Pilot for new consultation arrangements

Report: 16
Date: 6 September 2001
By: Clerk

Summary

The Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee (CDO) agreed at its meeting on 26 June 2001 to the piloting of new consultation arrangements that would assist the MPA in achieving more efficient and effective consultation.

It is proposed to pilot the new arrangements, funding permitting, for a 12 month period commencing 1 February 2002.

The Human Resources Committee (HR Committee) is asked to note these arrangements and to agree subject to budgetary provision, to the recruitment of six Community Consultation Co-ordinators (CCCs), for a fixed term, to facilitate the pilot.

A. Recommendations

That:

1. Members of the HR Committee note the decision of CDO Committee to the piloting of new consultation arrangements from 1 February 2002; and
2. Members agree to the recruitment of six Community Consultation Co-ordinators (CCCs) to be in post on 1 February 2002 (funding permitting) on a fixed term basis at a salary range of £26k to £32k.

B. Supporting information

Background

1. One of the key proposals of the best value review of consultation was to recruit and deploy Community Consultation Co-ordinators (CCCs) to facilitate borough-based consultation. The report referred to the positions as ‘community consultation officers’ but the preferred title is now ‘community consultation co-ordinators’.

2. A period of extensive consultation, discussion and briefings with a wide range of consultation partners followed regarding the proposals for borough based consultation. Local consultative groups, borough command units and local authorities were all involved. The outcome was that boroughs were invited to submit proposals to become pilot sites for the new consultation arrangements.

3. Following an assessment of the borough proposals CDO agreed to the piloting of the new arrangements in four Boroughs: Greenwich, Harrow, Hackney and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

4. CDO also agreed to the testing, as part of the same pilot, the provision of a centrally based service as:

• a resource to provide specialist guidance and advice as well as cross-borough and pan-London co-ordination;
• a resource providing a CCC type role to a cluster of boroughs;
• a resource to support the development of local consultative groups.

5. It is proposed that two CCCs are recruited to pilot this arrangement.

Role definition, remuneration and appointments terms

6. A draft job description for the CCCs has been developed and is attached at Appendix 1. The job description will be redefined and developed during the evaluation of the pilot.

7. The role has been evaluated using the job evaluation and grading support system (JEGs), which is used extensively in the MPS and central government departments for job evaluation purposes. This evaluation exercise indicated that a salary range of £26k to £32k is appropriate for the CCC role.

8. The appointments for the pilot will be made on a fixed term basis.

Timing of pilots

9. It is hoped that the pilots will begin on 1 February 2002. The pilot will last for 12 months after which it will be evaluated against agreed performance and outcome measures.

10. To comply with this timescale the recruitment exercise will need to begin in early October 2001, by which time the budgetary position will be clearer.

C. Financial implications

There is currently no budget identified to support the commencement of the pilot. MPA officers will work with the MPA Treasurer to identify costs and funding arrangements. The anticipated staff costs would be £180,000 in a full year.

For the current 2002/03 budget review round an additional budget of £1 million has been proposed for consultation arrangements across the MPA and MPS. Subject to agreement of this proposal, a proportion of this sum can be allocated to this programme once a detailed budget has been developed.

To bring the programme forward i.e. to February 2002 as proposed, officers will explore the scope for funding this from within existing budgets. The anticipated staff costs would be £30,000 in 2001/02.

Recruitment advertising costs, using a range of media (Guardian, The Voice, Asian Times, Local Government Chronicle) will be approximately £12,000 in 2001/2002.

D. Background papers

Best Value Review of Consultation

Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee: item 11 meeting of 26 June 2001.

E. Contact details

The author of this report is Graham Spencer.

For information contact:

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

Appendix 1: Draft job description

Job description

Job title:

Community Consultation Co-ordinator

Salary:

£26,000 to £32,000 per year

Responsible to:

Accountable to the MPA. On a day to day basis reporting to the Borough management committee and the MPA Consultation Unit, local authority, PCCGs and other partners.

Reporting to/Accountable to:

Head of MPA Consultation Unit

Job purpose and objectives

To enable the MPA to develop an effective consultative process by co-ordinating local and pan-London consultative processes in order to add value to the MPA’s arrangements.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate considerable initiative, to fulfill the MPA’s duty to consult on policing matters. The role is largely unsupervised on a day-to-day basis.

Main duties and responsibilities

1. To take a proactive role in facilitating effective consultation processes in the local borough and co-ordinating the activities of others in the local authority, MPA, MPS, other crime and disorder agencies, voluntary and special issue groups, community associations, hard to reach groups etc. To ensure an effective two-way consultation process that is co-ordinated to avoid duplication in other consultation processes. This will involve contact at all levels in each organisation.

2. To agree, develop and operate a local consultation plan to reflect the needs of the MPA, police and the local crime and disorder partnership and others groups that can effectively contribute to the process.

3. To consult as appropriate on policing issues which can contribute to the prevention of crime.

4. To consult on local crime and disorder partnerships to assist, enable and support key stakeholders in local crime and disorder partnerships.

5. To consult with appropriate groups at all levels, e.g. hard to reach groups, business community, voluntary sector, residents, tenants, community associations, victim support, the elderly, disabled and other disadvantaged or minority groups, faith groups, etc, to ensure that in the programme of consultation the interests, concerns and ideas of the whole community are understood and reflected in the MPS consultation strategy.

6. To build and develop sustainable partnerships with other groups.

7. To disseminate consultation best practice at the local and pan-London level and assist local consultative groups, including community consultative groups to develop systems and processes that will enhance consultation at a local level.

8. To update the MPA, local authority and other partners as necessary with regular reports.

9. To inform the MPA’s consultation strategy and the annual policy priorities (for producing the policing plan).

10. The post holder shall carry out his/her duties with full regard to the MPA’s diversity policy and statutory responsibility to promote equality of opportunity.

11. The post holder may, from time to time, be required to undertake additional or other duties, which are within the skill and competence of the post holder and appropriate to the post holder's position, as necessary to meet the needs of Authority’s business.

Knowledge, skills and experience

In order to perform these roles it is expected that the successful candidate will preferably have:

1. a well developed working knowledge of community issues;
2. evidence of strong analytical skills;
3. ability to work with senior officers and representatives at all levels within the borough;
4. skilled and persuasive oral and written communication skills and associated interpersonal skills. In particular, evidence of well developed report writing skills.

Person specification

• Knowledge of local community issues, in particular local crime and community safety partnerships.
• Provide advice and guidance on consultation mindful of the needs of the MPA and boroughs.
• Ability to interact, work alongside others partners in a diverse arena where a creative tension is ever present and supplement/complement effective consultation.
• Experience of working with other local/ police authorities- public sector agencies where consultation and community interaction is key.
• Will typically have about 3 to 5 years experience in a community consultation context and some experience of working with crime and disorder partnerships.
• Ability to undertake research.
• Awareness of local political environment and impact of issues on local communities.
• Work in a complex community environment.

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