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Agenda Item 3(b) 
 
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council 
 
Report to the Cabinet 
 
17th December, 2008 
 
St George’s Day Parade 
Recommendations of the Scrutiny Management Board 
 
1. Summary 
Statement 
 
1.1  On 16 October 2008 the Scrutiny Management Board considered a report 
and evidence into the St George’s Day Parade and made the following 
recommendations. 
 
(1) that 
the 
Management 
Board notes that there is clear evidence of 
far-right political extremists infiltrating the 2008 St George's Day 
Parade in Sandwell, with no apparent observation or record of this 
by any of the stakeholders; 
 
(2) 
that the Cabinet and other stakeholders be recommended:- 
 
(a) 
to examine the evidence of the events that took place, 
particularly in the context of the responsibility of all public 
bodies to promote good race relations and develop 
community cohesion in Sandwell; 
 
(b) 
to give early consideration to how, and if, political extremism 
can be eliminated at any future St George's Day events in 
the Borough; 
 
(c) 
to give consideration to developing the St George's Day 
celebrations into   a static park event with the aim of 
providing a family-friendly event in a safe environment; 
 
(d) 
that an analysis of the members of the public who attend 
future events is undertaken by stakeholders; 
 
(e) 
that intelligence is gathered on any future events by all 
stakeholders in  order that early de-briefings can identify 
issues and concerns; 
 
(f) 
that no politicians be invited to speak at any future St 
George's Day events  and that no political parties be able to 
display banners or promotional materials; 
 
(g) 
that West Midlands Police Officers undergo training to develop an    
awareness of the covert signs of any political extremism at future 
events. 
 
1.3  Attached as an appendix to this report is a table setting out the 
recommendations of the Scrutiny Management Board which fall under the 
responsibility of the Cabinet.  The table also sets out the comments of the 
relevant Chief Officers on the recommendations.  
 
1.4  The Cabinet is now requested to consider the recommendations of the 
Scrutiny Management Board in the light of the comments made by the 
Chief Officer/s and determine either: 
 
(a) 
to take no action on the recommendations of the Scrutiny 
Management Board; 
(b) 
to instruct the appropriate Chief Officer to implement the 
recommendation/recommendations; or 
 
(c) 
to request that a further report be submitted. 
 
 
Further details are attached for your information 
 
 
 
2. Recommendation 
 
2.1  That consideration be given to the recommendations of the Scrutiny 
Management Board held on 16th October, 2008 in relation to the St 
George’s Day Parade and the comments made by the Chief Officer and 
that a course of action be determined. 
 
2.2  That subject to 2.1 above, the Head of Communities and Regulatory 
Services prepare an appropriate action plan with timescales to deliver the 
agreed actions. 
 
Joy Massey  
Head of Partnering and Improvement  
 
Contact Officer  
Alison Barrett 
Scrutiny Manager 
0121 569 3013 
 
St George’s Day Parade 
Recommendations of the Scrutiny Management Board 
 
 
3. 
Strategic Resource Implications 
 
 
The trilogy of Saint George’s Day events cost a combined figure of £37K. 
If the budget remains at £37k then all recommendations made by the 
Scrutiny Management Board can be met from existing resources except in 
respect of increased stewarding whereby a risk assessment will be 
needed to analyse any additional resources that this may entail.  
 
 
 
4. 
Legal and Statutory Implications 
 
4.1  There will be no legal and statutory implications arising from this report 
which at this stage are recommendations of the Panel.  Subsequent 
reports requiring a decision may have such implications.  However, the 
scrutiny function is contained within: 
 
•  The Local Government Act 2000 
•  The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 
•  The Health and Social Care Act 2001 
 
 
5. 
Implications for the Council’s Corporate Priorities 
 
It is a key criterion that items identified for Scrutiny need to contribute to 
the Council’s corporate priorities for change.  This scrutiny pertained 
particularly to the council priority Safer, Cleaner, Active Communities in 
that SMB were particularly interested in how the St Georges Day 
celebrations contributes to the community cohesion agenda. 
 
 
6. Background 
Details 
 
6.1  The minute and report are attached as appendix 2 and 3. 
 
 
 
Source Documents 
 
Report and Minute of SMB – 16 October 2008 
 
 
 
Appendix 
 
St George’s Day Parade 
Recommendations of the Scrutiny Management Board 
 
Recommendations of the Scrutiny 
Comments from appropriate Chief Officer 
Management Board 
 
 
Proposed action to be undertaken 
Rationale for proposed action 
 
in response to recommendations 
That the Cabinet and other 
Evidence examined and noted. 
Establish the scope of the problem to 
stakeholders be recommended to 
develop a suitable action plan. 
examine the evidence of the events 
that took place, particularly in the 
context of the responsibility of all public 
bodies to promote good race relations 
and develop community cohesion in 
Sandwell. 
That the Cabinet and other 
Stewarding/marshalling plans to be 
Remove undesirable elements from 
stakeholders be recommended to give 
developed in conjunction with the 
the Parade. 
early consideration to how, and if, 
Police and Security Company to 
political extremism can be eliminated at  manage extremist groups out of the 
any future St George's Day events in 
Parade. 
the Borough 
That the Cabinet and other 
To be discussed with all 
 
stakeholders be recommended to give 
stakeholders. This is likely to prove 
consideration to developing the St 
unacceptable to one group of 
George's Day celebrations into a static 
stakeholders and will probably lead to 
park event with the aim of providing a 
an uncontrolled Parade taking place 
family-friendly event in a safe 
in an unsafe environment. The Police 
environment 
will also have a major input to this 
item. 
That the Cabinet and other 
Exit surveys to be instigated in 
Data established regarding 
stakeholders be recommended to 
Dartmouth Park at the end of the 
attendees. 
undertake an analysis of the members 
event, as per Historic Vehicle and 
of the public who attend future events 
Sandwell Shows. 
is undertaken by stakeholders 
That the Cabinet and other 
Police have agreed to assist in the 
Structured debriefings form the 
stakeholders be recommended to 
debrief procedure, providing a 
baseline action plan for future events. 
ensure that intelligence is gathered on 
structure and clarity of purpose to the 
any future events by all stakeholders in   process, 
order that early de-briefings can identify 
issues and concerns 
That the Cabinet and other 
Politicians are not invited to speak at 
No future invitations to politicians 
stakeholders be recommended to 
any Saint George’s Day events and 
under any circumstances. 
ensure that no politicians be invited to 
will not be asked to take any part in 
speak at any future St George's Day 
the future.  
events  and that no political parties be 
able to display banners or promotional 
materials 
That West Midlands Police Officers 
The “Rewind” Project is engaged in 
Raised awareness levels enable all 
undergo training to develop an    
the planning procedure to raise 
stakeholders to respond 
awareness of the covert signs of any 
awareness of all stakeholders 
appropriately to circumstances as 
political extremism at future events. 
involved in the planning process.  
they arise. 
 
Discussions between Keith Heyes, John Satchwell and Tony Potter resulted in recommendation that the Parade should 
be allowed to proceed this year with the action points detailed above in place; the success or otherwise of the remedial 
action taken to be reviewed immediately after the event.