“Alternative proposal” over Council funding of PCSO’s to be examined

The number of PCSOs funded by Wrexham Council could soon be halved as part ongoing attempts to make savings – however the proposed cut to funding is not as severe as initially planned.

Currently as part of a ‘service level agreement’ with North Wales Police, the local authority contributes up to 25 per cent of the salary costs of 36 full time equivalent PCSO’s (police community support officers) across Wrexham. This equates to nine full-time equivalent posts.

However last autumn as part of its difficult decisions budget process, Wrexham Council unveiled proposals to scrap the funding completely by October 2018 – bringing forward the end of the funding agreement from March 2019.

It was estimated that axing the funding would save £140k this year and £140k next year.

However the proposals were met with strong opposition, with North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Arfon Jones, warning that he would not plug the funding gap.

Members of the public also fought back against the proposals, with hundreds taking part in the difficult decisions consultation to make their voices heard. The proposal eventually received more feedback than any other put forward for consideration.

As a result plans to scrap the funding by 100 per cent were withdrawn by senior councillors.

Next week members of the safeguarding, communities and well-being scrutiny committee will debate the revised proposals for PCSO funding in Wrexham – which include a funding reduction of 50 per cent instead of being axed completely.

The alternative proposal would see Wrexham Council continue with the service level agreement with North Wales Police, but reduce funding to provide for four PCSO’s and 0.5 of a post towards additional outreach worker/Town Centre Warden provision focused on the town centre.

The documents show columns indicating current PCSO numbers, and proposed numbers indicate Ruabon and Plas Madoc would have their PCSO numbers drop from 4 to 3, with Caia and Offa/Esclusham and Acton / Borras all seeing reduced PCSO numbers – but the town centre going from 2 PCSO’s to 5.

A report due before councillors next week states that this funding reduction would result in a
potential saving of £82,000 for 2018/19 (if the agreement with North Wales Police is made by 1 September 2018) and a further £58,574 for 2019/20.

This would also be a reduction on the £281,150 of funding contributed by Wrexham Council in 2018/19.

It also proposed that the service level agreement with the police is extended until 31 March 2020.

The report due before councillors next Wednesday explains that: “North Wales Police would retain the responsibility for employing the PCSO’s and would manage their workload on a daily/weekly basis according to the demand in the community”.

It adds: “However, Wrexham Council would be able to have an input into the service they deliver through the community safety team and work.

“The work will also be influenced by issues arising from the Anti Social Behaviour Multi Agency Risk Assessment (MARAC) Group. This is a multi-agency operational group which meets on a monthly basis to discuss identified people, places or properties that have been referred by members of the group because they are causing significant community safety related issues.”

The report also notes: “The previous model of ward based policing has been replaced with a Sector based system to allow for these identified changes. Each sector will be made up of a number of wards and will share the PCSO resource within the sector.”

The report will be considered by members of the safeguarding, communities and well-being scrutiny committee at 3pm on Wednesday 18th July.