Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 19 December 2006 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Len Duvall (Chair)
• Tony Arbour
• Jennette Arnold
• Richard Barnes
• Dee Doocey
• Toby Harris (from item 7)
• Peter Herbert
• Elizabeth Howlett
• Jenny Jones
• Karim Murji
• Bob Neill
• Aneeta Prem
• John Roberts
• Richard Sumray
• Graham Tope
• Rachel Whittaker

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive)
• David Riddle (Deputy Chief Executive, Deputy Clerk and Solicitor to the Authority)
• Ken Hunt (Treasurer)
• Nick Baker (Head of Committee Services)

MPS officers

• Sir Ian Blair (Commissioner)
• Paul Stephenson (Deputy Commissioner)
• Martin Tiplady (Director Of Human Resources)
• Stephen Rimmer (Director of Strategy, Modernisation and Performance)
• Alan Croney (Director of Property Services)
• Sharon Burd (Acting Director of Resources)

77. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies were received from Reshard Auladin (Deputy Chair), Cindy Butts (Deputy Chair), Nicky Gavron, Kirsten Hearn, Damain Hockney and Joanne McCartney.

78. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations were declared.

79. Minutes

(Agenda item 3)

Members considered the minutes of the Authority meeting held on 30 November 2006.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meetings of the Authority held on 30 November 2006 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

80. Minutes of committees

(Agenda item 4)

The minutes of the following committees were received for information:

• Finance Committee – 23 November 2006.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of Committees be received and noted.

81. Chair's update

(Agenda item 5)

No update was given.

82. Budget report

(Agenda item 6)

At the Authority meeting held on 30 November 2006, members received a report that provided the corporate business plan. This was submitted to the GLA later on the 30 November. A further report was submitted to the December meeting of the Authority, in order that members could review the content of the plan and any additional feedback.

The report outlined the three main purposes of the corporate business plan; details of the capital budget (as presented to the Finance Committee on 23 November); risks within the budget/corporate business plan and the management of those risks; reserves; the national position on the grant settlement; national counter terrorism funding; the effects of London borough council grant settlement on partnership working; performance information; and a review of the strategic priorities.

In introducing the report, the Chair of the Authority reminded members that there was currently a £16 million shortfall in the budget, but stressed that the budget process continued and further savings were being sought and expected this would be resolved in early 2007. He stated that he was confident that this shortfall would not fall upon the precept and was in discussions with the Mayor on this issue. The Chair confirmed that discussions were on going with Government on funding for Operation Overt.

The Chair suggested to members that the Authority’s budget process had greatly improved and that work undertaken as part of the process had the balance right between the budget requirements and priority services development. He thanked both MPA and MPS colleagues for their contribution to this improvement, but in doing so, acknowledged that the budget process, which would always be challenging, was capable of further improvement.

The Deputy Commissioner reiterated the comments made by the Chair and agreed the process had greatly improved. He confirmed that the MPS in considering the budget had focused on predicating the budget on what policing was required, policing expectations and focusing on citizens needs, highlighted by the prioritisation of safer neighbourhoods and visibility and reassurance.

The Deputy Commissioner confirmed that as part of the budget process the MPS had considered the effective deployment of resources in front line services, increased efficiency in support services and made savings in procurement. He added that in future years consideration would also have to be given to maximising sustainable income generation.

It was noted that the budget process had commenced earlier than in previous years, with a greater scrutiny of possible efficiency savings.

In conclusion, the Deputy Commissioner agreed with the Chair that there was still a need for improvement in the budget process and confirmed that the budget process for the 2008/09 would commence in early January 2007.

The Treasurer indicated to members that the report before them included issues previously raised at the November full Authority meeting, including risks, management of risks in the budget and corporate business plan and the effect of London borough councils grant settlement on partnership working. He also drew members’ attention to the provisional grant settlement, which was subject to consultation with a closing date of 5 January 2007. A suggested response was outlined in paragraphs 30 and 31 of the report and members supported this.

In relation to the London borough councils grant settlement and its effects on partnership working, a request was made that the Home Office be asked to publish details on specific grants to local government. It was also suggested that it would be useful to set up scenarios in order to see what, if any, effects there may be on contingency to counter balance the effects of the grant settlement and partnership initiatives. Members also felt that scenario planning would also be useful for future years to assess any resources that can be freed-up in order to develop flexibility within the budget and develop Authority lead initiatives.

The Chair, in agreeing with the need for the Home Office to provide information on grants to local authorities, also supported developing initiatives on crime and disorder, possibly working with London Councils. He also supported the possibility of developing a precept strategy as part of the budget process; to provide greater certainty and transparency services in the medium term.

Members welcomed the early start to the planning of the budget process and it was suggested that future documentation relating to the budget, particularly that in the public domain, should outline what the key issues were and how decisions were reached.

In relation to the report that will be presented to the January 2007 meeting of the Authority, members requested that financial details be given on how targets and objectives will be meet.

RESOLVED – That

1. the draft corporate business plan at Appendix 1 to the report be agreed;
2. the proposed response to the provisional grant settlement consultation, outlined in paragraphs 30 and 31 of the report, be noted and be submitted as the formal response of the Authority; and
3. a letter be sent to the Home Office seeking the publication of details on specific grants to local government especially those pertinent to crime and disorder.

83. Estate strategy

(Agenda item 7a and 7b)

Members received a report that presented the Estate Strategic Plan (and the plans to support the roll out of the strategic plan) and the Consultation and Communications Strategies for approval.

With the agreement of the Chair an additional report was tabled addressing members concerns on the level of detail contained within the estates strategy presented to the Authority in February 2006.

In receiving the reports, members drew the MPS’ attention to concerns relating to the circulation of information to communities, which they believed was misleading and undermined the consultation and communication strategy. An example was given of recently circulated information in the Teddington area concerning an increase in capacity of custody suits. Members suggested that in such situations there was a need for the MPS to be clear on what they are consulting on. In addition, members suggested that there were cases were the MPS should be clearer about the difference between communicating information and undertaking consultation.

Members requested that link members and local community leaders were provided with information in order to allay the fears of residents in such circumstances. Members were informed that the additional custody capacity in Teddington, would not be used for long-term offenders and the MPS hoped that the consultation and communication strategy would address this type of issue in future. The Deputy Commissioner agreed that information in relation to the custody suites proposed for Teddington would be circulated to the relevant link members.

In relation to both estate and the consultation and communications strategies, members also raised a number of points including;

• The plans need to be timely, substantial and meaningful;
• the need for the MPS to engage with local authorities and communities about ways in which decommissioned buildings can be used and the need to update the disposal strategy
• the need to involve the MPA earlier in the process and possibly using MPA members as local advocates;
• develop links with local stakeholders;
• the need for the MPS to deliver clear messages to communities on what can and can not be undertaken with the estate;
• link members to be involved with and receive information on proposals within the residential strategy;
• the need to link what is being undertaken to benefit realisation;
• the need to engage with local planning authorities when disposing of properties and be fully prepared for the planning process;
• ownership and governance of the documentation needs to be agreed;
• there needs to coherent links between finance and consultation;
• members to be informed of developments with Hendon and the training estate in general;
• the strategy needs to be flexible to meet the changing requirements facing policing, particularly those relating to criminal justice units;
• both the environmental strategy and race and equality aspects within the estate strategy need to be strengthened.

In noting the comments made by members, the Deputy Commissioner stated that he was confident that these and other issues would be addressed through the MPA Estate Programme Board and the MPA Estate Oversight Group. The Chair added that MPA’s Finance Committee would consider proposed consultation and communication processes on a case-by-case basis, with the Oversight Group then monitoring the process. He agreed that a disposal strategy should be provided to the Authority in the New Year detailing the criteria and when and where proposed disposals were taking place. He confirmed that members having debated a proposal were entitled to subsequently oppose that proposal at both a local and Authority level.

RESOLVED – That

1. the Estate Strategic Plan for the MPA/MPS estate be supported;
2. the outline governance arrangements proposed for the Estate Strategic Plan and the associated Consultation and Communication Strategy and Plan be noted;
3. the Consultation and Communication Strategies and Plans developed in support of the Estate Strategic Plan be approved; and
4. the proposed Estate Strategic Plan and the associated Consultation and Communication Strategies and Plans be subject to regular review and update under the auspices of the MPS Estate Programme Board and the MPA Estate Oversight Group.

84. Commissioner’s update

(Agenda item 8)

Performance issues

The Commissioner reported on the monthly performance figures and a number of other matters.

He presented performance information, comparing the period April – November 2006 with the same period for 2005 and included details of public satisfaction, British crime survey figures and the public attitude survey.

The Commissioner highlighted the decreases in motor vehicle crime; homicides; domestic violence; racist crime and homophobic crime. He also drew members attention to the sanction detection rate for the 2006/07 year to date stood at 20.7%, with the MPS target being 20%.

It was also confirmed that Safer Neighbourhood Teams now consisted of 1 sergeant, 2 constables and 3 PSCOs. Members raised concerns that in two particular wards a local authority was funding safer neighbourhood teams on a 24-hour rota. The concerns related to the teams being used as additional patrols and not problem solving or liaising with the community. The Commissioner confirmed that this was a pilot scheme and was taking place in wards with a nighttime economy. However, in noting the concerns, he stated that he would like the pilot to be completed before further making further comments.

Operational and non-operational news

In welcoming the summary of operation and non-operational news, members requested that future summaries be specific in relation to the borough affected or mentioned.

Members drew the Commissioner’s attention to an article in ‘New Nation’, which was highly critical of some aspects of policing in London. The Commissioner agreed to look at the article and if it was felt appropriate issue a rebuttal to the published story. If a rebuttal was issued a copy would be circulated to members.

In response to some members concerns about such issues as the recent House of Lords judgement relating to the policing of ‘Fairford’ demonstrations, the continuing demonstration in Parliament Square and recent comments made in relation to stop and search, the Commissioner confirmed that the ‘Fairford’ decision had been studied and the MPS would be complying with its findings. The Parliament Square demonstration was being policed within existing legislation and recent comments made on stop and search under Section 44 by ACSO reflected the ongoing debate on this issue.

The Commissioner provided members with details of unmarked police cars and informed members that he did not know of any particular increase in the number of these. He also undertook to look at the issues raised by members on third party reporting and circulate a note to members in due course.

At the conclusion to the Commissioner’s update, the Commissioner and the Chair of the Authority confirmed the appointment of John Yates to Assistant Commissioner and requested that their congratulations be noted.

RESOLVED - That the report be received.

85. Dates of future meetings 2007/08

(Agenda item 9)

A report was considered that outlined the calendar of meetings for the Authority’s formal meeting for July 2007 to July 2008.

With the exception of those for the Co-ordination and Policing Committee, the dates were agreed. The Chair agreed to looked at again at its dates.

RESOLVED – That

1. with the exception of dates for the Co-ordination and Policing Committee, the dates were agreed; and
2. the Chief Executive and Clerk to the Authority seek from the Home Office a dispensation to hold the annual meeting of the Authority for 2008 in July 2008.

87. Exclusion of Press and Public

(Agenda item 10)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during remaining items on the agenda as it was likely to disclose exempt information as described in Schedule 12(a) (para 4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED - That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of the remaining items on the agenda.

Summary of exempt minutes

88. Transforming Human Resources business case

(Agenda item 11)

A report was considered that outlined the business case for changing the way that Human Resources works.

89. Exempt appendices to estate strategy

(Agenda item 12)

In considering agenda item 7, members also noted the exempt appendices to that report.

The meeting ended at 1.00 pm.

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