Minutes

Minutes of the Corporate Governance Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 23 September 2004 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, Westminster, London SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Jennette Arnold (Chair)
• Toby Harris (item 7 onwards)
• Elizabeth Howlett
• Rachel Whittaker (Deputy Chair)
• Co-opted member: Richard Stephenson (Group Director of the Health and Safety Executive for Transport for London).

MPA officers

• Keith Dickinson (Head of Policing Policy)
• Peter Martin (Treasurer)
• Peter Tickner (Director, Internal Audit)
• Ruth Hastings Iqball (Committee Section)

MPS officers

• Louis Backwell (Head, Health & Safety Branch)
• Richard Bryan (DAC, Directorate of Strategic Development)
• Sharon Burd (Director of Finance Services)
• Nick Chown (Director, Risk Management)
• Paul Daly (Director of Exchequer Services, Finance Services)
• Philip Flower (Detective Superintendent, Operation Augusta)
• James Kettle (Team Leader, Health & Safety Branch)

In attendance

• Graham Reid (PCS Health & Safety Representative, MPS)
• Tracy White (Prospect Health & Safety Representative, MPS)

Part 1

10. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Catherine Crawford (Clerk) and David Riddle (Deputy Clerk). The Chair welcomed Richard Stephenson, Group Director of the Health and Safety Executive for Transport for London, to the meeting as a co-opted member for health and safety issues.

The Chair informed members that if they had questions in relation to future reports, they should email them to the appropriate MPA committee officer, so that informed answers might be given at committee meetings.

11. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interest were received.

12. Minutes of the Corporate Governance Committee – 19 July 2004

(Agenda item 3)

The Committee considered the minutes of the Corporate Governance Committee held on 19 July 2004.

Resolved - That the minutes of the Corporate Governance Committee held on 19 July 2004 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

13. Committee work programme

(Agenda item 4)

Members received a report outlining a workplan by which the committee would fulfil its role as agreed in its terms of reference.

Resolved - That the workplan be agreed.

14. Lead members roles

(Agenda item 5)

A report was received asking committees to review and appoint their lead member positions, subject to confirmation by the full Authority in October. It was agreed that a lead member was no longer required for health and safety, as this remit was adequately covered byit was covered by this committee

It was noted that the MPA was represented at the ACPO Health and Safety Group by Jennette Arnold, who had delegated this role to the MPA’s Head of Policing Policy, Keith Dickinson.

Resolved - That Corporate Governance Committee have no lead members.

15. MPS health and safety policy implementation

(Agenda item 6)

Members received a report updating them on the MPS’s progress on the implementation of the joint MPS/MPA Health and Safety Policy. The policy was launched in January 2004, but was being reviewed with a view to its reissue. Keith Dickinson was collating members’ comments. Members asked to be informed of changes proposed by the MPS.

Resolved – that the report be noted.

16. MPS health and safety performance

(Agenda item 7)

The Head of the Health & Safety Branch introduced a report updating members on the MPS’s performance in health and safety matters. He spoke on some initiatives, and praised his staff’s work in these areas.

Members asked about the rationale for recording which incidents that caused more than three days absence. They were told that this was required as part of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). Further information, outside the meeting, was requested on how the days were calculated for shift workers.

Members requested that the MPS Strategic Health and Safety Committee minutes be circulated to members in their entirety, or summarised, depending on length.

In relation to the introduction of health and safety courses for Police Community Support Officers’s (PCSOs), the MPS was asked to inform members, outside the meeting, what happened if courses were failed by serving PCSOs.

An error was noted in appendix 2, as no officers had been drowned or asphyxiated. An explanation would be sent to members explaining the discrepancy.

It was noted that appendix 2 showed all injuries, ranging from the minor (i.e. paper cuts) to serious. It was felt the heading ‘none of the above’ should be re-worded to make this clearer. Richard Stephenson reminded members that it was best health and safety practice to record all accidents, and even near miss accidents, regardless of the severity of their consequences.

Members commented that the number of accidents had increased, but it was agreed this could be attributed to the increase in workforce, and by the Health and Safety Unit and unions encouraging better reporting of accidents. The number of assaults was a cause for concern, and officer safety training was trying to address this. The number of slips, trips and falls concerned members as they could lead to financial loss to the MPA. In response to a question, members were informed that injuries to the public ranged through fainting in the reception area of a station, fingers trapped in doors to injuries to contractors.

Resolved – that the report be noted.

17. HSE inspection report of fast roads and police community support officers

(Agenda item 8)

A report was received informing members of the result of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) inspection of the MPS in relation to fast roads policing and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).

The HSE recommendation that PCSOs be provided with safer headwear led to a discussion on the how the role of PCSOs had developed. The MPS felt there was a need to differentiate between their role and that of police officers, whilst members felt there was a need to recognise that PCSOs were sometimes placed in situations that required more protective clothing. It was agreed that the committee should return to health and safety issues relating to PCSOs following the review of their role by the MPS.

Resolved – that the 1. MPS response to the HSE’s recommendations be noted.

18. External audit review of risk management in the MPS

(Agenda item 9)

Members received a report on the interim findings by the external auditors on risk management in the MPS.

A question was asked on how the number of officers required for public orders events was calculated. DAC Bryan informed members that Assistant Commissioners felt that operational risk management was part of their everyday role, and that the Director of Risk Management should be primarily concerned with business risk. Members felt there was a business element in the number of officers deployed because of the costs involved. The Treasurer stated that he had been informed that financial issues were considered in the planning of police operations.

The Chair requested an organisational chart of the Director of Risk Management’s area of work.

Resolved – That the Audit Commission report be noted.

19. Risk management update

(Agenda item 10)

A report was received confirming the process for reporting risk within the MPS and the involvement of the Authority’s Corporate Governance Committee in exercising oversight of MPS risk management and corporate risks.

Members expressed a desire to have a section on risk management in committee reports. In response to questions, the Treasurer agreed to share a report on the insurance invalidation indemnity policy with members. (The report is scheduled to go to Finance Committee on 21 October.)

Members were informed that there was a section on Human Rights impacts in risk assessments. This information would be passed to the Chair of the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board.

Resolved – That the development of risk management within the MPS, including the processes for reporting risk within the MPS, and the future involvement of this Committee in the oversight of MPS risk management and corporate risks be noted

20. Internal audit progress report

(Agenda item 11)

Members received a report setting out progress made in achieving the 2004/2005 Internal Audit Plan. Members requested that final system audits be referred to members of appropriate committees.

Peter Tickner reported that some high-risk recommendations were still outstanding from 2003, but the Director of Resources would be taking these up with the MPS’s Management Board. The Chair asked for a grid showing outstanding recommendations, with timescales.

Resolved – That the progress made in achieving the 2004/2005 Internal Audit Plan be noted.

21. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 16)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during item 17 as it was likely to disclose exempt information as described in Schedule 12(a)(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Resolved – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of agenda items 17.

22. Update on Hendon swimming pool incident

(Agenda item 17)

Members received a report informing members of internal investigation and legal action following the deaths of two teenagers in the swimming pool at Hendon Police College in July 2002. On legal advice from the MPA's Deputy Clerk and Solicitor it was agreed members should not discuss, but only note the content of the report.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

The meeting ended at 12.00 p.m.

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