Reports from Committees

Report: 10
Date: 31 March 2011
By: Chief Executive

At each meeting of the Authority members will receive a report from committees that have meet in recent weeks.

This report from the authority’s committees provides members with details of the key items considered at each of the committees and their Sub-committees.

This report covers the following meetings:

• Joint Strategic and Operational Policing/Finance and Resources Committees – 17 February 2011
• Finance and Resources Committee - 17 February 2011
• Communities, Equality and People Committee – 3 March 2011
• Corporate Governance Committee – 10 March 2011

Joint Strategic and Operational Policing/Finance and Resources Committees – 17 February 2011

Members present: Steve O’Connell (appointed as Chair of the meeting), Jennette Arnold, Reshard Auladin, John Biggs, Faith Boardman, Chris Boothman, Toby Harris, Jenny Jones, Joanne McCartney, Caroline Pidgeon, Amanda Sater, Valerie Shawcross and Graham Speed.

Thematic performance report

This report reviewed the MPS performance and initiatives against the 2010-13 corporate objective to ‘Lead and Manage our service to ensure the most efficient, effective and economic use of all the resources entrusted to us’

MPA Safer Neighbourhoods scrutiny findings

The report from the MPA Safer Neighbourhoods scrutiny which had recently been completed was presented. The full findings were presented and these were clustered under a number of themes, for example on the size and role of the Safer Neighbourhood teams. The two overriding key findings were:

1. SN policing has been a huge success for the MPS. SN teams have bought a change to how Londoners relate to and perceive their local police.
2. A wholesale revision to how SN policing is delivered in wards is not required. Rather a majority of the participants requested the flexibility for Borough Commanders alongside local authority partners and residents to devise a SN response that best met the needs of their boroughs.

The report contained a single recommendation which the meeting noted. It was also noted that the MPS is due to submit a report on the findings of its own review.

Policing London Business Plan

Draft Borrowing and Capital Spending Plan 2011/12-2017/18

The meeting considered these two reports which were also on the agenda for the Authority meeting on 24 February

Professional Standard matters – exempt

The meeting considered a number of exempt items which would ordinarily have been submitted to the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee but this Committee did not meet in February.

Finance and Resources Committee - 17 February 2011

Members present: Steve O’Connell, Reshard Auladin, John Biggs, Faith Boardman, Chris Boothman, Amanda Sater, Valerie Shawcross and Graham Speed.

Revenue and capital budget monitoring

This report advised that at period 9 (to the end of December). The revenue budget is forecast to overspend by £0.9m (0% of budget). The capital programme as at the end of Period 9 shows year to date total expenditure of £124.1m which represents 44.9% of the revised annual budget of £276.3m. The forecast for the year of £224.7m represents an under-spend of £51.6m (18.7% of the revised annual budget).

Review of residential rent and service charges

Approval was given to an average increase of 6.05% in the level of rent to be charged in 2011/12 in respect rents that are paid by police officers when occupying houses or flats and rooms in section houses within the MPA estate.

Disposal of former police stations

There is a schedule of properties which have been identified for disposal in the current financial year. The Committee received a report in connection with the outcome of several of these disposals and approved the recommended bid which had been made in respect of the following former police station at Norwood Green (Ealing). An open market tender was carried out

Early departure of police staff from the MPS

Approval was given for access to the reserves in order for the MPS to cover the costs associated with continuing and expanding the police staff redundancy scheme,.
Olympic Games business cases (exempt)

A process is in place for managing the flow of Olympics related business cases from the Olympic Sub-committee to the Finance and Resources Committee under which the Olympics Sub-committee presents a written report to the Finance and Resources Committee supplemented by an oral update by the Chair of the Sub-committee . At this meeting the business case relating to catering was agreed

Communities, Equality and People Committee – 3 March 2011

Members present: Cindy Butts, Reshard Auladin, Faith Boardman, Valerie Brasse and Clive Lawton

MPS Promotion Processes – 2009 and 2010

The Committee received a report highlighting the success of the promoting difference team in supporting underrepresented groups; including female and Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) candidates. The MPS confirmed that that line managers do not possess a power of veto, and that all applications for positions are assessed, often by a central panel. Discussions were held on networking opportunities provided for staff, and the strategic interview processes.

Utilising the Expertise of MPS Faith and Staff Associations to Improve Community Engagement

The Committee received a report outlining the varying contributions that Faith and Staff Support Associations (SSAs) make to improving community engagement and internal MPS developments, such as recruitment. The MPS is conducting a review of SSAs, which presents an opportune time to formalise the ownership, funding and mandates of the SSAs.

Proposals for the MPA Hate Crime Forum

The Committee received a report considering how the MPA Hate Crime Forum could develop under the Mayor’s Office of Policing and Crime. The development presents an opportunity to establish the principles and emerging issues of hate crime. With the establishment of new pan-London boards, such as the London Crime Reduction Board and the London Anti-Violence Partnership, there is the option for hate crime to link into a wider strategic overview across London.

Update on the use of Firearms and Taser

The Committee received a report; which outlined the reduction in deployment of tasers in both the Specialist Firearms Unit (CO19) and the Territorial Support Group (CO20), over the last three years. Members discussed the reasons for this reduction, along with the MPS public engagement work, which has resulted in a positive public perception of tasers.

Corporate Governance Committee – 10 March 2011

This meeting was not quorate .The daft minutes( see Appendix 1) are appended and members are asked to ratify the decisions.

Contact details

Report authors: Nick Baker, MPA

For more information contact:

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

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback