Agenda item

The Board received a report that provided an update on the Zonal Working pilot operating in the South East of the Borough and that also set out proposals rolling out of the scheme across the Borough.

The Board was reminded that the pilot project for Zonal Working in the south of the Borough had been agreed to May 2009. The Problem Solving Group attached to this met on a monthly basis to deliver the objectives set out in its Terms of Reference.

It was noted that the pilot had raised a number of issues that would reflected in the rolling out of the scheme. These would be considered by the Zonal Steering Group, which was tasked with evaluating the project and ensuring that learning was shared.  If the Board was agreeable Steering Group would also lead on the rolling out of the project to the whole of the Borough.

The Chair noted that the pilot project had been successful in enabling the different agencies to analyse persistent issues as a group and then to pool funding to address these issues. She expressed her support for the rolling out of the scheme.

In response to a query as to the Third Sector could link into Zonal Working the Board was advised that at present there was not an established mechanism to facilitate this. However, any issues of concern could be raised with the local Neighbourhood Manager. There was agreement that the SCEB PMG should also consider this issue at its next meeting.

It was recognised that the Zonal based working represented a significant shift in working practice and there was agreement that consideration would ought to be given the training implications that this presented.

It was requested that information on the scheme was fed into the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) best practice structure.

The Board discussed the issue of displacement and it was acknowledged that in some instances resolving issues in one area, most notably anti social behaviour, meant that they were pushed into neighbouring areas. It was noted that communication with local residents was essential to monitor the impact of this on ‘the ground’.

It was noted that there had been significant success seen by other initiatives where targeted work had been carried out with families that were known to a range of agencies. The Board discussed the Diamond Districts initiative, which used this approach, and it was noted that if the initiative was adopted the area based working already taking place could be developed further.

Concern was expressed that the resources required to support the Diamond Districts initiative may not be available as budgets were reduced over the next two years. It was noted that the long term cost benefits that the project would bring would out weight the additional cost and that this would need to be balanced against the short term cost.

In conclusion the Board expressed its support for proposals to roll out Zonal Based working across the Borough.

RESOLVED:

That the proposals for the rolling out of Zonal Based Working, as set out in the report, be approved.