Part 6.3.2 - Appendix: Building Communities Together Partnership
This part of the constitution sets out the rules and correct procedure for West Berkshire Council's Building Communities Together Partnership, as well as highlighting its role.
Contents
- Preamble
- Background Legislation
- Scope of Role - Statutory
- Scope of Role - General
- Membership
- Chairmanship, Quorum and Voting
- Meeting and Decision Making
1. Preamble
- 1.1 Part 3 (Meeting Procedure Rules) and Part 6 (Council Bodies) set out the rules and procedures that apply to all of the Council's Bodies and Sub-Bodies.
- 1.2 If there is any conflict between the wording of Parts 3 and 6 and this Appendix, this Appendix will prevail.
- 1.3 The West Berkshire Building Communities Together Partnership ("BCTP") is a Sub-Body of the West Berkshire Health and Wellbeing Board ("HWB").
2. Background Legislation
- 2.1 Community Safety Partnerships ("CSPs") are established by virtue of ss.5-7, Crime and Disorder Act 1998 ("CDA") to formulate strategies in relation to the area in question to:
- reduce crime and disorder (including anti-social and other behaviour adversely affecting the local environment);
- combat the misuse of drugs, alcohol and other substances; and
- reduce re-offending.
- 2.2 The CDA sets out "responsible authorities" in relation to CSPs, to include for the area in question:
- the local authority or authorities;
- the probation service;
- the police;
- the fire and rescue authority; and
- the Integrated Care Board.
- 2.3 S.39, CDA requires local authorities to establish Youth Offending Teams ("YOTs") and for others, including the police and probation services, to cooperate in the discharge of functions relating to YOTs.
- 2.4 Sched 6, Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 ("CTSA") sets out "specified authorities" as including district councils.
- 2.5 S.26, CTSA obliges a specified authority to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism in exercising its functions (the 'Prevent' and 'Contest' strategies).
3. Scope of Role - Statutory
- 3.1 The BCTP shall be:
- the CSP for West Berkshire;
- the Steering Group for the West Berkshire YOT;
- the West Berkshire Prevent Partnership Board.
- 3.2 The BCTP shall seek to:
- reduce and prevent crime;
- ensure that statutory responsibilities are fulfilled;
- identify and respond to changes in the nature, incidence and severity of crime within West Berkshire;
- safeguard those who are vulnerable;
- help people and communities help each other and to engage with community safety related initiatives.
4. Scope of Role - General
- 4.1 The BCTP shall seek to establish partnership working amongst its members to ensure that West Berkshire is, and continues to be, a safe place to live, work and learn.
- 4.2 The BCTP will:
- undertake an annual strategic assessment of crime, disorder and other emerging issues and agree shared partnership strategic priorities;
- produce, and refresh annually, a three year Partnership Strategic Action Plan to address shared strategic priorities;
- oversee strategic partnership activity contributing to addressing shared strategic priorities, regularly reviewing the impact of actions on outcomes;
- review and approve an annual Youth Justice Plan;
- approve a Community Safety Fund Spending Plan;
- ensure compliance with national guidance and statutory responsibilities;
- engage with communities and ensure that information from engagement informs the future development of the BCTP and community safety related work;
- manage resources including identifying national and local sources of funding.
5. Membership
- 1.1 Membership of the Board shall include the following bodies or their named representatives (with members encouraged to identify Substitutes to attend if they are unable to do so):
Responsible Authorities ("Core Members")
- West Berkshire Council ("WBC");
- Thames Valley Police ("TVP");
- Probation Service;
- Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service;
- Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board
Key Partners
- Housing Registered Providers;
- West Berkshire YOT;
- The Voluntary Sector;
- Healthwatch West Berkshire;
- Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust;
- Community;
- Faith Sector;
- West Berkshire Council Education;
Other Interested Parties
- WBC Elected Members - the relevant Executive Portfolio Holder and deputy, and shadow portfolio holder or holders;
- WBC's Police and Crime Panel Member;
- the TVP Police and Crime Commissioner.
6. Chairmanship, Quorum and Voting
This section will be updated shortly.
7. Meeting and Decision Making
- 7.1 Ordinary Meetings of the BCTP will take place every quarter.
- 7.2 The BCTP is also be accountable to:
- the communities of West Berkshire - in respect of community safety;
- the Home Secretary - for all areas of planning and performance in relation to crime, anti-social behaviour, substance misuse and re-offending;
- the Home Office - in respect of statutory duties under the Contest Strategy (eg Prevent and 'Channel');
- the Ministry of Justice - in relation to the work of the YOT;
- local Safeguarding Partnerships for Children and Adults - in respect of the functions of a CSP;
- the TVP Police and Crime Commissioner - in respect of utilisation of the Community Safety Fund.
- 7.3 The BCTP will provide, when required, reports to all of the above and also the Thames Valley Police and Crime Panel.