MPA initial budget and equalities priorities and budget 2007–2008 and business planning 2008–2009

Report: 17
Date: 4 October 2007
By: Chief Executive

Summary

This report provides an overview of the MPA’s Budget and Equalities Report for 2007–08 and Business Plan 2008–2009 as requested by the Greater London Authority (GLA). In line with the two-stage budget process, an indication of equalities-related expenditure and further information on the equalities priorities will be presented as part of the full budget submission.

A. Recommendations

That members:

1. Note and agree the content of the report to the Greater London Authority (GLA).
2. Agree to receive and refer a more detailed submission of the MPA’s Budget & Equalities submission to the GLA at full Authority by November 2007.

B. Supporting information

1. The budget submission to the Greater London Authority (GLA) is a key element of the MPA’s business planning framework. An integral element of this framework is developing three-year business and financial plans which, in addition to meeting corporate objectives, also work towards and complement the Mayoral objectives and priorities.

2. This year, the GLA guidance requires all functional bodies to be able to demonstrate that a sustainable development perspective underpins their budgets and plans. The guidance also identifies a number of equality related priorities that the Mayor would expect to be reflected within the MPA business plan. Functional bodies are required to submit interim budget information to the Mayor by 28 September 2007 and completed business plans by 27 November 2007. The MPA has requested an extension from the GLA so that this paper can be ratified by MPA Senior Management Team and members.

Identified Areas in the MPA Initial Budget and Equalities Priorities

3. Below are some of the areas that have been already identified and agreed by members as budget and equalities priorities:

Women’s Safety

4. As part of next year’s business plan, the MPA will continue to prioritise women’s safety, through the MPA Domestic Violence Board (DVB), a sub-group of EODB. The focus will be on supporting and enabling improved performance by the MPS in relation to tackling domestic violence, supporting victims and developing appropriate multi-agency strategies. At the time of writing, discussions was taking place as to the role of Project Umbra, the MPS-led initiative in response to domestic violence and an integral part of the Mayor’s Second Domestic Violence Strategy. Members, through the MPA DVB, will be kept informed of developments. The MPA are currently reviewing and revising all internal employment policies and a Domestic Violence policy is currently being considered as part of this review.

MPA Generic Equalities Scheme (GES)

5. The MPA has produced to statutory deadlines, three elements of its Generic Equalities Scheme (GES) in relation to race, gender and disabilities. Work progresses in relation to the remaining three elements of its Scheme: age, faith and sexual orientation. This is one of the major business priorities for the Authority in 2007-2008. In developing its GES, the MPA has already distributed questionnaires to over 250 individuals, voluntary and statutory agencies. In addition, the MPA organised a series of user involvement/consultation events and has used GLA-led festivals and events to consult Londoners.

Stop and Search

6. Another area of focus in the 2007-2008 Budget & Equalities submission will be the monitoring and scrutiny of MPS stop and search performance. This is mainly (but not exclusively) monitored through the MPA Stop and Search Review Board (SSRB), a former sub-group of EODB, which now reports to Co-Ordination and Policing (CoP) committee. This activity is supported by the (Stop and Search) Community Monitoring Network (CMN).

7. One of the successes in this area of work has been the debate and joint working that has occurred between the MPA, key stakeholders and the MPS. This has resulted in the MPS reviewing its practices in relation to s44 data. One of the outcomes is that this data, which was previously not publicly available, has now been released by the MPS on a retrospective five-month basis. From January 2008, this data will be available three-months in arrears.

Equality Standard for Local Government (ESLG)

8. The MPA is working towards achieving level 3 of the ESLG. Work currently progresses in setting equality objectives at individual, unit, committee and corporate levels. This activity is being supported externally by Capital Ambition, an organisation whose aim is to drive up standards (particularly in relation to ESLG) and ensure that London is a better place in which to live and work.

Community Reassurance

9. The GLA has invited the MPA to consider, as a high-level equality objective, a target around community reassurance. This will be considered by the MPA SMT and members as part of the Budget and Equalities process.

C. Race and equality impact

1. The GLA’s budget and equalities process further enables the MPA to examine its alignment of resources to both its business and equality and diversity objectives.

2. Through this alignment, the MPA is better placed to see how it can best exercise its scrutiny, oversight and accountability roles in relation to the MPS, thus ensuring that policing in the capital is not only fair, effective and responsive, but also meets the needs of all of London’s diverse communities.

3. The Equalities and Diversity Unit, with its current limited levels of capacity, is seeking how best to progress some of the identified equality priorities

D. Financial implications

1. The equalities budget for 2007/08 is £583,000. The budget for 2008/09 will be reviewed as part of the budget process currently being undertaken within the MPA. This will be submitted to members at full Authority by November 2007.

E. Background papers

• Full Submission 2006 - 2007
• GLA Budget & Equalities Review 2006-7
• MPA EODB Report 4 October 2007.doc

F. Contact details

Report author: Laurence Gouldbourne

For more information contact:

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

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