Issue - meetings

To give consideration to the draft final report of the Task and Finish Group

The Committee considered the final report of the Task and Finish Group who conducted a Scrutiny Review on Community Wardens.

Members of the Task and Finish Group were invited to introduce the report and to draw attention to the issues that were highlighted. It was explained that the Group had taken an evidence based approach to the review and had heard accounts from all relevant stakeholders. The review had highlighted that whilst the Community Wardens did a lot of good work which was value for money, there was concern with the number of overlaps with other services.

With this in mind, the report had recommended that Cheshire East look to slim down the duties of the Community Wardens in order to reduce duplication and save money.

The Committee thanked the Group for their report and for their hard work in producing it. In opening the debate, Councillor Murray queried whether the difficult economic situation that Cheshire East, along with all local authorities faced had changed the emphasis of the report somewhat. In expanding on this, Councillor Murray continued to assert that whilst it was accepted that the Community Wardens did an undoubtedly good job, it was queried whether the considerable funding that they received from Cheshire East would be better spent on other services in a reduced funding environment. Indeed, a number of links were made to the earlier item regarding PCSO funding.

Furthermore, a number of concerns were expressed over how Community Wardens were being held accountable to their allocated areas if they were sometimes being deployed in adjacent areas. The Committee felt that more clarity was required over this issue.

In sum, considering that the economic landscape had changed considerably since the report had been carried out, it was decided that it would be most germane if an auxiliary report was produced by the relevant officer (Tony Potts) to satisfy the questions that had been raised. It was suggested therefore, that Tony Potts produce this report, including the following elements:

·        A revised job specification – after speaking to Street Scene, Enforcement Officers etc to highlight any gaps in need.

·        A deployment proposal outlining how many Community Wardens would be required and where they would be placed/used.

·        How performance would be measured.

·        How Community Wardens would be managed.

It was suggested that the Task and Finish Group recommendations would be reconsidered at a subsequent meeting in light of the findings from the auxiliary report.

RESOLVED

a)     That the report be received

b)     That an auxiliary report be produced which outlines:

·        A revised job specification – after speaking to Street Scene, Enforcement Officers etc to highlight any gaps in need.

·        A deployment proposal outlining how many Community Wardens would be required and where they would be placed/used.

·        How performance would be measured.

·        How Community Wardens would be managed.

c)      That the recommendations of the Task and Finish group are reconsidered in light of the auxiliary report.