Agenda item

The Committee considered the following report:-

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1       The purpose of this report is to update Members on the current financial position of Belfast PCSP and DPCSP.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       Members are asked to note the contents of the report.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Members will be aware that Schedule 3 of the Justice Act (NI) 2011 provides that the Joint Committee (Department of Justice and NI Policing Board) ‘shall for each financial year make to the Council grants of such amounts as the joint committee may determine for defraying or contributing towards the expenses of the council in that year in connection with (D)PCSPs’. 

3.2       Each year the Joint Committee provides each PCSP with an indication of what their overall funding allocation will be for the incoming financial year.  This allows each PCSP to develop their annual Action Plans.

3.3       The indicative allocation to Belfast PCSP for its operation and the operation of DPCSPs was provided in writing on 26 January 2015 as £930,781 for the 15/16 year.  This represented a small increase in available funding on the 14/15 year.

3.4       Belfast PCSP and DPCSPs developed their 2015/16 transitional Action Plans on this basis and those plans were submitted to the Joint Committee in February 2015.

3.5       The Council also currently makes a financial contribution of £122,500 (as per yearly Committee agreement) towards the operation of Belfast PCSP and DPCSPs as well as in kind staff and administration costs.

3.6       However, despite the indicative allocation having been provided in January 2015 and the transitional Action Plans having been submitted, the Joint Committee did not issue formal letters of offer to any PCSP.

3.7       It then emerged via correspondence received on 9 June 2015 that the current financial situation across government had led to significant levels of financial uncertainty in Northern Ireland and that consequently the Joint Committee was taking precautionary arrangements.

3.8       These arrangements were:

-       PCSPs should immediately suspend entering into any new financial commitments; and

-       PCSPs should only continue with work it was already contracted to complete.

3.9       Further correspondence was received on 24 June indicating that the Minister would be announcing his intention to issue 50% letters of offer to each PCSP which would allow partnerships to continue to develop some projects.  The formal letter of offer was received on 8 September 2015 for £465,390 (50% of the amount as expected).  A further mandatory requirement advised that the funding provided for administration should not exceed 20% of the budget allocation.

3.10     Belfast PCSP and DPCSP’s have continued to deliver against community safety priorities at a community level, but the budget reduction will have a significant impact on what can now be achieved.

3.11     There may be a small possibility of further funding becoming available later in the year but Department of Justice Officials cannot provide any guarantees.

3.12     Belfast PCSP and DPCSP’s will now consider over the coming months a number of key issues as a result of the budget cuts:

-       How the partnerships can maximise the resources of its partners in a collaborative way without the need for additional funding.

-       The development of a more robust evidence base for how funding is allocated at both a geographical and project level.

-       The development of a more robust method by which the impact of projects/initiatives can be evaluated in order to demonstrate better value for money.

3.13     These discussions will need to be completed no later than the end of January 2016 to ensure the decisions of the PCSP on these matters forms part of the Action Plans required by the Joint Committee for the 2016-2019 period.

3.14     Financial and Resource Implications

            There is potential for significant implications for Belfast (D)PCSP’s as a result of the 50% reduction in Joint Committee funding both at a project and support infrastructure level which PCSP and DPCSP Members are currently considering.

            Equality or Good Relations Implications

            There may be equality and good relations implications as a result of the reduction in funding.  This will be monitored on an ongoing basis and any significant issues reported to Belfast PCSP.”

            The Committee noted the contents of the report and agreed that a further report be submitted for consideration regarding a review of the work of the PCSP’s, evaluating their value and the outcomes of the current PCSP arrangements.