Role of MPA 'Link' members

Report: 9
Date: 8 February 2001
By: Clerk

Summary

Early drafts of this report have been discussed at previous full Authority meetings in July 2000 and, most recently, 14 December 2000.

This revised draft incorporates the comments and observations that Members have made are presented for discussion.

A. Recommendations

That Members note the revisions made to the paper.

That further changes to this paper are considered by the Chairs Co-ordination and Urgency Committee at its next meeting when consideration will also be given to a paper dealing with the MPA's relations with MPS and outside bodies.

B. Supporting information

The decision to assign MPA Members to specific boroughs was taken at the Authority meeting on 28 July 2000. That decision was taken to ensure that individual Members took a lead on and interest in local matters, thus enabling the Authority to forge links with key interested parties (borough commanders, local authority chief executives, local councillors, key players in local Crime and Disorder Partnerships, PCCGs and other community and representative groups) both to promote the role of the MPA and identify key issues that would help the Authority to achieve one of its key objectives of consultation on areas such as crime and disorder and the annual policing plan. Members also have a role in promoting the independent role of the MPA to groups and communities, especially those that have traditionally experienced difficult relations with the police.

Members have since had the opportunity to act as link members, while also undertaking the other responsibilities that have been generated by the Authority. These experiences have resulted in the need to review the original role that was proposed in order to ensure that the link member role is both realistic and achievable.

Discussions held by Members at the Full Authority meeting in December and the Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee on 23 January identified a number of issues and observations including which has contributed to the revision of the guidance at Appendix 1. These included:

• Members' role should primarily address strategic issues;
• Expectations of the role should take account of the limited time which independent and magistrate Members have to spend on MPA business;
• The principles outlined in the guidelines should also apply to GLA Members;
• Link members also have responsibilities for other major areas of 'internal' MPA work;
• Members requested that revisions to the paper should reflect a realistic and manageable role for link members.

Revised guidelines have been developed following discussions and issues raised by Members during their awayday, as well as more general discussions with Members.

These guidelines are presented to contribute to a consistency of understanding and approach in the way that link Members carry out their role. The rationale for the role is proposed in paragraph 1 of Appendix 1. The rest of the appendix outlines the key functions of the link member's role, proposes the benefit or proposed outcome of the role to the link Borough and to the Authority and defines the secretariat support that Members will be entitled to expect in order to support and assist them in their role as link members as well as other MPA responsibilities.

The expanded section on support for Members recognises the logistic and practical stresses in depth link relationships may create. While the concept of maintaining links must be right, the scale of the exercise with 23 members linked to 32 large Boroughs is daunting. The secretariat role is designed to ease the administrative and organisational burden on Members by smoothing the two way informational flow. As the secretariat reaches it permanent staffing structure it will be able to offer a more realistic level of support.

C. Financial implications

There may be implications for the Members' allowance scheme in this paper. This is being addressed.

D. Review arrangements

The Chair's Coordination and Urgency Committee will approve the final draft of this paper.

E. Background Papers

• Authority Committee 'Working guidelines for link members' - 28 July 2000
• CDO Committee 'Working guidelines for members' - 28 September 2000

F. Contact details

The author of this report is Julia Smith.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Appendix 1: Draft guidelines for members to assist in role as link members

Context

All MPA Members, whether GLA Members, magistrates or independents, already have a great deal of experience in interfacing with key stakeholders and partners in the local community. The draft guidelines presented here are intended to contribute to a consistency of understanding and approaches in a way that link members undertake their role.

Role of link member

Link members are just that: a two way link with geographical areas within the Metropolitan Police District. They do not represent, in any constitutional or democratic sense, the interests of the area or group with which they liaise. Nor would it be right for Authority members to become over involved in individual operational matters. Indeed, to do so would be impractical and could compromise the Authority's independence, which is crucial to formal accountability. But link members do, importantly, ensure that the local perspective and local needs are fully taken on board as strategic policies are put together.

Functions of link members

To establish opportunities for formal and regular briefings from borough commanders, local authority chief executives and other key players on local crime and community safety matters in order to inform the role, purpose and key objectives of the MPA.

To forge links with key players in the local crime and disorder partnerships and others concerned with local community safety at a strategic level.

To forge links with key community and 'hard to reach groups in order to ensure that the Authority establishes appropriate consultation processes in order to reinforce public confidence in the policing in London.

To ensure that specific borough concerns are channeled to the appropriate committees/structures within the MPA and MPS.

To monitor and influence the policies and practices of stakeholders, partners and others in the implementation of equal opportunities and diversity in relation to policing in accordance with the MPA statutory duty to

• promote equality of opportunity for all persons;
• eliminate discrimination and promote good relations between persons of different genders, racial groups, religious beliefs and sexual orientation.

To monitor lay visiting practices and to inform the Authority of key issues arising from contacts made.

Key outcomes

• Improved understanding and expertise in policing matters.
• Fuller understanding of a wide range of local community and policing issues.
• The capacity to identify and feed key messages (and information) to the Authority and other key partners and players.
• The capacity to identify and contribute to best practice that could inform the work of the other policies, regionally, nationally and internationally.
• Access to press, educational establishments, local businesses, and other groupings, to promote the work of the Authority and the police service.
• Awareness and credibility in the role and responsibility of the MPA within local communities.

Secretariat role and support

• To maintain a calendar of local activity on behalf of link members.
• To arrange briefing and background material for visits and meetings as requested.
• To formalise links with crime and disorder partnerships and PCCGs.
• To disseminate to members, and where appropriate, within the MPS the outcome of members' activities locally.
• To distribute to members publicity and marketing materials about the MPS for use locally.
• To arrange media coverage of local activities to enhance the credibility and profile of the Authority.
• To ensure that the balance of commitment of individual members between their strategic oversight and local link roles does not become blurred.

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