The MPA Borough Link Member Role

Report: 14a
Date: 30 September 2004
By: Clerk

Summary

This report looks at the way that the MPA link member role has developed over the last four years and proposes a revised basis and standards for that role.

A. Recommendation

That

1. the Authority approves the set of principles and minimum expectations set out in paragraph 4 below; and
2. appointments be made to the remaining link borough vacancies –Barking & Dagenham and Havering

B. Supporting information

1. The borough link role has been an integral part of MPA members’ responsibilities. As the title suggests, the intention is broadly to provide a link between local communities and the MPA, both so that the MPA can understand and address local issues and so that there is a mechanism to promote the MPA’s work at a local level.

2. Borough link membership is meant to contribute to the following MPA objectives:

• Consulting local people and ensuring that their views are reflected in the nature and style of policing; and
• Working in partnership with others, such as the Commissioner and his senior police colleagues, local authorities and other agencies, to reduce crime and disorder and the fear of crime.

3. The start of the MPA’s second term is a good opportunity to look again at the role. What is clear from experiences up to now is that it can be open-ended, depending to a large extent on what time the individual member can devote to it and his or her particular interests. The number and variety of local consultative forums is increasing; the need to find ways of listening to the ‘hard to hear’ communities remains; the Safer Neighbourhoods programme adds a particular local policing perspective. The arithmetic of 32 boroughs and only 23 MPA members is an additional factor. A key development since the link role was first introduced is that the MPA is now a statutory partner on all 32 borough crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRPs). It therefore has a legal responsibility to play an active part in developing local crime and disorder strategies and the opportunity to achieve synergy between these and the MPA’s policing plan objectives.

4. Members discussed the borough link role at an away day on 20 July. There was general agreement that it is not realistic to have a ‘job description’ for the role because the amount of time that individual members can commit to this aspect of their work will vary. However, it was recognised that involvement in CDRPs is an imperative for the MPA, and as a pan London body it can bring a particular perspective to the work of CDRPs and an overview of good and bad practice across London. Liaison with the police borough commander was also considered a necessity. So it was agreed to establish a limited set of principles, and the following are proposed:

1. that, with the exception of the Home Secretary’s independent member appointee, each member will act as the link with at least one borough;
2. that there should be only one link member per borough;
3. that where London Assembly constituency members sit on the MPA those members should be link for their constituency boroughs (this principle was agreed by the Co-ordination & Policing Committee on 10 September);
4. that the minimum expectations of a link member should be;

1. that they participate in their CDRP(s), with MPA officer support as necessary;
2. maintaining regular contact with the borough commander. This should include: oversight of the Safer Neighbourhoods programme at borough level; and being consulted by the borough commander on the allocation of the £50,000 partnership funding supplied by the MPA;
3. that every six months they contribute to a report to the full Authority on the MPA’s work on CDRPs and issues/common themes that have been identified as part of this and borough link membership generally; and

5. that over and above this, the extent to which a member engages with local partners, CPCGs, safer neighbourhood forums, community groups etc should remain at their discretion. As a minimum, a member should be prepared to listen to local concerns (even if not actively seeking them out) and to represent them to the Authority in the most appropriate way.

5. If the Authority approves these principles, a protocol will be developed which fleshes out in more detail, for example, the member role on CDRPs, what MPA officer support they can expect, and the expected relationship with the borough commander.

6. At the Co-ordination & Policing Committee on 10 September link member appointments were made to Haringey (Kirsten Hearn) and Islington (Jennette Arnold). Two vacancies remain – Havering and Barking & Dagenham. The Authority is invited to fill these vacancies.

C. Race and equality impact

In reality, setting minimum standards and expectations does not represent a change in provision. Nor is not intended to curtail members’ link activities. Members can play a significant role in community liaison and engagement and what is proposed will not impact on that in any way.

Link members sitting on CDRPs have a responsibility to represent the MPA’s equalities policies and to ensure that partner agencies follow similar policies. This will be reflected in more detail in the protocol referred to in paragraph 5 above.

D. Financial implications

None.

E. Background papers

MPA report, 8 February 2001 – the role of MPA link members

F. Contact details

Report author: Simon Vile, MPS

For more information contact:

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

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback