Minutes:
The Chairman provided an update on the current position in relation to the introduction of the Safer Neighbourhood Board into Bromley as requested by MOPAC. The £1M Safer Neighbourhood Board Fund had been provided to fund the project nationwide, as a way of encouraging community engagement; approximately £5200.00 per borough would be ring fenced to cover administration costs. It was noted that the BCEF would be dismantled, and incorporated into the SNB. The last meeting of the BCEF would be March 17th 2014 in the Civic Centre. The Safer Bromley Partnership would become smaller, meet less frequently, but become more strategic. Panel members of the Board would be 20-25 in number, and would be encouraged to change every three years. It was proposed to stagger membership as this would provide greater flexibility. It was anticipated that the SNB would commence business with around seventeen members initially. There had been a meeting on the 30th January 2014 to discuss membership and composition of the Board; it was likely that Councillor Tim Stevens JP would be appointed as the Chairman of the SNB, and that the Borough Commander be appointed Chairman of the Safer Bromley Partnership. It was likely that Mr Terry Belcher would be appointed as Vice Chairman of the SNB. A primary role of the SNB would be to hold the Police and the SBP to account. Another important role would be to work closely with Ward Panels and residents, and to generally encourage community engagement.
In addition to the £5,200.00 provided by MOPAC for administration costs, there was also money that could be used from BCEF. There was also an amount of MOPAC funding in the region of £24,000.00 that could be used by the SNB as it saw fit. The Chairman stated that the main police contact as far as the SNB was concerned would be Carron Schusler-Chief Inspector for Safer Neighbourhoods.The Chairman informed that the Board had been working on a draft constitution and this was going to be presented to MOPAC on the 1st April 2014. The Chairman advised that Affinity Sutton had been approached with a view to provide representation on the Board; Affinity Sutton had responded that they would like to attend on a floating basis when appropriate. The issue of floating representation was being considered.
The Chairman indicated that he would envisage regular input from youth services, police and housing partners. It was envisioned that the Board meetings would be held at different locations in the Borough, and this would enable the Board to concentrate on local issues and to allow for matters of equality and diversity. It was anticipated that the Board would meet at six different locations over the year. Nino Gomez from Community Payback enquired how the community payback scheme would be incorporated into the new Board structure. The Chairman answered this by stating that Community Payback had statutory membership. It was highlighted that the Chairman and the Director of Environmental Services would like to meet soon with Mr Gomez to discuss a future strategy for the payback scheme. Paula Morrison (LBBA/D Public Health) enquired as to the role of “Health” on the Board. The Chairman responded that the role of “Health” would be as a statutory member of the strategic group rather than the Board. The Partnership was reminded that the SBP would be a strategic group answerable to the Board, and that the SBP would be chaired by the new Borough Commander.