Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval to the Safer Brent Community Safety Strategy and accompanying Action Plan for 2024 – 2026.

Cabinet RESOLVED to approve the Safer Brent - Community Safety Strategy, and Action Plan.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 12 February 24

Councillor Farah (Cabinet Member Safer Communities & Public Protection) introduced a report seeking approval to the Safer Brent Community Safety Strategy and accompanying Action Plan for 2024 – 2026.

In considering the report, Cabinet noted that the Strategy had been developed in collaboration with the Safer Brent Partnership and wider community following an extensive programme of engagement with a range of key stakeholders to reflect key priority areas with an Action Plan also developed in response to address the issues identified.  The Strategy, it was pointed out, had also been designed to reflect and incorporate the Council’s key priority in seeking to ensure everyone had the best start in life within a safe and secure borough.  In recognising the need to act earlier, smarter and more proactively in order to tackle crime and disorder and protect the most vulnerable, members also noted the move within the new Strategy towards a public health based preventative approach based on a process of earlier and more proactive intervention and identification of wider support needs designed to prevent future escalation which would include programmes of mentoring, counselling, promotion of substance misuse services and employment opportunities delivered collaboratively with partners across the borough.

Cabinet were advised that development of the Strategy had also been subject to review by the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee who, as a result, had recommended that the priority around tackling violent crime should include specific emphasis on knife crime.  Due to publication deadlines, members were advised that it had not been possible to incorporate this change in time for the Cabinet meeting with Councillor Farah confirming that it would, however, be included within the final version of the strategy.

In thanking all, officers stakeholders and partners on the Safer Brent Partnership for their engagement in developing the Strategy and in contributing towards ensuring that Brent remained a safe place for all residents, members welcomed the holistic approach outlined within the Strategy which it was noted would continue to be kept under review and had been designed to reflect the key issues and priorities identified across local communities within the borough alongside the wider financial pressures faced by the Council.

As a result, Cabinet therefore RESOLVED to approve the Safer Brent - Community Safety Strategy and accompanying Action Plan 2024 – 2026.