Consultation arrangements for 2002/03 policing and performance plan

Report: 5
Date: 22 May 2001
By: Clerk

Summary

This Committee is charged with the responsibility to 'consider all matters relating to the Authority and MPS consultation mechanisms'. The Finance, Planning and Best Value Committee has a lead responsibility for ensuring that the annual policing and performance plan is developed and that it considers the results of consultation.

This report outlines options whereby the process for producing the 2002/03 plan will be informed by consultation. The final process selected will help establish some basic principles for the development of a coherent MPA/MPS consultation strategy.

A. Recommendations

1. Members consider the options for consultation outlined at Appendix 1.
2. Members endorse the consultation methods proposed at paragraph 6 for consulting on the policing priorities for 2002/03 (pending development of an MPA/MPS consultation strategy).
3. Members approve the establishment of a panel to oversee development of an MPA/MPS consultation strategy.

B. Background

1. The MPA is required each year to set objectives for the MPS (Section 7 of the 1996 Police Act, as amended by paragraph 70 of Schedule 27 of the 1999 GLA Act). Those objectives must be consistent with any Ministerial priorities set by the Home Secretary. The Authority must set objectives after considering views obtained in accordance with its consultation duties under Section 96 of the 1996 Police Act.

2. Before the beginning of each financial year, the MPA is required to issue a policing and performance plan (drafted by the Commissioner). Whilst CDO Committee has the lead responsibility for consultation within the MPA and MPS, Finance Planning and Best Value Committee has the remit for the delivery of the planning process and the plan on behalf of the MPA.

3. Issues of target setting and performance monitoring, which are the responsibility of the Professional Standards and Performance Monitoring Committee, also need to be considered in the planning process.

4. The 2001/02 policing and performance plan was agreed and published by the Authority on 29 March 2001. The process for consulting Londoners, and other partners, on the policing priorities for 2002/03 now needs to start if it is to be completed by the autumn. MPA and MPS officers have considered the matter and suggest that:

• due to the tight timescale, the consultation process for the 2002/03 plan cannot be as comprehensive as that of future consultation;
• the MPA policy lead for consultation and the CDO Committee should take the main responsibility for proposing a consultation methodology for identifying 2002/03 priorities;
• FPBV Committee should be consulted on the proposed methodology to ensure that it is integrated within the wider planning and budget-setting process.

5. The MPS has developed a paper identifying a range of consultation options that could be used by the Authority to help prepare the 2002/03 plan and a summary of this paper see Appendix 1. The options presented range from 'tried and tested' methods to innovative approaches.

6. Given time and budget constraints, and in the absence of a consultation strategy, it is suggested that the options pursued in the next few months should be relatively straightforward but that additional effort is used to ensure that the results of consultation are acted upon as well as being fed back to those involved. Therefore, it is proposed that the consultation methods used to inform the priorities for the 2002/03 plan are as follows:

• citizens' panel: use sooner if able to 'piggy back' on existing arrangements else consider using later in the planning process to discuss draft priorities (lead time and budget constraints could still be problematic);
• general surveys: repeat Public Attitude Survey; use results of a previous MVA survey and await results of the independent Nuffield Foundation Londoners' attitudes survey (expected in September);
• neighbourhood fora: use PCCG infrastructure and consider a meeting of PCCG chairs either to propose or review priorities (propose would be sooner in the cycle, review would be later);
• electronic consultation: use new method as a pilot exercise pending development of a consultation strategy;
• customer satisfaction surveys: data from these ongoing surveys should be used to help inform decisions on priorities;
• referenda: use once draft priorities developed (eg asking respondents for views on relative weighting of priorities);
• delegate committees: pursue collation of local crime and disorder audit information as a matter of priority and consider possible consultation of collated findings (subject to when collated findings are available);
• action planning / focus groups: consider use if other consultation methods deemed insufficient (may need funding and high priority status since relatively little time to organise big external events).

7. CDO Committee is asked to take a view on the consultation options that should be used. Officers will then develop these in greater detail and assess the financial implications. A paper outlining the planning process for preparing the 2002/03 plan is due to be presented to the FPBV Committee meeting in June. That paper will address the views of CDO Committee in establishing what consultation is carried out and when.

8. In using the outcome of consultation to inform priorities for 2002/03 the information obtained will need to be balanced against:

• MPS performance during 2001/02;
• drivers, constraints and/or information from other sources;
• emerging crime and disorder strategies being developed on each borough;
• the MPA/MPS corporate strategy (currently being developed).

The MPA/MPS consultation strategy

9. In contrast to the interim measures needed to satisfy the MPA's requirements for setting 2002/03 policing priorities, there is a need to develop a consultation strategy that reflects the requirements of the Authority and the MPS at a corporate and borough level.

10. The Best Value Review of Consultation proposed an implementation strategy to support the report's recommendations. Officers are now progressing some of the report's recommendations and have recognised the need for a broader strategy to be developed.

11. It is proposed that such a strategy should initially cover a three year period and that a panel should be set up to oversee development consisting of MPA members and MPS officers and with input from other key partners (such as the GLA, Regional Crime Director and community groups).

12. MPA and MPS officers will progress work in this area, including desk research on the consultation strategies of other police authorities, to see whether any good practice examples exist. Draft terms of reference, together with membership details will be developed and members consulted at the next CDO Committee meeting on 26 June 2001.

C. Financial implications

The financial implications of each consultation method are summarised at Appendix 1. The actual implications will depend on the options preferred by members and subsequently implemented.

D. Background papers

None.

E. Contact details

The author of this report is Julia Smith and Derrick Norton, MPA.

For information contact:

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

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