Key information
Reference code: DMPCD 2016 42
Date signed:
Decision by: Stephen Greenhalgh, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime
Executive summary
£80,000 funding is provided to London Councils on an annual basis to support the coordination and administration of the London Safeguarding Children Board. This decision is to approve the continuation of this funding for financial year 2016/17. This contribution is supported by match funding from London Councils.
Recommendation
The DMPC is asked to:
-
approve £80,000 of funding to London Councils for the financial year 2016/17 to host the London Safeguarding Children Board, supporting the overall coordination and prioritisation of safeguarding matters at a London level.
Non-confidential facts and advice to the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC)
Decision required – supporting report
1. Introduction and background
1.1 The purpose of this decision report is to provide MOPAC’s and the MPS’s contribution to the central London Safeguarding Children Board, which is the multiagency initiative supported by London Councils, all local authorities in the capital, NHS England London, other statutory and voluntary sector partners.
1.2 Historically the MPS made an annual grant contribution to London Councils to support the central and local London Safeguarding Children Boards. At a discussion at Joint Investment Board on 22 October 2013 it was agreed that arrangements for the provision of grants from both MOPAC and the MPS should be streamlined in order to operate more strategically and to maximise the impact of the payments. From financial year 2014/15 onwards MOPAC has, therefore, provided this funding.
1.3 DMPC decision 2015 016 confirms MOPAC and the MPS’s contribution of £5,000 per borough to local safeguarding children boards across the 32 London boroughs for the financial year 2016/17.
1.4 This decision is for £80,000 to be made available to London Councils for the financial year 2016/17 to host the London Safeguarding Children Board, supporting the overall coordination and prioritisation of safeguarding matters at a London level.
2. Issues for consideration
2.1 The Police and Crime Plan commits that MOPAC will work with partners and the MPS to ensure that (1) they are meeting their duties under relevant legislation to safeguard children and promote their welfare and (2) ensure that support, engagement, or enforcement action for young victims and offenders is undertaken in partnership with safeguarding and child protection.
2.2 MOPAC is a member of the London Safeguarding Children Board and has statutory duties to discharge its functions having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and hold the MPS Commissioner to account for the exercise of duties in relation to the safeguarding of children and the promotion of child welfare.
2.3 The London Safeguarding Children Board seeks to enhance the safety and wellbeing of children in London by:
- Supporting organisations working with children in London to meet their statutory responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children,
- Supporting London’s Local Safeguarding Children Boards to meet their statutory obligations to:
- Coordinate the work to safeguarding children
- Promote the welfare of children, and
- Make sure this work is effective in improving outcomes for children.
2.4 The London Board is currently chaired by Mike Cooke (Chief Executive, LB Camden), and its membership is made up of representatives from the London boroughs, the police, health, and probation; and London independent, voluntary and community agencies.
2.5 The London Safeguarding Children Board facilitates a number of professional networks and subgroups on specific issues such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and culture and faith.
3. Financial Comments
3.1 The proposed 2016/17 allocation of £80,000 will be met from within the existing MOPAC budget.
3.2 Following approval of this decision a letter will be sent to London Councils to confirm the funding for 2016/17 and the arrangements associated with this, including MOPAC’s expectation that the LSCB will continue to support and lead delivery on the Board’s three priority areas of Child Sexual Exploitation, FGM and Prevent in 2016/17. These are all relevant to current Mayoral priorities.
4. Legal Comments
4.1 MOPAC’s general powers are set out in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). Section 3(6) of the 2011 Act provides that MOPAC must “secure the maintenance of the metropolitan police service and secure that the metropolitan police service is efficient and effective.” Under Schedule 3, paragraph 7 MOPAC has wide incidental powers to “do anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of the functions of the Office.” Paragraph 7(2) (a) provides that this includes entering into contracts and other agreements.
4.2 Section 143 (1) (b) of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides an express power for MOPAC, as a local policing body, to provide or commission services “intended by the local policing body to help victims or witnesses of, or other persons affected by, offences and anti-social behaviour.” Section 143(3) specifically allows MOPAC to make grants in connection with such arrangements and any grant may be made subject to any conditions that MOPAC thinks appropriate.
4.3 Under MOPAC’s Scheme of Delegation, approval of the strategy for the award of individual grants and the award of all individual grants (for crime reduction or other purposes) is a matter generally reserved to the DMPC (paragraph 5.6). The release of funding in accordance with the proposals set out in this decision form is accordingly to be approved by the DMPC. The delegation of responsibility for the finalisation of planning and contractual/grant arrangements, including relevant terms and the signing of agreements, to the Chief Operating Officer is in accordance with the general power of delegation in paragraph 1.7.
5. Equality Comments
5.1 MOPAC is required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
6. Background/supporting papers
6.1 DMPC decision 2015 016 also concerns child safeguarding. This confirms MOPAC and the MPS’s contribution of £5,000 per borough to local safeguarding children boards across the 32 London boroughs for the financial year 2016/17.
Signed decision document
DMPCD 2016 42