MPA Standing orders

Report: 4 - annual meeting
Date: 25 June 2009
By: Chief Executive

Summary

This report presents the current version of the Authority’s Standing Orders which comprise:

• Part A – Procedural Standing Orders
• Part B – Terms of Reference of MPA committees/sub-committee
• Part C - MPA Scheme of Delegation
• Part D - MPA Code of Conduct
• Part E – Financial Regulations
• Part F – Contract Regulations

During the last year there have been minor amendments and updates to the Standing Orders. One major amendment that has been made is to the Authority’s urgency process.

A copy of the Authority’s Standing Orders is circulated with this agenda as separate document.

A. Recommendation

That the Authority agree the Authority’s Standing Orders, including the revised MPA Urgency Procedure (Part A – Section 6.1).

B. Supporting information

1. The current procedural Standing Orders were agreed when the Authority came into existence in July 2000. The Standing Orders have been regularly reviewed since then to reflect the way the Authority does its business.

MPA urgency procedure

2. Since March 2009, members of the Corporate Governance Committee and officers have been working on amending the MPA’s urgency provisions with the aim of increasing transparency and accountability for decisions taken in this way.

3. At its meeting on 15 June 2009, the Corporate Governance Committee recommended that full Authority approve the proposed changes. The proposed Standing Order in relation to urgency powers are shown on procedural standing orders Part A – section 6.

Member attendance at conferences

4. Para 4.7 of the Scheme of Delegation includes provision for the Chief Executive to approve member attendance at conferences up to a financial ceiling, above which approval is required from the Strategic & Operational Policing Committee. Currently that limit is £1,000 per member (or £2,000 if more than one member wishes to attend) for conference and all associated costs (e.g. travel and accommodation). It is proposed that these limits be increased to £1500 per member or a total of £3000 if more than one member wishes to attend.

Committee and Sub-committee terms of reference

4. The current committee structure came into operation in October 2008 and at the last meeting of the Authority it was agreed not to make any changes to that structure.

5. Since October 2008 several small changes have been made to some committee and sub-committee terms of reference and these are now reflected in Part B of Standing Orders.

C. Race and equality impact

There are no significant equalities issues related to the changes proposed to Standing Orders.

D. Financial implications

None.

E. Background papers

• Current standing Orders

F. Contact details

Report author(s): Nick Baker, MPA

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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