Please note that this report and appendices are exempt and are not available to members of the public.
Minutes:
The board is responsible for a number of annual strategic /needs assessments. Alongside existing strategies, public consultation and project evaluation, these findings are a driver for confirming and/or re- appraising the areas of priority for future collaboration and investment. The board considered presentations on crime and disorder and drugs as part of the strategic assessment to inform the partnership plan and guide investment priorities.
The board first noted the presentation on the crime and disorder data findings which will be distributed to board members separately. The board was asked to keep in mind that most of the percentages referred to in the presentation were measured by per thousand population based on 2001 Census data and were not an accurate reflection of absolute performance. It was further important to note that there is often a higher rate for reporting crime in the west of the borough compared to the east. It was requested that the report author refer to the Metropolitan Police website to compare the information presented on crime and disorder so that there are not inconsistencies in the information being distributed.
The board further noted the presentation on the adult drug needs’ assessment, which is evidence-based and used for future commissioning purposes. The main challenge to the service was to provide the same quality service to increasing number of clients with the fewer resources. The presentation provided a local picture of drug treatment services, numbers accessing services, preventing drug related deaths, profile of drug users, links to crime, treatment effectiveness, probation profile, and the key actions going forward.
The board was advised that there would also be a further need to examine the work completed in the Alcohol strategy and compare findings to add further context to both presentation findings.
The board noted that it had been important to consider the presentations on drug misuse and crime and disorder together to establish common areas of concern: for example, the links to acquisitive crime, focus on the 18-24 age group, need to have more connections to the Haringey Guarantee, and recognition that there would need to be work completed in the community for growing peer leaders (e.g. in the Somali, Congolese, and wider African and Caribbean communities.
The board considered the resource/commissioning intentions for 09/10. The continued same level of funding from ABG had been assumed. It had been announced that the BCU would not be at the originally expected higher level but at the reduced level for 09/10. It was likely that there would be additional funding to implement the alcohol harm reduction strategy but this was yet to be confirmed. Given the strategic priorities and the data findings, the changes to funding for 09/10 outlined were:
Ø Additional resources to combat Theft from Motor Vehicle crime
Ø A dedicated problem solving pot (board members recommended to complete training on robust problem solving) – although reduced from the current year
Ø Funding to reduce re-offending
Ø Additional funding to meet caseload requirements of ASBAT (subject to resources not being secured elsewhere)
Ø Use of BCU for targeted youth support and specialist areas such as
Forensic nurse (Agreed that information on the success of this work is presented to the board at a future meeting)
RESOLVED
That the board consider the contents of the report and respond to Claire Kowalska with any queries by the 31st of December 2008 after which the information will progress to PMG for finalisation in January 2009.