This item provides a roundtable update from all partners on developments in relation to performance and emerging issues.
Minutes:
The Head of Trading Standards and Commercial Regulation commented that an emerging issue would be the current cost of living crisis which could well expand and get more serious within the next 6 to 12 months. This would have an adverse effect on consumers, particularly those who were vulnerable. There was a danger that people could be pushed into increased debt, be subject to fraud and scammers and generally make unwise financial decisions; he felt it was something that should be reviewed at the next meeting. The Head of Early Intervention and Family Support responded and said that her service would like to link into this as they were also undertaking work in this area.
The LBB Public Health Senior Strategist mentioned that one of her colleagues had completed a Drugs Need Assessment which could be circulated to the Partnership. It was anticipated that a presentation would run on this via Teams meetings and she would circulate the details concerning this. She also referred to the national 10 year Drug Strategy and informed Partners that grants were available to boroughs and Bromley was currently in the process of drawing down grant funding which would be used to alleviate various problems caused by drug and alcohol mis-use.
The Head of Service for LBB Housing Options and Support spoke about rough sleepers within the borough. She said that generally speaking this work was going well but there were some difficult and entrenched cases that were hard to deal with and those clients had been named the ‘Target 1000’ clients. It was currently estimated that six of these were on the streets of Bromley. Meetings were being held fortnightly to discuss this cohort and she invited as many partners as possible to join the meeting so that a multi-agency response could be formulated. It was also the case that the LBB Housing Department was setting up a Single Homelessness Pathway which would deal with ex-offenders, rough sleepers and single people generally seeking homes.
The Assistant Director, Children’s Social Care, also commented on the cost of living crisis with its potential impact on statutory services and safeguarding. There was concern for example that parents may be forced to undertake extra work--with young people being left at home to fend for themselves. There was also a possibility that teenagers could become more involved in crime. He said that the number of people contacting children services was 8000 pre pandemic, but now it had reached 12,000 and they were very busy.
It was noted that the name of the Youth Offending Team was now changing to Bromley Youth Justice Service.
The Safer Neighbourhood Board Chairman highlighted the problem of street begging on the streets of Bromley where the elderly could be targeted. She also highlighted the issue of High Street Banks closing which had a particularly adverse effect upon the elderly. She pointed out that Sidcup had recently lost four banks. She was hopeful that Bromley Council could exercise some influence at a high level in business and planning to try and stop the closure of High Street Banks.
The Chairman said that the Constitution and the Terms of Reference for the Safer Bromley Partnership needed renewing and she would be dealing with this.
RESOLVED that:
1) The issue of the cost of living crisis be reviewed at the next meeting.
2) The Drugs Needs Assessment be disseminated to the Partnership
3) The Partnership exercise its collaborative influence to try and slow down the continuing closure of High Street Banks (which was particularly detrimental to the elderly) if possible.
4) The Chairman to draft a new Terms of Reference document and update the SBP Constitution