Issue - meetings

To receive a verbal update on the Community Warden Service

The Community Safety Manager reported on the review of the Community Warden Service in Cheshire East which had begun in April 2009. The main challenge had been to draw together two separate arrangements in Crewe and Congleton and to integrate the individual arrangements that existed in Macclesfield. There were currently 10 Community Wardens in Cheshire East including 2 dog wardens. Work was continuing to merge some of the team from the former Macclesfield warden service into the Cheshire East team which would then create a team of 13 Wardens.

One immediate task was the need to harmonise the dog warden service. However, it was intended in the longer term to move to a multi skilled team of wardens, so that all wardens were trained to undertake all duties.

The warden service was expected to receive formal police accreditation in the near future which would mean that wardens would have the same powers as Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s)

The Warden service was facing a number of challenges in the future to:

• Fully integrate the wardens service to include park rangers
• Review the total number of wardens required in Cheshire East
• Develop links with registered Social landlords
• Develop links with Local Area Partnerships (LAP’s)
• Develop Area Working and deployment strategy

RESOLVED – That the report be received.