1. PURPOSE
The purpose of Somerset Safer Communities Group is to act as a subgroup of the Somerset Strategic Partnership leading on the safer communities’ theme co-ordinating the work of the Somerset Drug and Alcohol Action Team and the Somerset Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships in relation to delivery of the Local Area Agreement targets.
The Safer Communities Group in relation to its theme lead of safer communities will:
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Oversee, monitor and co-ordinate the delivery of the relevant themes of the LAA/Community Strategy, ensuring appropriate challenge to service delivery and outcomes, and encouraging organisations to work together towards shared outcomes
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Commission the Community Safety Network, where appropriate, to undertake specific pieces of work on its behalf and with the development and implementation of measures to achieve the strategic objectives of the Safer Communities Group.
2. GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The Somerset Safer Communities Group, together with the CDRPs and the DAAT, will seek to add value, avoid duplication and work closely with the other SSP subgroups and partners involved with the Community Strategy and the LAA. In respect of the Community Strategy and the LAA, the Somerset Safer Communities Group will ensure it pays due regard to the cross-cutting themes that must underpin its work and the wider governance role of the SSP.
The Somerset Safer Communities Group will recognise, and give due regard, to the important role of the LSPs within Somerset in identifying and tackling issues within their local communities. The Somerset Safer Communities Group will therefore seek to support and strengthen this area of work rather than duplicate or undermine the role of the LSPs.
3. MEMBERSHIP
3.1 The Somerset Safer Communities Group acknowledges that there will inevitably be some overlap of interest between SSP subgroups. Members should be aware of these interdependencies and relationships rather than seeking to have every interest represented on every subgroup.
3.2 Its membership will be drawn from the Chairs of the crime & disorder and drugs & alcohol partnerships in Somerset plus Chief Executive/Director or Head of Service representation from other key partner organisations.
3.3 The elected Chair of the Somerset Community Safety Network will also be represented on the Somerset Safer Communities Group to ensure effective co-ordination between the strategic and delivery responsibilities.
3.4 Details of membership can be found in at Safer Communities Group Members.
3.5 Representation from other stakeholders and officers will be invited to attend meetings as appropriate
3.6 Additionally, regional representation from Government Office for the South West Safer and Stronger Team will also be sought but their membership carries a non-voting status.
3.7 A Chair and Vice Chair will be appointed every two years from within the membership of the Somerset Safer Communities Group.
4. ACCOUNTABILITY
4.1 The Somerset Safer Communities Group is accountable to the SSP Executive for reporting on its performance.
4.2 There will be a nominated equalities & diversity champion to lead on the equalities impact assessment of the activity of the Safer Communities Group. The champion will ensure all meetings and decisions have due regard to the policies of the SSP, including, but not limited to, the Equalities/Community Cohesion Strategy.
4.3 Representatives will be responsible for representing the views of the partnerships and/or organisation they are representing at the meeting, and for keeping their respective partnerships and/or organisation up to date on progress.
4.4 Members will be asked to declare any potential conflicts of interest that may arise for individual items at the beginning of each Somerset Safer Communities meeting. It is acknowledged however that for the purposes of the Group, some individuals may have a dual representative role.
4.5 The Somerset Safer Communities Group will determine the extent, and need for, wider dissemination of decisions and outcomes and the appropriate communication channels to use for such activity.
4.6 The Chair of the Somerset Safer Communities Group will be the representative that sits on the SSP Joint Board. It will also identify a deputy for this role, which will normally be the vice Chair.
5. FINANCIAL DECISION MAKING & MANAGEMENT
5.1 Somerset County Council will devolve responsibility to the Somerset Safer Communities Group for the allocation of funding to deliver the safer priorities of the Local Area Agreement. (To be formally confirmed). The responsibility includes the identification and realisation of annual efficiency improvements.
5.2 Should parties other than Somerset County Council agree to devolve funding to this group, an appropriate Partnership Agreement will need to be put in place.
5.3 Somerset Safer Communities Group will also take a role in influencing the mainstream spend of partner agencies to deliver the safer priorities of the Local Area Agreement.
6. MEETINGS
6.1 The Somerset Safer Communities Group will meet on a quarterly basis at a minimum with the option of agreeing additional meetings should the planning cycle demand it.
6.2 The Somerset Safer Communities Group will strive for consensus, but if this cannot be reached, will record formally the voting position of its members.
6.3 The Somerset Safer Communities Group will be deemed quorate when at least half of all voting members, plus the Chair or Vice Chair, are present.
6.4 Agendas and any associated papers will be sent out at least five working days in advance of the meetings.
7. REVIEW
The terms of reference for the Somerset Safer Communities Group will be reviewed every two years or as circumstances dictate.
DRAFT revised Terms of Reference:
v1 03.02.09 discussed at 11th February meeting
v2 12.02.09 as amended from that meeting
Amended final version (above) agreed by Somerset Safer Communities Group on:
25th June 2009
