Community safety in Surrey

Quirkyme · 2023-10-31T22:47:50+00:00

Evening, What are your thoughts on the future of council districts with the budget situation in Surrey? Woking Borough Council declared bankruptcy recently and there are several other borough councils that are not too far behind... what impact if any do you think this will have on community safety services and Surrey County Council's relationship with the borough and district councils within it? I live and work in Surrey so have been thinking about this recently since Woking declared, plus I have a job interview soon and want to mention this for bonus points!

sunights · 31/10/2023 23:01

The main community safety provision is likely to be Surrey Police and influenced by the Office of the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner. In terms of the County Council, their budget will be entirely separate to Woking District Councils - and both sets of budgets will be very small in relation to community safety resources (though Woking may have home office/PCC grant funding for direct community safety interventions by local community groups). The County Council will hold budgets for adult social care, children's services, public health, and highways some of which will relate to community safety work. Woking's spend will relate to services like licensing, street cleaning and housing/homelessness prevention.
What is the title of the job you have an interview for OP? Is it finance or community safety related. And is it with the County or District?

Original poster

Quirkyme · 31/10/2023 23:02

sunights · 31/10/2023 23:01

The main community safety provision is likely to be Surrey Police and influenced by the Office of the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner. In terms of the County Council, their budget will be entirely separate to Woking District Councils - and both sets of budgets will be very small in relation to community safety resources (though Woking may have home office/PCC grant funding for direct community safety interventions by local community groups). The County Council will hold budgets for adult social care, children's services, public health, and highways some of which will relate to community safety work. Woking's spend will relate to services like licensing, street cleaning and housing/homelessness prevention.
What is the title of the job you have an interview for OP? Is it finance or community safety related. And is it with the County or District?

Edited

Hey lovely. It's within Community Safety and for Surrey County Council

OP posts:

Original poster

Quirkyme · 31/10/2023 23:02

sunights · 31/10/2023 23:01

The main community safety provision is likely to be Surrey Police and influenced by the Office of the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner. In terms of the County Council, their budget will be entirely separate to Woking District Councils - and both sets of budgets will be very small in relation to community safety resources (though Woking may have home office/PCC grant funding for direct community safety interventions by local community groups). The County Council will hold budgets for adult social care, children's services, public health, and highways some of which will relate to community safety work. Woking's spend will relate to services like licensing, street cleaning and housing/homelessness prevention.
What is the title of the job you have an interview for OP? Is it finance or community safety related. And is it with the County or District?

Edited

It's a Project Officer role

OP posts:

sunights · 31/10/2023 23:08

Hi, I suggest reading up on their Partnership priorities and business plans to learn about what they are doing. If they are not on a section of the website, try looking at scrutiny community papers as these will also have commentary about finances.

Original poster

Quirkyme · 31/10/2023 23:14

sunights · 31/10/2023 23:08

Hi, I suggest reading up on their Partnership priorities and business plans to learn about what they are doing. If they are not on a section of the website, try looking at scrutiny community papers as these will also have commentary about finances.

Hi, thank you so much!

OP posts:

sunights · 31/10/2023 23:33

No worries. Coming back to your question about the impact of a bankruptcy, I think the focus would be on community reassurance and supporting essential services to function. These are challenging times and working for a council is very different to how it was 10 or even 5 years ago.

Original poster

Quirkyme · 31/10/2023 23:46

sunights · 31/10/2023 23:33

No worries. Coming back to your question about the impact of a bankruptcy, I think the focus would be on community reassurance and supporting essential services to function. These are challenging times and working for a council is very different to how it was 10 or even 5 years ago.

Oooh interesting, I'll bare that in mind. I do agree, I think there'll also be a bigger emphasis on partnership too.

Regarding your comment about working for the council being different now to 5/10 years ago...I've worked for the council for 4 years now, I remember I joined just after there being a big restructure

OP posts:

DyslexicPoster · 31/10/2023 23:54

I'm leafy Surrey. I never ever ever see police. They don't come out to crimes either and we are a target area for crime from out of County. I only ever see police if its at the local schools.

I think they are all in trouble. But I know lots of people personally don't want to live in Woking due to the bankruptcy. Plus it's horrible with all the luxury high rise flats. You can see them from guildford. Where the hell do you find a doctor or school in a town that's completely changed in the last five-ten years?

TizerorFizz · 31/10/2023 23:59

Bucks is now a unitary authority. Should save money over numerous small councils. Surrey should do the same given the financial difficulties.