Report to follow.
Minutes:
The partnership received a presentation setting out the MOPAC Public Access and Engagement Strategy for Haringey from Helen Millichap, Borough Commander and Co-Chair.
Following discussion of the presentation, the following points were noted:
a. The consultation set out a set of proposals to consolidate the MOPAC estate across the 32 London boroughs with the aim of making efficiency savings and releasing resources tied up in under-utilised buildings. As part of this process, MOPAC were also attempting to standardise the service offer across London and to ensure that the buildings were fit for purpose.
b. The partnership were encouraged to contribute to the online consultation process on an individual basis.
c. In response to a question around staffing levels for the non-emergency contact number, the Borough Commander acknowledged that to some extent any attempt at implementing a channel shift was dependent upon improving performance of the non-emergency contact number. The partnership was advised that there was a significant vacancy factor at present but that a staffing plan was in place, along with a programme of training to tackle the under-resourcing. It was anticipated that the development of an online reporting interface would help with the reporting of non-emergency incidents and that overall, it was anticipated that these measures would facilitate more police officers being out on the streets.
d. Clarification was sought around whether these proposals would lead to no reduction in police numbers, in response the Borough Commander acknowledged that although the proposals were around building consolidation, it was hoped these proposals could have a positive effect on frontline policing numbers. However, the impact was unknown particularly as there was also a wider reconfiguration of policing going on in the background. The Borough Commander set out that there was a general trend towards a drop in police numbers and that one of the responses to this was a move to joint clusters; for example, Islington and Camden had a shared model with a shared Borough Commander and joint Community Safety Partnership.
e. In response to a request for the partnership to receive a presentation on the wider reconfiguration of policing and changes to police numbers, the Borough Commander advised that the programme was still being developed and that a presentation would come to the CSP in due course. The Borough Commander reiterated that there was a firm commitment to maintaining two dedicated ward offices per ward in Haringey.
f. In response to a query around the potential for developing public sector hubs in response to similar estate consolidation potential across a number of public sector organisations, the Borough Commander responded that she would welcome further discussion on developing this.
g. In response to a request for clarification, the Borough Commander advised that the proposal outlined in the consultation was that a 24/7 base would be maintained in Tottenham as the main police hub in Haringey, however the current building was not suitable and so the preferred option would be to sell off Tottenham police station and commission a new building.
h. In response to a query around smart working and ensuring that there were suitable locations for police to meet and interact in the day-to-day course of their work, the Co-Chair acknowledged the importance of a space to meet and share intelligence. The Committee were advised that it was anticipated that the DWO hubs would facilitate this, as well as the Quicksilver patrol base which acted as a key hub for 999 respondents. The partnership suggested that future messages included reference to Quicksilver and other access points.
i. In response to the development of a portal as part of the Council’s digital offer with voluntary sector partners, the Borough Commander acknowledged that there was scope to explore widening the offer to include the police and LFB.
j. The Cabinet Member for Children and Families cautioned that it was important that a range of platforms were available from which to respond to the consultation and cautioned that the age range of the respondents to the online survey’s should be taken into account.
k. In response to concerns that police stations were visible points of access, the Borough Commander acknowledged the need for a robust communications strategy and the need to ensure that this was done in a way that included community languages and variety of outputs.
l. The partnership queried how the resources released from the sale of buildings would be allocated and whether they would be ring fenced. In response, the Borough Commander advised that she was not certain but assumed that the savings realised from these proposals would go back into a central pot of funding which would likely be redistributed according to how many DWO offices were required, rather than based on the level of savings achieved by each borough.
m. In response to a request for clarification on the interim plan for the west of the borough, the Borough Commander advised that the DWO hubs would have to be in place first before any closure of the Hornsey site.
n. The Borough Commander acknowledged that discussions would take place with the LFB around shared hubs.