken Hunt (Deputy Treasurer)
• Austen Cutten (Policy Officer, Consultation)
• Nick Baker (Head of Committee Services)

MPS Officers:

• Steve House (DAC)
• Chas Bailey (Superintendent, Consultation Manager)

Co-Opted Members:

Sandra Flower

Part 1

28. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies were received from Abdul Ullah and Jenny Jones (Members) and Kate Monkhouse.

29. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interests were made.

30. Minutes of the Consultation Committee – 31 October 2002

(Agenda item 3)

The Committee considered the minutes of the committee meeting held on 31 October 2002.

31. Youth consultation and engagement

(Agenda item 4)

The Committee considered a report that outlined a proposal to set up a partnership, with the London Voluntary Services Council (LVSC) to support the aims of the MPS youth strategy that is currently being developed.

Members welcomed the proposals and suggested that other groups of young people, including lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender and other disenfranchised youths should be engaged in the consultation process.

Members agreed that to help engage these and other groups, the MPS should develop links with forum/groups that represent these young people. It was agreed that Kirsten Hearn could support the MPS in establishing such links. It was also noted that the GLA were undertaking similar work on seeking to engage with such groups and members agreed that they should be an approached discuss how and who they were working with and any details of outreach work being undertaken.

The Committee were reminded that the MPA are represented on the MPS Strategic Steering Committee, which reviewed the progress in all areas of youth strategy and the action plan to ensure the MPS policies in relation to youth were being implemented and it was suggested that regular feedback to this Committee would be useful.

Resolved

That

1. Members note the intention to strengthen the way in which youth consultation and engagement is conducted by the creation of a partnership with the London Voluntary Services Council (LVSC);
2. officers work with Kirsten Hearn to establish links with other groups of youth in order that they can also be engaged in the consultation process; and
3. officers discuss with the GLA work being undertaken on engaging youth groups and on outreach work

32. Community Consultation Co-ordinators

(Agenda item 5)

Members received a report that updated them on the progress of the MPA’s pilot community consultation project and specific work programme of the new Community Consultation Co-ordinators. The Committee noted the work being undertaken with the Home Office on the community engagement research project. Members welcomed the offer of the production of a ‘localised map’ that would highlight areas of duplication and/or gaps in borough based consultation.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

33. Quick time consultation

(Agenda item 6)

Following a request from the Chair of the Authority, the Committee received a report that outlined the method by which the MPA would be able to access and seek the views of members of the public on key policing operational issues in quick time. The report proposed a method and process of a possible delivery of quick time consultation.

Members welcomed the proposals within the report, but requested that target groups needed to be widened to include business groups and specific target groups when dealing with specific issues. Members also highlighted the need for the quick time consultation to be clearly defined and used only as an exception. Officers needed to define what can and cannot trigger the use of quick time consultation process.

Arising from the discussion members agreed that once a contacted database had been established a test run should be undertaken, possibly seeking views on the process. The offer of seeking the views from PCCG Chairs’ Forum on possible mechanisms for delivery of quick time consultation was also welcomed.

Resolved - That

1. Members consider the proposed options that could be adopted for engaging and seeking views on key MPS operational issues and other policing matters of interest to the community; and
2. note the initiatives that are already in place within the MPS that could contribute to the Authority’s ‘quick time’ consultation.

34. Proposed consultation process on the revised MPA/MPS draft consultation strategy - 2002

(Agenda item 7)

The Committee received a report that presented the Consultation Strategy, which following revisions would be circulated to key stakeholders and partners for consultation.

Resolved - That the process proposed for consulting key partners and stakeholders on draft the consultation strategy be noted.

35. Programme of consultation events

(Agenda item 8)

The Committee considered a report that presented a draft programme and timetable of initial meetings in the community. Members, in welcoming the proposals, requested that as well as meetings in boroughs other events including Respect Festival and Mardi Gras should be included in any future programme. It was also agreed that partnership working with the GLA should be considered.

The Committee agreed that future programmes and timetables of consultation events should retain an established format, but be flexible enough to encompass topical issues. The importance of accessibility was highlighted as a key issue when considering where to hold such events.

Referring to the draft programme highlighted in the report, members requested that the event planned for Hackney, include issues around gun crime and possible involvement of other neighbouring boroughs and organisations.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

36. Statutory planning regime

(Agenda item 9)

The Committee received a report that outlined the new statutory planning regime for police authorities and forces and which included a summary of the National Policing Plan and implications for consultation.

Resolved - That the report be received.

37. Communications support for MPA external events

(Agenda item 10)

Members considered a report that outlined the support available from the MPA communications unit for MPA external events. Referring to the commissioning brief attached as appendix 1 to the report, it was suggested that further details of possible financial cost of a proposed event should be made and details of accessibility should be highlighted.

It was agreed that a list of forthcoming events should be circulated to members on a regular basis.

Resolved – That

1. the Communications Unit be informed as soon as an event becomes known to allow for thorough planning; and
2. Communications Unit commissioning brief be used to commission work from the unit.

The meeting closed at 2.55 p.m.

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback