Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee held on 14 March 2002 at Romney House, Westminster, London SW1P 3EY.

Present

Members

• R. David Muir (Chair)
• Cindy Butts (Deputy Chair)
• Abdal Ullah (Deputy Chair)
• Cecile Lothian
• Nicholas Long

MPA staff:

• Catherine Crawford (Clerk)
• Julia Smith (Policy Officer, CDO)
• Jude Sequeria (Adviser, CDO)
• John Crompton (Committee Services)

MPS staff:

• Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steven House
• Dept Supt Carl Bussey
• John Zlotnicki (Head of Corporate Planning Group)

In addition approximately 30 members of the press/public and other Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) / Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) staff were present.

The meeting was not quorate for consideration of items 11, 13, 14, 16 and 17.

Part 1

62. Welcome to the meeting

(Agenda item 1)

The Chair welcomed members of the public to the meeting.

63. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 2)

Apologies for absence were received from Jennette Arnold and Jenny Jones.

64. Minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2002

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 15 January 2002 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

65. Chair and members’ update

(Agenda item 4)

The Chair referred to a meeting he had attended with the West Midlands Police Authority Cindy Butts reported on the independent evaluation of CRR training.

Cecile Lothian reported on a MPS seminar on drugs. Other members spoke of their duties as link members.

Resolved - That the Chair and Members update be noted.

66. Reorganisation of the MPS diversity directorate

(Agenda item 5)

A report was submitted which outlined the reorganisation of the MPS Diversity Director orate and the interface between the Directorate and other Directorates and units within the MPS which have responsibility for diversity issues.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

67. MPS research and survey unit

(Agenda item 6)

A report was considered which provided an overview of the work and structure of the MPS Research and Survey Unit.

Julia Smith advised that the future of Public Attitude Surveys discussed in the report was relevant to the implementation of the best value review of consultation (agenda item 12)

Resolved - That the report be noted.

68. “Lessons from tragedies” update

(Agenda item 7)

The Committee received a report which provide an update on the “Lessons from Tragedies “ report in relation to the MPS policy on detention, in particular the detention of drunk detainees and cell occupancy.

Referring to paragraph 31 Julia Smith advised that the question of the incidence of double occupancy of cells had been discussed at the special meeting of the Authority on 18 January held to discuss death in custody. The information in this section of the reports would be relayed to all members.

Nicholas Long requested that the Committee be kept advised of the progress of the St Mungo project referred to in paragraphs 19 to 22 . He added that he personally did not like the term Bridewell suites in view of its historical connection as places of correction and wondered if another term could be found for the brigaded custody suites.

Resolved - That the report be noted and a further report on the St Mungo project be submitted to a future meeting.

69. Expenditure by consultants by the Diversity Directorate

(Agenda item 8)

Members received a report which detailed the use and expenditure on external consultants by the Diversity Directorate during the period June 2000 to December 2001.

The Clerk reported that the Finance, Planning and Best Value Committee was due to develop a strategy for all outsourced contracts. She suggested that the Committee might wish to nominate Nicholas Long to monitor the work done on the diversity contracts.

Resolved - That 

1. the report be noted.
2. Nicholas Long be nominated to monitor the aspect of the work the Finance, Planning and Best Value Committee is due to undertake on outsourced contracts.

70. Community and Police Consultative Groups - progress report

(Agenda item 9)

A progress report was submitted which detailed the work on Community and Police Consultative Groups since the last meeting of the Committee and set out proposals for the allocation of funds for 2002/03.

Members paid tribute to the consultative groups for the work done on submitting their funding bids.

Referring to paragraphs 13 and 14 the Clerk said that the funds had not yet been allocated and suggested that in order that the consultative groups could learn of their budget allocation at the earliest opportunity the budget allocation a report be submitted to the Consultation and Urgency Committee on 9 April.

Resolved – That-

1. the purpose of the Community and Police Consultative Group’s Internal Management Meeting be noted;
2. a report on the budget allocation be submitted to the Consultation and Urgency Committee at its meeting on 9 April 2002; and
3. the resource implications contained in the report be noted.

71. Independent Custody Visiting - progress report

(Agenda item 10)

A progress report was submitted which detailed the work on Independent Custody Visiting since the last meeting of the Committee and set out proposals for the allocation of funds for 2002/03.

Referring to the proposals for the allocation of funding the Clerk suggested that in order that the consultative groups could learn of their budget allocation at the earliest opportunity a report on the budget allocation be decided at the Consultation and Urgency Committee on 9 April.

Resolved - That

1. the progress and developments arising from the meeting with the lead member be noted.
2. a report on the budget allocation be submitted to the Consultation and Urgency Committee at its meeting on 9 April 2002.

72. “Equalities for all” best value review

(Agenda item 11)

The GLA group ‘Equalities for All’ Best Value Review is in its final stages of completion. A report was considered which highlighted the progress made and outlines a process for constructing the final report and recommendations.

Referring to paragraph 12 Julia Smith advised the Committee it appeared that the project board would not be meeting on 21 March.

The Clerk said that the draft report would be circulated to members as soon as it was available.

Resolved -

1. the work undertaken to progress the Equalities for All review be noted.
2. the resource issues be noted.
3. the reporting schedule outlined in paragraphs 13 and 14 be noted.

73. Best value review of consultation

(Agenda item 12)

A report was submitted which outlined the development of the proposal

John Zlotnicki reported that Supt. Charles Bailey has been appointed to be the lead officer in implementing the proposals. The MPS broadly supported the proposals in the report and following the meeting would wish to discuss some detailed comments with the authors of the report.

After discussion on the funding of the four community consultation officer posts it was agreed that if necessary a report be submitted to the meeting of the Authority on 25 April

Resolved that -

1. the progress against proposals stated in the report on the Best Value Review of Consultation be noted.
2. the Draft Consultation Strategy and Implementation Plan be approved subject to some more detailed discussion between the MPS and the plans author.
3. officers be instructed to explore ways in which it may be possible to secure funding for the community consultation officer posts and if necessary a report be submitted to the meeting of the Authority on 25 April 2002.
4. a Consultation Strategy Management Board (CSMB) be established to oversee the MPA and MPS consultation activities
5. areas of work be remitted to the CSMB for urgent action in order to complete the work in time for HMIC’s review of the Authority’s progress on the BV report in summer 2002
6. the action plan for the work to be undertaken with consultative groups be noted.

(note: arising from the subsequent consideration by officers on the funding for the community consultation officer posts it was not necessary for a report to be submitted to the Authority on this aspect)

74. Race Relations (Amendment) Act - work in progress by the MPS

(Agenda item 13)

A report was submitted which outlined work in progress towards introducing the MPS Race Equality Scheme to meet the requirements of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

Resolved - That the progress towards preparing the MPS’s Race Equality Scheme be noted.

75. Race Relations (Amendment) Act - work in progress by the MPA

(Agenda item 14)

A report was submitted which outlined work in progress towards introducing the MPA Race Equality Scheme to meet the requirements of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

Julia Smith advised that the MPA would be consulting the community and police consultative groups on the draft Scheme. The groups would have their own responsibilities under the Scheme

Resolved – 

1. the progress towards preparing the MPA’s Race Equality Scheme be noted and that it be noted that it is intended to.
2. the proposed structure for dealing with equal opportunities be approved.

76. Appropriate adult schemes in the MPS

(Agenda item 15)

A report was submitted which sets out the current position on appropriate adult schemes and provided details of the scheme as it operates in the boroughs.

Nicholas Long referred to a report on overtime in the MPS which had been produced in connection with the efficiency and effectiveness review programme. One of the findings had been the amount of officer hours which were effectively lost whilst awaiting the arrival of an appropriate adult. It was clear from the report that practice varied widely from one borough to another and suggested that consideration be given to the provision of a pan-London service.

Assistant Commissioner House advised that whilst there was scope for the MPS to develop a forum to share good practice it would not be acceptable for it operate a scheme of its own.

The Clerk stated that as the MPA is a discrete organisation it should be possible for it to run its own scheme and members may wish to consider this as a possible option.

The Committee asked for discussions to be held with interested parties such as the Association of London Government and the Youth Justice Board with a view being submitted to a future meeting on the possibility of a pan London appropriate adult scheme being established including the option that it be administered by the MPA.

Resolved-That

1. the current position with the various appropriate adult schemes be noted.
2. a report be submitted to a future meeting on the possible provision of a pan- London scheme, including an option that such a scheme be administered by the MPA.

77. Member involvement in the Climbié Inquiry

(Agenda item 16)

A report was submitted concerning the arrangements for securing MPA involvement in phase two of the inquiry into the circumstances leading to the death of Victoria Climbié.

Resolved -That the proposed arrangements for phase two of the inquiry be noted.

78. Meeting arrangements

(Agenda item 17)

A report was submitted which reviewed the current arrangements for meetings of the Committee and set out possible alternative arrangements.

Members indicated that they generally supported the proposal that the formal business meetings of the Committee be held centrally but commented that there needed to be clarity as to what was hoped would be achieved at the informal meetings held in the boroughs. The Chair said that the meetings held so far had been very useful but it was acknowledged that there had been less engagement with members of the public than had been hoped. He paid tribute to those members of the audience who had joined the Committee in its travels around the metropolis.

The Clerk stated that the matter would be discussed further at an away day which MPA members were due to hold on12 April and any changes would not come into effect until after the annual meeting of the Authority in June. This meant that the next meeting of the Committee on 9 May would follow the existing pattern and was due to be held in Hackney.

Resolved- That the proposal to hold the formal business meetings of the Committee at the MPA’s new offices at Dean Farrar Street be supported.

79. Questions and comments from the public

(Agenda item 18)

These are contained in appendix 1.

The meeting finished at 8.15 p.m.

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