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A One Star Council
Posted on 06/05/2008
Rhys
Charnwood Borough Councils approach to community safety has been rated just a one star service.
This is the findings of an Audit Commission inspection of the Council in Charnwood. The low rating was given for numerous reason including corporate objectives for the service are broad and not clearly defined and it is unclear precisely what the Council is trying to achieve through its community safety function. At service level, leadership is not strong, strategic direction was found to be unclear and performance management is ineffective at tackling under performance. Charnwood Council has not fully mainstreamed community safety into all services for example the inclusion of safety considerations on committee agendas and reports are not consistent. Furthermore there is a lack of a systematic approach to the evaluation of projects and initiatives in community safety to measure impact and ensure objectives and VFM is met.
Leader of the Charnwood Labour Group, Cllr Max Hunt told inLoughborough: "This is a bad report. Charnwood, who now have statutory responsibility for reducing crime, used the Governments new laws to punish Anti-Social behaviour, but Charnwood has got to work much harder to reduce crime by positive means. Long term change is beginning to show, largely due to previous work with young offenders and greater support for young people in the most afflicted neighbourhoods. Those seeds take time to yield fruit.
To meet the Government and Countys tough crime reduction targets we must have sustained reductions and tackle areas, like Shepshed, where we still wait to see a significant fall. The Council and the Police have Labour councillors fullest support in doing so."
The report however identifies that the Council are in a reasonable position for improving. The Council has demonstrated a clear commitment to improve community safety through increased levels of resources into their community safety function and through clear corporate and political leadership in the newly restructured CSP and the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP). However there remains a real risk that the targets for crime reduction might be missed.
Cllr. David Snartt, Lead Member for Community Safety, said: “Changes the Council have made throughout the year have made a difference to the way we deliver community safety throughout Charnwood and how we are helping to reduce crime and disorder with our partners culminating in a reduction in reported crime right across the Borough of Charnwood.
“I am pleased that the inspectors stated that the Council’s prospects for improvement are promising because the Council have demonstrated a clear commitment to improve community safety through increased levels of resource into the community safety function and through clear corporate and political leadership in the newly restructured Community Safety Partnership.
“The Council has a clear direction through the newly developed plan which will take into account the recommendations outlined in the inspection report. Therefore I believe the Council are now in a position to respond to the challenges in the reduction of crime and disorder.”
Nicky Morgan, prospective Conservative MP for Loughborough after reviewing the report commented to inLoughborough: "I was impressed to read about the many different community safety initiatives which Charnwood is working on, including those dealing with anti-social behaviour and partnerships with local communities. The report highlights some areas for improvement and I am confident that the new administration in Charnwood is working on these. The Audit Commission anticipates improvements being achieved which is encouraging. I was pleased to read in the report that "The council displays leadership and a firm commitment to community safety through the roles and responsibilities of members and senior officers" and I think the hard work since last May of the Lead Member for Community Safety, David Snartt, should be recognised."