MPA/MPS asset management plan - public consultation feedback

Report: 4
Date: 4 July 2008
By: Assistant Commissioner Territorial Policing on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

This report outlines the results of the public consultation in relation to the Territorial Policing element of the MPA estate.

A. Recommendations

That Members note the report and comment as appropriate on the results of the consultation.

B. Supporting information

Background
1. Policing in London is changing. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is working hard to deliver a more effective and locally focused service and to do this it needs a property estate that can adapt to meet new challenges and grow to support a 21st century police estate. Attached at Appendix 1 is the background to the MPA Estate Strategic Plan.

Asset Management Plan Consultation

2. The MPS places great value on consultation and communication to ensure it understands the needs, wishes and priorities of the communities it serves. It is important these communities and other stakeholders understand more about the estate from which the police operate, its size, condition and the changes that are required.

3. As result of the changing needs of the MPA estate, a detailed draft Asset Management Plan has been produced for every Territorial Policing (TP) borough operational command unit (BOCU) covering the timeframe of the next three years. Each AMP sets out clearly how the wide MPA Estate Strategic Plan could be implemented in that BOCU. The AMP is generic and template based but also contains information bespoke to each borough. Borough commanders have carried out a three-month period of consultation on their boroughs, which concluded on 13 March 2008. Results of the consultation have been analysed and are summarised in this report, with further details on a borough-by-borough basis shown in Appendix 2 – ‘Metropolitan Police Estate Public Consultation Feedback’.

4. The consultation process was monitored by the TP Property for Policing Programme Team, by way of a Control Strategy for each borough. The Control Strategy outlined the consultation taking place and those groups identified locally by the borough commanders for further consultation. An example of the control strategy for Enfield borough is attached at Appendix 3 – ‘Enfield Borough Control Strategy’. In addition to the Control Strategy, the public meetings were monitored by the TP Property for Policing Programme Team and details of the public consultation held are shown in Appendix 4 – ‘Public Meetings Schedule’.

Consultation analysis

5. The AMP consultation feedback concentrates on the five main themes of the AMP, Safer Neighbourhoods, custody centres, patrol bases, front counters and office accommodation. The feedback also takes note of comments received under the ‘Summary’ section of the public consultation document, which was bespoke for each borough.

Statistics

6. 361 questionnaires/correspondence were received with at least 1418 members of the community sharing their views. Camden borough submitted four responses to the public consultation, one of which was the Camden Community and Police Consultative Group (CPCG) report comprising 779 individual replies. Camden borough had the highest number of total responses with 783 informing the overall comments in this report (55.2%). Ealing borough was the second highest with 58 overall responses, with 330 members of the community contributing to inform the overall comments in this report (23.3%). A number of other boroughs provided collective responses to the public consultation, however individual contributors were not identified. Out of the individual themes, Safer Neighbourhoods received the most response overall, with 90% positive comments. Patrol bases received the least response with 82% positive comments.

Safer Neighbourhoods

7. 217 overall comments were received on Safer Neighbourhoods bases with the majority being positive responses. 29 boroughs had responses on this theme with Ealing and Sutton having the highest number of responses, 45 and 27 respectively. The public consultation shows that members of the community agree with Safer Neighbourhoods bases and most agree they should be in the wards they serve. A general concern about these bases was the lack of signage/information, and respondents would like to see their public profile raised.

Custody centres

8. 161 overall comments were received on the provision of custody centres with the majority 140 being positive responses. 23 boroughs had responses on this theme with Ealing and Bexley having the highest number of responses, 31 and 19 respectively. Most respondents agree with custody centres, as long as the location and parking facilities do not affect officers travelling times. Respondents also commented on the need for these sites to have good transport options for visitors such as social workers and lawyers. Some concerns raised were in relation to security of the buildings. Respondents in Hounslow borough felt strongly that the cell capacity should be increased at the initial planning stage to incorporate increasing populations, as this will prevent having to rebuild or relocate the custody centre in the long term.

Patrol bases

9. 153 overall comments were received on the provision of patrol bases, with the majority 124 being positive responses. 21 boroughs had responses on this theme with Ealing and Bexley receiving the highest number of responses, 28 and 17 respectively. Respondents believe that patrol bases would provide good facilities for officers, but again it is vital that the location of the base is correct so that initial deployment times to patrol areas are not affected. 19% of respondents were concerned that a patrol base would increase response times and cause greater congestion in their borough. There is some support for the bases to be located in “industrial zones” with access to main roads, as rather than residential areas.

Front counters

10. 192 overall comments were received on front counters, with the majority 177 being positive responses. 25 boroughs had responses on this theme with Ealing and Sutton having the highest number of responses, 31 and 29 respectively. Respondents believe that separate counters for victims and offenders will be positive although some concern was raised over supervision of these separate counters and waiting times. Also raised was the fact that front counters are often seen a the ‘public face’ of the police with the need to be open 24 hours a day with staff that can deal with queries efficiently and sensitively.

Office accommodation

11. 165 overall responses were received in respect of office accommodation with the majority 149 being positive responses. 26 boroughs had responses on this theme with Sutton and Ealing having the highest number of responses, 30 and 28 respectively. Respondents believe that it would be beneficial to group the command/management/support functions together, with comment on the need for good communication links between management and operational staff.

Summary

12. A high majority of respondents recognised the need to upgrade/modernise many police buildings, however what has proved emotive is the proposal to review the future of some police stations. Whilst some members of the community are content with the knowledge that police stations will not be closed until new, alternative facilities are open and operational in the vicinity others, as in the case of Camden and Redbridge are unhappy at the potential loss of historic/iconic public buildings.

Petitions received

13. During the consultation process two petitions were received by borough commanders on Redbridge and Southwark boroughs in relation to the future review of Wanstead and East Dulwich police stations respectively. The borough commander at Hillingdon also received a petition in response to the proposal to build a new custody facility at the Hayes police station site.

14. The petitions in respect of the review of Wanstead and East Dulwich police stations will be given full consideration during the Next Steps outlined in this report (see paragraph 18). The petition in respect of the proposals for Hayes police station has been forwarded to the MPS Property Services department for consideration. It should be noted that the proposal to build a new custody centre at the Hayes police station site is in its early stages and will be subject to formal consultation and communication with key stakeholders and the local community.

15. The petition in relation to the future review of Wanstead police station raised over 4000 signatures. It should be noted that within the wording of the petition there was no reference to the MPA/MPS commitment not to close this building until there is an alternative in the vicinity open and operational. The petition was entitled “I wish that the present building of Wanstead Police Station be retained and upgraded in order that it can continue its current focal role in our community”.

16. The petition in relation to the future review of East Dulwich police station raised over 3000 signatures. It should be noted that, as for Wanstead police station, there was no reference to the MPA/MPS commitment not to close any building until there is an alternative in the vicinity open and operational. The petition was entitled “Help stop the closure of East Dulwich police station”.

17. The petition in relation to the proposed custody centre and patrol base at Hayes police station raised 36 signatures. The petition was entitled “Hayes End police station expansion, Hayes End, Middlesex, Petition against increased occupancy and use”.

18. Camden CPCG received a list of 751 names of members of the community who have signed individual forms entitled “Save our local police station”, in reference to Hampstead police station. Again, it should be noted that, as for petitions received by Redbridge and Southwark boroughs, there was no reference to the MPA/MPS commitment not to close this building until there is an alternative in the vicinity open and operational.

Next steps

19. The rollout of Safer Neighbourhood bases received wide support and the MPA/MPS will continue with this as planned. During the public consultation, potential sites for new bases were identified and these will be given consideration over the coming months as to suitability. The rollout of the signage of existing Safer Neighbourhood bases will begin in June 2008 and will continue until all bases, both those already in existence and new bases, has been completed. The anticipated date for all Safer Neighbourhoods bases to be in situ is January 2010.

20. As a result of the overall positive response to the custody centre and patrol base elements of the AMP, the MPA/MPS will continue to consider plans to locate a custody centre and patrol base on every borough, wherever practicable. The rollout of these elements of the AMP is reliant on appropriate sites being identified. No decision will be taken in respect of individual boroughs until the borough commander has agreed the location is operationally viable, and consultation has taken place with members of the community, local authority, and other strategic partners.

21. MPA/MPS plans to split the front counter functions at larger stations will remain under review. The MPS proposes to trial this facility at two police stations, Holborn in Camden borough, and Hounslow in Hounslow borough. Some boroughs already benefit from modern front counter facilities and there are no plans to change these facilities, other than to update these once results of the trial are known. There are no plans to close front counter facilities across the MPA estate until alternatives in the vicinity are open and operational.

22. As a result of the overall positive response to plans to modernise office accommodation, the MPA/MPS will continue to modernise office accommodation for command, management and support functions across the estate to ensure the best facilities for officers and staff.

23. The review of some police stations identified in the borough public consultation documents has raised some concerns within local communities. The feedback has resulted in mixed views being received on whether those buildings considered by members of the local community as historic/iconic should be retained as police stations, be retained as public buildings or are not fit for purpose and should be disposed of. As a result of this feedback, and the petitions received, the MPA/MPS will undertake a review of those limited number of buildings that received negative feedback and these will be subject to further local consultation during 2008/2009. No definitive timescale has been agreed at this stage.

24. The MPA/MPS will continue to consult on individual elements of the AMPs with members of the community, local authorities, strategic partners and others when sites become available for the proposals outlined in the borough AMPs.

25. Individual feedback responses are being prepared for each borough and will be available on the MPA and MPS websites and locations across the boroughs, week commencing 7 July 2008.

Initial lessons learnt

26. During the consultation process ways to improve the process were identified:

• Public meetings - It was initially thought that the decision to hold a public meeting should be at the discretion of the individual borough commander, however early feedback on the consultation process indicated that the approach should be consistent. Borough commanders were notified that a public meeting must be held as part of the consultation process.
• Aids to consultation - During the consultation period a borough commander raised the need for a visual aid to assist with the consultation process. As a result, TP commissioned a short video, which was circulated to all borough commanders. The video is generic and can be used for future consultation processes.
• Key messages - A need has been identified for TP and Resources Directorate to engage more fully with borough commanders before and during the consultation process to ensure that key messages are conveyed. This is particularly relevant to those boroughs where the borough commanders are new to the post.
• Diversity & Community Engagement –TP has identified a need to engage fully and seek advice at an early stage with the MPA Community Engagement unit and MPS Diversity Directorate in advance of any future pan-London public consultation of AMPs to ensure that consultation reaches all members of the community. For example, consideration to be given to include monitoring of postcodes, ethnicity and gender.

Environment

27. Issues arising of an environmental nature will be subject to analysis as implementation proposals are reported. Overall, modernisation of the estate is anticipated to improve the environmental performance of the MPA estate.

C. Race and equality impact

1. Borough commanders completed an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) during the public consultation period. An example of the EIA for Brent borough is shown at Appendix 5 – ‘Brent Borough Equality Impact Assessment’. It should be noted that borough commanders also prepare an EIA when consulting on specific elements of the AMP for their borough.

2. The AMP and comments form documents were available on request in different formats.

3. There were no other equality and diversity implications arising from the public consultation process.

D. Financial implications

Although the costs of the public consultation exercise was managed within existing MPS budgets, further consideration is being given to the review of a limited number of police stations as shown in this report. The financial implications of undertaking these reviews and the ongoing implications for the capital programme and estate revenue funding will be subject to a separate report to MPA Finance Committee.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author(s): Barbara Donegan. MPS

For more information contact:

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

Appendix 1

Background to MPA/MPS Estate Strategic Plan

The MPA/MPS Estate Strategic Plan was first approved in December 2006. The latest revision was approved in September 2007 at the Co-ordination and Policing Committee.

The MPA/MPS Estate Strategic Plan (ESP) reports on the progress of the implementation of the MPA/MPS Estates Strategy in relation to the operational estate, including consultation and communication undertaken with our stakeholders. The ESP sits alongside the separate consultation and communication strategy and plan documentation which details how and with whom the MPS will consult and communicate in regard to the roll out of specific estate programme plans – for example Property for Policing.

Updated on a regular basis, the ESP informs and updates Management Board and the Metropolitan Police Authority on issues concerned with the ongoing implementation of the MPA/MPS Estates Strategy.

It is essential that the real estate assets of the MPA meet the operational requirements of the MPS. Following the principles of good asset management practice; maximising the use of accommodation and minimising the operational cost of buildings and property, and incorporating the recommendations made by HMIC, the MPA/MPS estates strategy ‘Building Towards the Safest City’, was approved in 2003 and publicly launched in 2004. The strategy for exiting inefficient/antiquated buildings and recycling and reinvesting the value back into the estate had resulted in significant benefits to the MPA/MPS.

To further the role out of this estates strategy and provide suitable visibility, the ESP was developed to report on progress and map out the way forward with the ongoing implementation of the MPA/MPS Estates Strategy, ensuring that suitable consultation and communication is undertaken with the MPA/MPS’s stakeholders, particularly with regard to the rollout of BOCU-based facilities, to ensure community concerns are addressed. Providing the overarching framework for the real estate assets of the MPA/MPS, this document is linked closely with Property for Policing which deals with the Territorial Policing Estate.

The ESP, which is subject to regular review, reporting and updating, sets out the framework within which the estate is strategically managed in asset terms, the MPS Corporate Priorities in regard to estates demands/policing priorities, and provides detail specifically on progress and forward planning. The ESP will continue to be presented to the MPA on a regular basis for support and approval.
 

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