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Report 6 of the 26 Sep 00 meeting of the Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee and provides details of the Best Value Review and reports on progress.

Warning: This is archived material and may be out of date. The Metropolitan Police Authority has been replaced by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC).

See the MOPC website for further information.

Best value review - progress report

Report: 6
Date: 26 September 2000
By: Clerk and Commissioner

Summary

This report provides details about the Review, what progress has been made and the Committee is asked to discuss the emerging findings/issues.

A. Supporting information

Background

The Best Value Review of Consultation is being conducted by a joint MPS/ MPA project team. The Work In Progress (WIP) Report, attached as Appendix to this report, describes the work already done as part of the review and this report summarises the WIP Report (version 4) and gives details of progress since its publication.

Review update

1. The three main stages in the Review are:

  • stage 1 - planning the review, undertaking background reviews and ensuring that Independent Challenge (required for Best value Reviews) would be provided;
  • stage 2 - stakeholder analysis and communication plan;
  • stage 3 - detailed review.

2. As part of stage 3, the work is split into the 4C's:

  • challenge why consultation is done and how it is provided;
  • compare the way in which the MPS consults with the ways other police forces and other public bodies consult;
  • consult both internally and externally;
  • consider fair Competition.

A brief summary of work has so far:

Challenge – following completed

  • survey of MPS Borough Commanders;
  • survey of London's Local Authorities;
  • survey of PCCGs;
  • review of existing MPS surveys.

Compare – following will be completed by 22 September 2000

  • literature review;
  • visits to Police Authorities and Constabularies;
  • visits to Local Authorities.

Consult – following completed

  • a range of focus groups aimed at officers and staff in the MPS;
  • a range of focus groups and survey work aimed at the general public;
  • focus groups for young people and the homeless;
  • work with members of the MPA;
  • consultative meeting with PCCGs, community safety officers of London's local authorities and others;
  • the formation of a key partners group to work with MPA/ MPS on the formation of the draft consultation strategy;
  • focus groups aimed at the community and voluntary sector;
  • surveys of the community and voluntary sector.

Compete - Initial work to identify the market is underway. A paper planning progress and proposals for the way forward will be presented to the ICP on 18 September 2000.

The costs of the current consultation processes are being researched. The options for the future will be costed.

A feasibility study of e-consultation is being piloted using a questionnaire on the MPA website.

The Independent Challenge Panel (ICP)

4. A key element of the review is to 'challenge' how it is conducted and to contribute on how best to consult. Accordingly, the Project Board agreed to the formation of an Independent Challenge Panel (ICP). The Panel had its first meeting on 28 August with further meetings planned for the 18 September and 10 October.

Developing the consultation strategy

5. The aim of the project is to develop a strategy for consultation with proposals as to how the MPA/MPS will consult on policing issues in the future, including how they will engage the public and ensure appropriate feedback following consultation. This strategy will need to be adopted by the Authority by December in order to fit in with the needs of next year's Policing Plan and budgetary requirements, eg: for PCCGs.

B. Recommendation

That members note the continuing work being carried out by the joint MPA/MPS project team.

C. Financial implications

There are no specific financial implications from this report. Strategy options will be costed in later reports.

D. Review arrangements

Further review will be undertaken by future meetings of this committee.

E. Background papers

The following is a statutory list of background papers (under the Local Government Act 1972 S.100 D) which disclose facts or matters on which the report is based and which have been relied on to a material extent in preparing this report. They are available on request to either the contact officer listed above or to the Clerk to the Police Authority at the address indicated on the agenda.

F. Contact details

The author of this report are Anne Wheeler, MPS Project Manager and Sultan Taylor, MPA Consultation and Outreach Team.

For information contact:

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

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