Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:

The Committee agreed the minutes of the meetings on the 6 February 2012, 28 March 2012 and 28 November 2012 as a true record

3.1              The Chair introduced the item and  noted that:

·         all members recognise the value of the emergency services, and the essential role the different emergency services play in keeping the community safe and well

·         whilst the Greater London Assembly (GLA) carry out scrutiny of emergency services across London, members of Lewisham Council felt it important that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee carry out a review of emergency services in Lewisham specifically

·         given the face of challenging financial times for all public services, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee would oversee a review of all local emergency services, to enable members better understand the particular challenges facing each service locally, and to consider any potential impact (of those challenges) on local services for people in Lewisham.

·         Accident and Emergency provision, including at Lewisham hospital, would also form part of the review

·         Members welcomed the attendance of the local representatives of the emergency services at this meeting.

3.2              The Chair invited Graham Price, Superintendant, Lewisham Metropolitan Police Service to address the Committee. The key points to note were:

·         The recent consultation event held in Lewisham outlined the Mayor’s Office of Policing and Crime (MOPAC) outlined the proposals for Lewisham borough. The proposals in relation to front desks in Lewisham are that Lewisham station remains 24 hours, Deptford and Catford station offer a reduced front desk service and Brockley and Sydenham front desk service cease. Brockley front desk is currently staffed by volunteers and has an average “footfall” of 2 people a day.

·         Any subsequent building disposal would be a matter for MOPAC and is not something that Superintendent Price could comment on at this stage

·         The Met police force faces a number of challenges,  MOPAC has set a challenge for the force of “20/20/20” by 2016 which is: to cut crime by 20%, to increase confidence in the service by 20% and cut costs by 20%

·         The MOPAC proposals for change in Lewisham would result in extra officers in Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs) in Lewisham and less management costs

·         The current sergeant to PC ratio is 1-4.4 and the aim is now for a 1-6 ratio

·         The ambition behind the proposals is to be a more flexible force that can be deployed where most needed

·         SNTs are to be retained with at least one full time officer and a named sergeant per ward and a total of 109 extra officers working within SNTs and an additional 54 PCs in Lewisham than there are currently

·         Services will be focused on communities, not buildings. The Metropolitan Police currently has a large estate and some of the buildings are very old

·         MOPAC will make the decisions about the front desks and the use of buildings, traditionally people went to police stations to report crimes and contact the police, a lot more people now phone when they want to report crimes or contact the police and some make contact by email

3.3              In response to questions from the Committee, Superintendent Price advised:

·         Lewisham, Bromley,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

RESOLVED:

The Committee agreed to refer the views outlined at section 3.X to the Mayor and Cabinet.