Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from James Cleverly.

The Borough Commander informed the Group in advance that he was likely to be late for the meeting as he had to come from a previous appointment with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

It was agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on the 20^th February 2015 be agreed.  

Report Number CSD 15043

The Strategic Group reviewed the Matters Arising from the previous meeting.

The Group heard that the Head of Trading Standards and the LBB Assistant Director of Public Health had reviewed how local hospitals and LBB linked together to share information and data. It was felt that current processes were adequate, with LBB having the ability to access data on a need to know basis. It was also pointed out to the Group that the JSNA (Joint Strategic Needs Assessment) document provided an in depth access to data. It was further noted that the JSNA document would be updated every two years, and the next update would incorporate data concerning alcohol, drugs, and new psychoactive substances. 

The Strategic Group were informed that the lead person for dealing with Gang related problems had been changed from the deputy borough commander to Chief Inspector David Tait (who is the current acting Deputy Borough Commander).The matters arising concerning Gangs would be largely addressed by the Chief Inspector at the next meeting as he was unable to attend on this occasion.

Sara Bowrey (Assistant Director—Housing Needs) attended as a new Group Member to advise on housing related issues.

It had been noted at the previous meeting that the SBP Strategy Document should be rewritten and recirculated; it was noted that this was a work in progress, and that a new comprehensive draft would be available for the next meeting. 

It was noted that Lissa Moore would lead on IOM.

RESOLVED that

(1) the Matters Arising report be noted

(2) work on the revised SBP strategy document continue, and the updated draft be presented to the Group at the next meeting. 

The Borough Commander gave a short update as he had been delayed in a meeting with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner. He gave a brief update concerning MOPAC 7, and stated that new end of year figures were being released the day after the meeting. There was a brief update on Safer Neighbourhood Teams, and the Group were informed that there were going to be designated officers for Wards.

RESOLVED that the Borough Commander’s update be noted.   

The Chairman of the Safer Neighbourhood Board updated the Strategic Group as follows:

There had been a meeting of the SNB on the 31^st March 2015, and a presentation had been given on “stop and search”. The Chairman felt that the SNB had strong and full representation and at the last meeting the SNB asked the Police to provide answers concerning the rise in crime.

It was noted that approximately £4.5k-£5k was available for the SNB to allocate to projects that aligned with MOPAC criteria, and if anyone had any good ideas, these should be suggested to the Chairman, or to the Board’s Administrator.  

The Chairman clarified that the Board’s financial affairs had now been set in order, and that a bank account had been established; also that BCEF (Bromley Community Engagement Forum) funding had been transferred over to the SNB. He asked Anne Ball from MOPAC to pursue funding that was owed by MOPAC as a matter of urgency. Anne agreed to look into this.

The Chairman expressed the view that the SNB meetings had generated a lot of interest and were well attended. As well as questions and answer sessions, and debate, the meetings would often be made more interesting with the use of presentations and stands. An excellent presentation had recently been given on knives, by an individual who had previously been a victim of knife crime.

There was going to be a meeting of the SNB at Biggin Hill on the 1^st July 2015, and the Crime Summit had been scheduled for 19^th September 2015.

Looking ahead to the future, the Chairman stated that he was prepared to stand for re-election to the Chairman’s role and carry out relevant duties for one more year, but that after this it would be time for a new person to take up the Chairman’s role. It was also noted that the Vice Chairman had similarly indicated that he would be willing to carry out the role for one more year.       

RESOLVED that the update be noted, and that Anne Ball from MOPAC look into the matter of funds owed by MOPAC to the SNB.           

The update on the Tackling Troubled Families Programme was given by Mr Mark Thorn (Head of Referral, Assessment and Early Intervention).

The Group were informed that:

·  Bromley had been set a target of 490 interventions and these had been achieved in full

·  The target had been exceeded and 575 had been reached

·  94% of the targeted families had been “turned around”

·  LBB was the 5^th highest performing (out of 33) London Boroughs

·  Phase 1 was a national agenda set without local consultation

·  Phase 2 had commenced with local authority consultation

Mr Thorn briefed the Strategic Group that Phase 2 was a new five year programme and that LBB had a target to reach 1660 families. He explained that to be eligible for the expanded programme, each family had to be shown to have at least two of the following problems:

·  Parents and Children involved in crime or antisocial behaviour

·  Children that have not been attending school on a regular basis

·  Children who need help

·  Adults out of work and at risk of financial exclusion

·  Families affected by domestic violence and abuse

·  Parents and children with a range of health problems

The Group were informed that in order for LBB to benefit from “payment by results”, it would need to be demonstrated that progress had been made, and that this progress was sustained. A Pan London agreement on a Tackling Troubled Families Outcome Plan was being developed. It was clear that this would require effective partnership working and to collate that data required to validate outcomes would be data intensive; the outcomes would also be subject to audit and scrutiny. If claims could not be validated, then LBB would lose the results based payment of £800.00 per family, and could end up with having to pay money back to the DCLG.

It was explained to the Board that the technology needed to be adequate so that data and information could be collated from all partners, which would subsequently stand up to audit and scrutiny. This project was going to be commissioned, and that the plans for this would need to be signed off by the Tackling Troubled Families Strategic Board. 

The Group heard that a designated domestic violence support worker would be assigned to work within the MASH (Multi Agency Support Hub) team at least once a week. It was acknowledged that Housing Services would play a key role in allocating suitable accommodation to those in need. 

Concerning finance, Mr Thorn informed the Group that as well as the £800.00 bonus payment for results, there was also an initial attachment fee payable of £1000K. In total this worked out as £1800.00 per family, which was £4k less than the maximum allowed under phase 1. It was a case of achieving far more with less money. It was hoped that if LBB and partners could intervene at an early stage, then this would have the cost benefit outcome of saving money on more expensive interventions. A cost benefit analysis calculator would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

The Group were updated on MOPAC funding and Operation Crystal and that Operation Crystal was progressing well. Operation Crystal was two years into four year funding. ASB initiatives were on target, and MOPAC funding had been supporting domestic abuse work.

RESOLVED that the review of initiatives and operations be noted.  

The Strategic Group were informed that the Strategy Document was a work in progress, and that there would be a more in depth discussion of strategy together with a review of the revised strategy document at the next meeting.

RESOLVED that:

(1) a revised SBP Strategy Document would be presented to the Group at the next meeting

(2) a review of the strategy of the Strategic Group would be considered at the next meeting.    

A brief update on “legal highs” was given by the Head of Trading Standards and Community Safety. He reminded the Group of the enforcement action that had been carried out against “Skunkworks” in Orpington, and that LBB expected a legal challenge from their solicitors. It was also noted that LBB were monitoring a similar premises in Anerley. LBB were looking at ways to increase prevention and awareness.

A Member commented that if a Conservative government was re-elected, they had promised to ban these substances. 

The LBB Assistant Director of Public Health stated that a large amount of clinical data had now been collated concerning NPS (New Psychoactive Substances) products, which she offered to disseminate to the Group if they were interested. As the data was extensive, it was agreed that the web link be sent to the Group instead of the document itself. It was noted that the report was called the “Neptune Report”, and had been published by the Health Foundation. Two of the “highs” referred to by Members were nitrous oxide and 

A product called “spice” which was synthetic marijuana.

Louise Hubbard from Probation Services informed the Group that Skunkworks was a premises that had caused problems for them. She stated that she would check to see if there had been any changes since the enforcement action and would update the Head of Trading Standards. 

RESOLVED that

(1) LBB to investigate ways of increasing awareness and prevention concerning New Psychoactive Substances

(2) The LBB Assistant Director of Public Health would disseminate the web link to the “Neptune Report”

(3) Louise Hubbard to report back to the Head of Trading Standards to inform if there has been any decrease in ASB activity involving Probation Service clients, coinciding with enforcement action against “Skunkworks”.

Updates are noted in the individual Sub Group sections.

Mrs Clare Elcombe Webber was welcomed to the Group as the Lead for domestic abuse issues.

She informed Members that a Domestic Violence Steering Group had been operational for ten years, and that it was now chaired by herself. The steering group consisted of nineteen members from various agencies.   

RESOLVED that the domestic abuse sub group update be noted.

The Youth Offending Sub Group Update was given by Kay Weiss (LBB Assistant Director of Safeguarding and Social Care).

The Assistant Director informed the Group that new Youth Offending Service arrangements needed to be put in place, and that this process had started but had not been finalised. The Youth Offending Service had agreed that the previous Youth Offending Team Executive be disbanded; it was the intention that a new Youth Offending Team Management Board be convened in mid-May. This would be chaired by the LBB Executive Director for Education, Care and Health Services.   

The Assistant Director stated that she had employed an experienced Youth Offending Team Manager on a six month contract to improve the Youth Offending Service and to support the new management board. The new manager would be tasked with developing an improvement plan across a variety of work streams.

The Group considered if a new and disparate Youth Offending Sub Group (reporting to the SBP) was necessary, given the number of boards that the Assistant Director was currently working with, and considering the current work involved in setting up and running a new Youth Offending Service Management Board. The Group felt that a new Group reporting to the SBP was probably not required.

The Assistant Director briefed the Group, that after a positive meeting with the Youth Justice Board, it had been agreed that the YJB, provide a consultant to work with the Youth Offending Service in identifying and developing youth offending priorities, and a youth offending priority report would be produced subsequently.

RESOLVED that the update be noted and that a new Youth Offending Working Group reporting to the SBP Strategic Group was not required.  

It was noted that responsibility for Gangs had been designated to Chief Inspector David Tait.

The Group heard that the ASB and Gangs Sub Groups may be co-located and that work would focus on the recommendations that came from the Gang Peer Review report. The Gangs Sub Group would be led by the Chief Inspector, supported by two sergeants. It was noted that the Borough Commander wanted a geographic team.

The Group noted the continued practice by other boroughs of the transferring in of gang nominals to Bromley Borough, and the fact that LBB would also be responsible for their subsequent housing. It was noted that in many of these cases, local authorities were engaging in this process without proper consultation and without adhering to the correct protocols.

It was anticipated that the Chief Inspector would be able to attend the next meeting of the SBP and provide a comprehensive update to the Group.

RESOLVED that the Gangs Sub Group update be noted.         

The Offender Management update was provided by Lissa Moore from Croydon and Bromley Community Rehabilitation Company.

Ms Moore asked the Group to consider if it was necessary for a new Offender Management sub group to be established, given the fact that an IOM Strategic Board already existed. This would be something for the Group to consider.

Ms Moore confirmed that she had agreed to Chair the IOM sub group of the Strategic Group for approximately six months, or two/three meetings. This would then be reviewed, and it may be the case that the two IOM groups may then merge.

Members agreed that no one wanted duplication.

RESOLVED that Ms Lissa Moore Chair the SBP IOM sub group for a period approximating six months, and that this then be reviewed.     

The ASB update was provided by Daniel Cartwright, the Borough Fire Commander. The Group noted that the Borough Fire Commander had been appointed as the ASB lead. He informed the Group that 19,000 tyres had been removed from a site in Penge.

The Borough Fire Commander was happy that he had a competent sub group composed of five members. The sub group had not met yet, but the core activities would focus on ASB that had environmental impact.

The Group noted that the Arson sub group would now be merged with the ASB sub group.

RESOLVED that the ASB sub group update be noted.

It was felt that it would be helpful for clarification to be provided concerning the differences between Probation Services and Community Rehabilitation Companies, and where Community Payback now sat in relation to both organisations.

It was agreed that Louise Hubbard would present on this at the next meeting.   

RESOLVED that a presentation be made to the next Group meeting to provide clarification of the differences between Probation Services and CRC’s, and how they interrelated.

There was a brief update to confirm that the Safer Bromley News and the Borough Commander’s newsletter had both been published and circulated.

The Safer Bromley News had been distributed, and had been incorporated onto the agenda as an Information Item.

No other business was discussed.

The Safer Bromley Partnership Strategic Group will be due to meet next at 10.00am on June 16^th 2015.  

Members were reminded that the next Group meeting was scheduled for June 16th 2015.