Agenda and minutes

Agreed.

Received a report setting out details of the latest round of recruitment in the community for Board Members to sit on the Community Housing Partnerships.

Agreed to the placement of the successful residents on their appropriate local Community Housing Partnership Boards, as set out in the report, in order to continue to empower the community in matters relating to the Council’s housing services.

Received a report detailing the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel into the introduction of pensions for Councillors.

Agreed, in accordance with the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel, to recommend the Assembly to agree membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) for all Councillors with effect from 1 May 2003 and approve the revision of the Members Allowances Scheme to include the pension provision as set out in Appendix A of the report.

A briefing session about the pension scheme will be held for Councillors before a future Assembly meeting.

Received a report outlining measures to modernise the Borough’s Parks Constabulary with a view to increasing public awareness and safety.

Agreed, in order to raise the profile of the service and assist in achieving the Council’s Community Priority of “Making Barking and Dagenham Cleaner, Greener and Safer”:

1. To change the name of the service to the ‘Parks Police’ and issue blue lights for use on Parks Police vehicles;

2. To transfer the two night constables onto day shifts and contract out the night shift duties;

3. Upon the retirement of the current Corporate Security Manager that this role is merged with that of the Parks Constabulary & Security Manager to form the new post of Corporate Security & Parks Police Manager; and

4. That batons will not be issued to Park Constables at this time, in light of the advice from the Community and Open Spaces Policing Associations (COSPA) and the Metropolitan Police.

Deferred.

Agreed to exclude the public and press for the remainder of the meeting, as the business was confidential.