Local Scrutiny and Engagement Project Plans & Scrutiny Cheryl Smith Improvement Service

 To protect and improve local services, despite financial cuts; by stopping duplication without cutting the front line  To supply more equitable access across Scotland to specialist support and national capacity where and when it’s needed;  To strengthen connection between services and communities through engagement with many more local councillors and better integration with community planning Reform of the Services

Aims of the Act:  enabling framework for local scrutiny and engagement, providing: –flexibility for arrangements to be tailored to suit local needs –opportunities for increased local democratic scrutiny of police and fire and rescue services –better integration with community planning arrangements

Requirements of the Act:  Designation of Local Commander/ Senior Officer for each authority area, following consultation with local authority  Chief Constable/SFRS ensure adequate arrangements for policing/carrying out functions in each authority area  Publication of local plans for police & fire  Local authorities to be involved in setting local priorities and objectives  Local authorities to approve local plans and can request specific policing measures to go in the local plan  Local plans to be replaced at least every 3 years  Local authority to monitor and provide feedback to Local Commander/Senior Officer  Local authority can request reports and information as deemed reasonable  Responsibility for community planning lies with Chief Constable

What the act does not address:  Whether single Local Commander/Senior Officer covers more than 1 authority area  Whether single scrutiny committee covers more than 1 local authority area  Dispute resolution mechanism if local plan is not approved by local authority  Format for local plans, whether plans for police, fire and other matters are combined – for SPA/SFRS Board to define (service produced templates available/in development)  Provision of locally funded additional officers

LSE - Overview  Aims of project – Facilitate smooth transition & ensure the new arrangements strengthen the connection between services and communities  Project mandated – December 2011  Level of participation – All 32 local authorities (23 as Pathfinders, 9 as Networkers), all 16 police forces and fire and rescue services  Police & Fire Reform Act – Royal Assent granted 7 August, staged commencement

Developing & Draft Plans in: Aberdeen (Police & Fire) Midlothian (Police & Fire) Aberdeenshire (Police) Moray (Police & Fire) Argyll & Bute (Police) Edinburgh (Police & Fire) Shetland (Police & Fire)Dundee (Police and Fire) Dumfries & Galloway (Police) Angus (Police) East Lothian (Police & Fire)Perth & Kinross (Police) West Lothian (Police & Fire – Joint) Scottish Borders (Police & Fire)

Local Plan Development  A varied landscape of approaches, issues and timescales  Fire & Rescue & Police Service both intend:  Initial Plans in place for ‘Day 1’.  Corporate Identity applied to all the plans for ‘Day 1’ - Templates  General Layout - Introductions – Rationale – National Priorities & National Performance  Local Section will almost certainly have differences  Beyond April 1 st – A further year towards a 3 year planning cycle

Developing Scrutiny Arrangements: Actual Meeting, Committee Reports, Preparation and Training AberdeenMoray AberdeenshireOrkney EdinburghPerth & Kinross Dumfries & GallowayScottish Borders DundeeShetland East LothianWest Lothian East RenfrewshireMidlothian Glasgow Highland

Local Scrutiny Arrangements Scrutiny arrangements being tested – examples include:  Member only committee - Policy and Resources  Member led Committee - partners and officers as non voting advisers  Full Council  Partnership - Safer and Stronger or Community Safety Partnerships but with additional elected member representation

Local Scrutiny Development  Training, briefings ongoing – especially important for new members  Local discussions in most areas  Committee papers now common  Arrangements will need time to work, show good scrutiny  Support members and new service arrangements  All within the context of reform and community planning

Collaborative Statement Five Principles:  Focus on outcomes  Understand local conditions and reflect the community voice  Promote joint working to secure better outcomes and best value  Provide strategic leadership in order to influence service delivery  Support continuous improvement by providing constructive challenge

Practice Examples  Outcomes – Aberdeen City Fire Plan A very outcome focused plan, clear, linked to CPP/SOA with evidence of community engagement  Local Conditions and Community – Edinburgh Police Plan Innovative and thorough approach – 1500 street surveys, focus on place and people, member led  Joint Working – West Lothian Daily T&CG & Co-location Long term commitment to co-location, established daily, monthly and strategic tasking, delegated scrutiny  Strategic Leadership – Dundee P&R Full Council Scrutiny All members involved in shaping the pathfinder, reports to P&R with all members in attendance  Continuous Improvement – Highland Member led Bringing a range of Safer issues into a single scrutiny model. Members and invitees, advisors

Scrutiny of Local Plans  Establish clear line of sight between national and local priorities  Focus on outcomes and improvement – reduce inequality gaps  Ensure service delivery meeting needs  Ensure decisions being implemented

Effective Scrutiny - Skills and Knowledge  Effective communication, leadership, relationships  Understanding of resource allocation  Understand the evidence – tackling root causes  Knowledge of partnership structures; accountability mechanisms  Know where failure is happening – celebrate success  Performance Management frameworks  Ability to promote change through service improvement  Maintain balance between national and local priorities service delivery  Understand priority setting process, the use of data, evidence and analysis in decision-making  Build open and trusting relationships

Community Safety  Effective and embedded partnership structures  Use evidence and analysis to determine shared priorities  Partnership priority setting  Community engagement and consultation  Understand performance reporting / monitoring  Versed in Strategic Assessment production  Elected member involvement

Issues / Challenges  Time constraints – timing of scrutiny / training  Public perception i.e. prioritisation / investment public money  Local ward level scrutiny stronger  Is pooling of resources and budgets  Boundaries – not coterminous in some places – differing approaches  National versus local priorities  Scrutinisers expected to know everything?  Aligning the vision of local Safer and Stronger business and the SOA  EM scrutinised by voters  Focus on people vs focus on quality of decision and delivery

Beyond April 2013  The Local Scrutiny & Engagement Board  The Plans and Performance Reference Group  On-going direct advice, training and support to colleagues  Provide written guidance and detailed reports  Develop Assessment and Evaluation tools  National and Regional Events  Case Studies - work underway  Part of Safer Communities

Thank you