Issue - meetings

  To approve recommendations further to new Home Office guidance on the scrutiny of crime and disorder matters.

The Committee received the report on new Home Office guidance on the scrutiny of crime and disorder matters and the implementation of Sections 19 and 20 of the Police and Justice Act 2006 introduced by Trevor Cripps, Head of Scrutiny.

The Committee suggested that it receive regular reports from the Police and/or possibly an annual report from the Crime and Reduction Partnership on how their work linked into the Council’s partnership objectives, and policy matters.

RESOLVED

i.                    That the option to undertake the scrutiny of crime and disorder matters through the existing Committee be approved in principle, as explained  below:  

The new provisions contained in the Police and Justice Act 2006 mean that scrutiny of crime and disorder is now no longer a matter of choice but a requirement for local authorities.  It requires every local authority to have a committee with the power to review or scrutinise crime and disorder matters.  However, there is no requirement to alter existing committee structures.  The role can be undertaken by:

·        A dedicated crime and disorder overview and scrutiny committee; or

·        The main overview and scrutiny committee

ii.                  That the following be noted:

(a)   that recommendation (i) above will require an addition to the Committee’s terms of reference and procedure rules in the Council’s Constitution, as explained in below:

The terms of reference of the designated committee are intended to be to scrutinise the work of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) and the partners who comprise it insofar as their activities relate to the partnership itself.  The role of the committee is to:

·        Consider Councillor Calls for Action (CCfA) that arise through the Council’s CCfA process.  Although there are separate provisions for community safety and other local government matters, local authorities are expected to ensure that their procedures for CCfAs are the same in order to minimise bureaucracy

·        Consider actions undertaken by the “responsible authorities” on the CDRP

·        Make reports or recommendations to the Cabinet or full Council where appropriate.

and

(b)   that a further report for this purpose will be submitted to the Constitution Review Working Group and full Council.

iii.                That a standing invitation be issued to the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) link member for Haringey to attend meetings of the Committee and specific engagement sought where it is considered that police authority input would be of particular benefit to the work of the Committee on crime and disorder matters.

iv.        That Haringey Community and Police Consultative Group (HCPCG) be invited to attend Committee meetings where community safety issues are being discussed and that consideration be given to co-opting a specific representative from HCPCG) onto relevant scrutiny reviews.