Agenda item

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Communities and Corporate Director for Growth, Environment & Transport that provides an update on the transformation of the Community Warden Service following the public consultation in November 2014 and subsequent budget reduction of £700k in 2015/16 as indicated in the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and outlines the development of a Volunteer Support Warden pilot scheme.

(This item was brought forward for discussion by the Chairman as agreed at the start of the meeting)

1.            The Cabinet Member for Community Services, Mr Hill, introduced a report that provided an update on the transformation of the Community Warden Service following the public consultation in November 2014 and budget reduction of £700k in 2015/16 and outlined the development of a Volunteer Support Warden pilot scheme.

2.            Mr Hill explained that following the consultation 70 uniformed community wardens had been retained preserving as much community based frontline delivery resource as possible.  It also prompted proposals for a volunteer wardens scheme.  The volunteers would complement and support the Community Wardens Service rather than replace them. This was carried out in conjunction with Kent Police and Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC).  

3.            The Director of Environment, Planning and Enforcement, Mrs Stewart, advised that this was a new way of working and the service would continue to evolve with an intelligence led approach.  This work would be carried out working closely with Parish and district councils to understand the priorities for their areas and shape the Community Warden Service with them in a challenging budget climate.

4.            The Head of Public Protection, Mr Overbeke, explained in detail the report regarding the realignment of the service to produce the 50% savings whilst continuing to provide a robust service on the ground. He then spoke on the pilot scheme for voluntary warden developed in partnership with KALC. A maximum of 12 Parish Councils were selected to be involved to keep the pilot manageable.  A recruitment campaign was held for three months and 18 people responded in the specific areas.  Following interviews eight individuals were selected who would be deployed across five parish and two town council areas following their training in March 2016.  A structure review would be undertaken on the pilot in the next six months.  A decision would be made on whether to expand of the scheme and if so any financial contribution required from participating parishes enabling the parish to decide if it wished to be part of a full Scheme in April 2017.

5.            Mr Hill, Mrs Stewart and Mr Overbeke responded to questions by Member as follows:

(a)       Mr Overbeke advised that the financial savings target of £700k had been achieved.

(b)       All the posts within the scheme had been filled.

(c)       Concerns were raised regarding the parish councils setting their precept before November.  This left a narrow timeframe for the Parishes to decide to proceed with the scheme.  Mr Hill agreed that it was a narrow timeframe.  The purpose of the pilot was to tease out some of the difficulties.  He confirmed that for the scheme to work the Volunteer would need sufficient support and advice from a regular Community Warden.

(d)       A report would be submitted to a future meeting of this Cabinet Committee on the outcome of the Pilot.

(e)       A robust approach would be taken with regards recruitment as the volunteers would be wearing a uniform and badge and would undertake training similar to that of the Community Wardens.

(f)        Mr Hill said that he had many letter and article of appreciation about the work of the Community Wardens.  Mrs Stewart advised that there was work being undertaken regarding communications and branding of the Community Wardens service. Work would also be carried out with local parishes to identify where possible volunteers may be identified for the service.

(g)       Comments were made that the Community Warden Scheme was of great benefit to the community and support for the local councillors.

(h)      Mr Hill stressed that this was a suitable role for volunteers as they would be good at helping people, offering advice, assistance; and signposting.  Mr Hill said that he had fought hard following the advice of experts to keep 70 Community Wardens, that being the lowest number to offer robust cover across the county. The volunteer presence would offer more resilience to the resource.

(i)        Mr Caller was pleased to receive the reassurances given by Mr Hill and that a detailed report would be submitted to a future meeting and requested that the report included what qualified an area receiving a volunteer the support the current Warden in the area and how outside bodies/local authorities could contribute to the costs.

6.            RESOLVED that:-

(a)       the responses to comments and questions by Members be noted; and

(b)       a detailed report be submitted to a future meeting of this Cabinet Committee on the outcome of the Volunteer Support Wardens pilot scheme and consideration be given to that report being produced district by district be agreed.

(c)       the transformation of the Community Wardens Service following the public consultation and the savings contribution made to the Medium Term Financial Plan as set out in the report be noted.