Questions to the Authority

Report: 6
Date: 26 October 2006
By: Chief Executive and Clerk

Summary

Members are requested, in accordance with the Authority’s Standing Orders, to hear a question from member of the public. The Chief Executive and Clerk’s response on behalf of the Authority’s is included in this report.

A. Recommendation

That the Authority hears the questions set out below and responds in accordance with Standing Orders 2.7.

B. Supporting information

1. The following question has been received from a member of the public, Mr Paul Webbewood.

‘In 2002 the Authority suspended the Greenwich Police Community Consultative Group and since then there has been no proper Borough-wide consultation mechanism in Greenwich.

In 2005 the Authority commissioned Professor Mike Hough of King's College London to review the position and make recommendations. According to a report presented to the Co-ordination and Policing Committee on 3 March 2006 it was hoped to implement these early in 2006-07 and a budget allocation had been made to support the new process.

As far as I am aware this has not happened. Will the Authority provide an update please.’

2. Standing Order 2.7 sets out the process for receiving questions at Authority meetings, this is given at Appendix 1.

3. The Chief Executive and Clerk will respond to Mr Webbewood’s question as follows:

‘The MPA has indeed invested considerable time and resources in considering the most appropriate way forward for community engagement in Greenwich. Professor Hough’s review, which included consultations with community groups, local statutory partners and good practice in other boroughs, made the following proposals which were presented to a public meeting on 18 July 2006:

1. The setting up of a borough wide Community Engagement Board consisting of 2 elements: representatives of the Safer Neighbourhood Panels; and representatives of relevant communities of interests.
2. The Board will be an independent body electing its own Chair and officers from amongst its members but the relevant Council Cabinet member would be part of the Board as would the Borough Commander and the MPA Link Member.
3. The Board would seek membership of the CDRP as a critical friend immediately after coming into being.
4. The Board would be expected to work in a supportive manner with any other relevant community engagement structures.

These proposals enjoy the support of the Borough Commander and the Council’s Chief Executive. The next steps are to establish which Safer Neighbourhood Panels are sufficiently developed to take on their part and which require further support and development. It will also be necessary to identify and approach groups representing communities of interests on a borough wide basis to seek their involvement.

Arrangements are being made towards implementation of the agreed proposals with a view to the Greenwich Community Engagement Board being in place before the end of the financial year and that budget provision will also be made to support it in 2007/08.’

C. Race and equality impact

None related to the process of receiving questions from the public.

D. Financial implications

None

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Nick Baker, MPA

For more information contact:

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

Appendix 1

Extract from MPA Standing Orders – 2.7 Questions from the public at full Authority meetings

“2.7.1 Members of the public may ask questions of the Authority which are relevant to its business, functions or responsibilities. The Clerk must receive the question in writing not less than ten working days before a meeting of the Authority.

2.7.2 A person may not ask more than three questions in a rolling 12 month period.

2.7.3 The Clerk of the Authority will, in discussion with the Chair of the Authority, have the discretion to refuse a question. In this event, the Clerk shall respond in writing to the questioner outlining the reason(s) for this decision. This letter will be copied to all members, before the Authority meeting, and the Clerk’s decision reported to the meeting as part of the regular report on action taken under delegated authority. Without fettering that discretion, reasons why a question may not be accepted include the following:

1. The reasons set out in 2.6.2 above.
2. The question cannot be answered satisfactorily without the disclosure of exempt information (as defined in the Access to Information legislation).
3. In the Clerk's opinion, the question has already been answered by another means and contains no issues of wider public interest that require a public answer.
4. The question actually contains a number of different questions, in which case the Clerk will ask for an amended question to be submitted.
5. The question is similar to, or on a similar theme to, a question asked by someone else in the preceding three months.

2.7.4 Any question(s) shall be included on the agenda for the meeting, in the order of receipt, as the next item of business after the approval of the minutes of the last meeting, and must be addressed to the Chair. The Chair will then invite the Clerk to respond, orally or in writing, on behalf of the Authority. Following the Clerk’s response, the person asking the question may speak further for no more than three minutes. Members may also comment on or discuss the issues raised by the question and answer.

2.7.5 The person asking the question can attend the meeting to put the question. If they are not present, the answer as reported to the Authority shall be sent to them following the meeting. If the person asking the question needs some clarification in relation to the answer, this will be given by the Clerk or appropriate officer, in person or in writing, within ten working days of clarification being sought.

2.7.6 The Chair may use discretion to limit the number of questions asked by members of the public in order to avoid the business of the Authority being disrupted. In any event, no more than 30 minutes will be allowed for public questions and answers. Any questions that remain unanswered within the timescale shall receive written responses only.”

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