Evaluation of the work of Community Consultation Co-ordinators

Report: 6
Date: 22 September 2003
By: Clerk

Summary

The purpose of this report is to evaluate the outcomes of the MPA’s pilot community consultation project and the specific work of the three Community Consultation Co-ordinators undertaken in the boroughs of Greenwich, Hackney and Kensington & Chelsea. The report commends the permanent establishment of the Community Consultation Co-ordinator role as an effective means of progressing the Authority’s consultation responsibilities.

A. Recommendation

That members note the outcome of the work of the Community Consultation Coordinators to date and that steps will be taken to recruit these positions as quickly as possible, as a key mechanism by which the Authority can support and strengthen its consultation responsibilities at the local level and ensure the centrality of consultation in the Authority’s governance role.

B. Supporting information

1. In assisting the MPA to achieve a more efficient and effective consultation process, one of the key recommendations of the Best Value Review of Consultation was to recruit and deploy Community Consultation Co-ordinators (CCCs) to facilitate borough-based consultation.

2. In September 2002, the MPA appointed three Community Consultation Co-ordinators to pilot and test different models for local borough community consultation and engagement in the boroughs of Hackney, Greenwich and Kensington & Chelsea. In each case, the CCCs undertook a baseline profile of their respective area and a mapping of local community-police consultative processes. They also evaluated the effectiveness of the local CPCG arrangements, and proposed alternative models for MPA engagement.

3. After an initial induction period at the MPA offices, each CCC was located within their respective boroughs to undertake their work. Previous reports to the Consultation Committee 5 December 2002 (Report 5) and 24 April 2003 (Report 7) provided updates on the progress and results of the work undertaken.

4. A number of the recommendations made by the CCCs pertained to the overall strategic decision-making of the Authority’s governance for consultation. Many of these have been incorporated into the companion report to this committee; Community and Police Consultative Groups: Development and Reform Programme and Funding Process for 2004/05.

5. The local models proposed in each of the three boroughs are being further refined, based on discussions with local partners. In Kensington & Chelsea, the MPA has appointed a short-term CCC to progress the establishment of the proposed cabinet model of consultation and other priority activities identified by the CPCG and needing completion. The establishment of the proposed cabinet model in Kensington & Chelsea is being finalised in close consultation with the chair and co-chairs of the CPCG. In addition, an innovative model of citizen recruitment and involvement, somewhat akin to a citizens’ jury, is being developed as a unique adjunct to the cabinet model as a means of ensuring an inclusive and representative cross-section of residents of the borough. The final element in the proposed action plan for the Kensington & Chelsea CPCG is an annual conference to bring together both the directly recruited consultative jury/panel and other community representatives to provide a wider forum for public participation and awareness of the work of the police in the borough and the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.

6. With respect to Greenwich, this Committee has previously considered the report by the CCC, and a follow-up workshop was organised for Members to consider its recommendations. The report was also posted to all former members of the Greenwich CPCG and other community groups in the borough. The report was also presented and discussed with the full executive of the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership. In progressing the recommendations pertaining to local community-police consultation in Greenwich, a three-year demonstration project is being developed in consultation with the local authority, the police and community representatives, under the auspices of the Community Safety Unit of Greenwich Borough. The goal is to increase the level of community involvement and participation in local policy decision-making processes, as well as the organisational capacity to establish an independent, stand-alone community-police consultative group. In directly involving the ongoing work of the four Sector Community Advisory Committees, together with the holding of bi-annual community conferences, this demonstration project will establish a co-ordinated communications and accountability process for local community-police consultation processes, involving particularly those of the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.

7. The recommendations of the CCC in Hackney were similarly directed at strengthening the level of co-operation and collaboration between the various community-police fora presently functioning in the borough. Recruitment is presently being undertaken to hire a replacement CCC to carry forward the recommendations for the establishment of a consultative network and to consider the feasibility of dispersed MPA funding to the key constituent groups.

8. In summary, the work of the three CCCs in the three boroughs identified some common themes and challenges for community-police consultation at the local level. They identified a number of issues that the MPA needs to clarify in terms of its own consultation roles and responsibilities and the financial and administrative relationship the MPA has with CPCGs. Many of those are already incorporated in reports to this Committee. In addition, all three CCCs identified slightly different approaches to strengthening the work of the current CPCGs and local community-police consultation. The CCC role has enabled the MPA to carry out detailed action research and analysis of the consultation process and the effectiveness of local borough frameworks.

9. The pilot community consultation project has made a significant contribution to refining the MPA’s approach and strategy towards consultation. The results have highlighted the need for clarity in distinguishing the role of the MPA in taking the lead on gathering the views of Londoners on overall strategic priorities as distinct from that of the MPS, which perhaps should be taking the lead on consultation with the public it serves on more local tactical and operational issues. It has also identified the need for clarity in the MPA’s support for consultation in setting standards and scrutinising against these standards. This pilot project has also encouraged the MPA to be more innovative in the range of consultation methodologies it supports and to experiment with local forms of police accountability and governance.

10. The conclusions from the pilot projects in all three boroughs further identified the urgent need for joining up the consultation and engagement processes at the local and pan-London levels. In very many ways, the results of this pilot project reflect the interests of the Home Secretary, David Blunkett:

‘I am keen to see whether more can be done to strengthen and clarify accountability arrangements at the local level. There might be a range of options here from extending and formalising local consultative arrangements, such as neighbourhood panels; to the introduction of BCU level plans and annual reports on achievement; to having a more formal overseeing local body with a democratic element, possibly directly elected.’

(11 June 2003).

The conclusions of the three pilot projects, in addition to the directions indicated by the Home Secretary, provide impetus and direction to the further development of public participation in the governance of policing.

11. The next phase, as indicated above is to first continue to pilot the models proposed by the CCCs and to monitor and evaluate their effectiveness.

12. Secondly, it is critical for the MPA to ensure continuity, to ensure the incorporation of learning into best practice, to ensure the outcomes of pilots and innovative approaches to consultation are shared with other CPCGs and groups, and to ensure that the processes and content of the work of the MPA’s community partners are incorporated into its strategic directions and decision-making processes.

13. The essential role of CCCs in carrying out the Authority’s consultation responsibilities will therefore be strengthened and stabilised by filling the previously approved four permanent positions. Centrally located, these positions will be able to respond quickly to the particular needs, concerns and challenges that individual CPCGs across London may be facing on an as needed basis. The responsibilities of the CCCs will also better enable the MPA to facilitate the involvement of consultative groups into the MPA’s committee structure and decision-making processes and ensure that the content and results of consultation are an integral influence on its strategic directions. At the same time, the CCCs will strengthen the research and analytical capacity of the MPA in its ongoing efforts to improve police accountability and governance arrangements, and thereby also contribute in a pro-active way to the interests of the Home Secretary.

14. In summary, these positions will strengthen and accelerate the process of cross-fertilisation of best practice and contribute significantly to the efficiency and effectiveness of the MPA’s consultation partners in fulfilling the MPA’s governance responsibilities.

C. Equality and diversity implications

The reports of the three pilot boroughs all highlighted the need to strengthen representative and inclusive community-police consultative processes. This is now being reflected as an integral component in the further development and implementation of the pilots. The establishment of the four permanent CCC positions will also be able to support and strengthen the efforts of all CPCGs to address the inherent challenges in involving and addressing the needs of ‘hard to reach’ communities.

D. Financial implications

The complement of four permanent Community Consultation Co-ordinators has been fully factored into the budget and therefore no additional budgetary requirements arise.

E. Background papers

None.

F. Contact details

Report author: Tim Rees, MPA.

For more information contact:

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

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