Opportunities for improving Partnership working in the new arrangements – Getting ready for PCCs

David Lock,

Policy Adviser,

Local Government Association12/09/12 www.local.gov.uk

What do PCCs mean for VCSE? Some themes explored:

• Funding and the current landscape

• Understanding the changes

• Adapting to the new arrangements – survival

• Partnership working – opportunities

Checklist - for VCSE organisations

2. Current important funding streams

Police Authorities

Community Safety Partnerships

(Community Safety Fund)

VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL ENTERPRISE ORGANISATIONS

Funding

Probation Trusts / Victim

support

Funding for various projects

initiatives established programmes

Other funding

streams donations etc

Funding: what will stop?

• Definite:– Community Safety Fund– Early Intervention Fund – already gone (makes up EGSYV fund)– Youth Crime & Substance Misuse Prevention – already gone (to PA)– Victim’s Services Funding

• Almost Certain:– DIP main grant– Drug Testing– Positive Futures

• Unlikely (but never say never):– VAWG

Understanding the new arrangements

Understanding the new landscape and new funding arrangements - PCCs

• Unlike police authorities PCCs will not be part of community safety partnerships;

• There is however a mutual duty to cooperate, and have regard to each other’s priorities;

• It is not clear how PCCs will fit in with existing and new partnership structures;

• But unlike police authorities PCCs will be commissioners of services.

Understanding the new landscape – LAs and CSPs

Police and Crime Commissioner

Community Safety Partnerships

Duty to have regard to each other’s priorities1

Request merger Power to

approve

4

Power to call CSP chairs to a meeting to discuss force-wide issues

2

Power to request a report3

Police and Crime Panel

Scrutinise

Grant making powers5

Understanding the new landscape - some opportunities for VCSEs?

• June 2012 LGA survey of prospective PCC candidates

• Some encouraging feedback?!

Will PCCs understand the vital role of VCSE organisations?

VCSE: their vital role

VCSE: their vital role

From the PCCs perspective

Yes the importance of VCSE recognised – but in practice:

• But will they want to commission services?• Will they have the expertise to do so?• If they do, commission will they act unilaterally or jointly? • Joint commissioning /co–commissioning?

Where does that leave VCSE organisations? How should they react? Can it be made an easy and ‘obvious’ decision to commission VCSE organisations?

Making it easy for PCCs? (1)

• Get yourself on the radar• Introduce yourselves to PCC candidates • Make your case? Linked to their P & C Plan!

(help shape their plan if you can)• Have some evidence • Present the evidence clearly

(note other examples..….)

Making it easy for PCCs? (2)

Highlight that VCSEs may provide new models to deliver services more:– effectively – economically – Flexibly / enthusiastically?

……..in situations where they wouldn't otherwise be delivered

Note the current Cabinet office push Frances Maude Mutuals Task Force

(money to pump prime and promote) (Mutuals Information Service)

Making it easy for PCCs? (3)• Group together with others • Advantages of joint bidding makes it easier for the

PCC by– Avoiding piecemeal £ handling – Only one body to deal with– More efficient potentially– Joins up partners

• Practicalities of a joint cross boundary VCSE bid• Opportunities for partnership with your CSP • Co-ordination of work in Dorset could be vital and

mutually beneficial for all

Others who may commission - in the ‘new world’

• Heath and Wellbeing Boards (will be commissioning services)

• Probation Trusts (changes from 2014)

• Victim support (from 2014 MoJ £ to the PCC)

Coordination through joint or co-commissioning?

The main focus of this presentation has been PCCs

and CSPs – but don’t forget:

A coordinated VCSE offer to PCCs?

VCSE organisations understanding joint /

co-commissioning and working

in partnership with others

to help:

- avoid duplication and

- fill gaps in the PCCs

Police and Crime Plan

A further option to exert some influence? Police and Crime Panels

• Role is to both review and scrutinise the PCC’s actions and decisions, and also to assist them in the effective exercise of their functions;

• Review the draft police and crime plan;• Review the PCC’s annual report and hold a public

meeting to question the PCC about it;• Approve the PCC’s precept;

VCSE might attend meetings to make their points heard?

Final Checklist / summary of key pointsPreparing for PCCs:

Are you going to compete for funding from the PCC, and how well prepared are you to do so?

Could you come together with other partners to bid for funding? If you do you have the right structures in place to do so?

Have you engaged with partners and been invited to consider the impact PCCs will have?

What are your priorities for services, are they shared by other partners, and what will the PCC be interested in?

How easy is it for a PCC to engage with you? Do you have evidence that what you do works and offers value for

money? What can you do to influence candidates’ priorities, and therefore

potential police and crime plans? If the PCC does not support your work what do the members of the

police and crime panel think about it?

David Lock david.lock@local.gov.uk 020 7665 3864