Minutes

Minutes of the joint meeting of the Finance and Resources Committee and Strategic and Operational Policing Committee held on 5 March 2009 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Reshard Auladin
• Cindy Butts
• Chris Boothman
• Toby Harris
• Jenny Jones
• Joanne McCartney
• Steve O’Connell
• Caroline Pidgeon
• Deborah Regal
• Richard Tracey

Also attended: Valerie Brasse.

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive)
• Ken Hunt (Treasurer)
• Ruth Hastings Iqball (Committee Officer).

MPS officers

• Tim Godwin (A/Dep Commissioner)
• Simon Hart (A/Director of Finance Services)
• Rod Jarman (A/DAC, TP)
• Anne McMeel (Director of Resources)

1. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Jennette Arnold, Faith Boardman, Cindy Butts, Dee Doocey, Neil Johnson, and Graham Speed.

2. Appointment of Chair

(Agenda item 2)

Resolved – That Reshard Auladin, Chair of Strategic and Operational Policing Committee (SOPC), chair the joint meeting

3. To receive any declarations of interests from Members of the Authority

(Agenda item 3)

No declarations of interest were received.

4. Update on the Policing London Business Plan 2009-12

(Agenda item 4)

Following approval to the Mayor’s final 2009/10 budget proposals on 11 February 2009 and the Government announcements on the general policing grant and some specific grants, the joint committee was asked to approve the 2009-12 Policing London Business Plan and Budget (capital and revenue). If approved by the full Authority on 26 March 2009, it would be published by 31 March 2009 as required by statute.

The Director of Resources outlined the changes to the Plan since it was last submitted to SOPC. The Treasurer stated that the budget would balance next year, but this would be more difficult to achieve in following years. The Chief Executive said that this was the last occasion on which members would be able to comment on the plan before it was formally signed off at the next full Authority, adding that this was difficult time to set targets as the Home Office was changing its targets and as newly appointed Commissioner would wish to implement changes. The Chair stated that GLA members would have had chance to discuss the budget aspects of the Plan at GLA meetings.

Members asked about the 6% saving across BOCUs. They were told that front line policing would not be effected and all savings proposed by BOCUs were submitted to TP HQs ‘Star Chamber’ before being agreed. In answer to questions, members were told that there would be no reduction to the funding of the Human Trafficking Unit in next year, any decisions thereafter would be transparent. Members asked if the large underspend on the revenue and capital was a way of topping up reserves. They were told that underspends were reported to the Finance and Resources Committee (F&RC) regularly. £22m revenue would support the capital programme over the next two years. Members were assured the Treasurer was happy with this approach.

Members asked why the figures relating to officers and recruits numbers were split out. They were told this had been requested at an earlier SOPC in order to provide greater clarity. Members also asked about the funding of the Mayor’s proposed rape crisis centres. They were informed that these were not the same as rape ‘Havens’ which were funded in part by the MPA/MPS and that the MPS had no statutory duty to provide finance for rape crisis centres. A member added that Croydon had the only rape crisis centre in the GLA, and partnership funding was being sought for a further three.

Members requested and it was agreed that the wording of paragraph 5 of the foreword be amended. Questions were asked as to the principles behind targets. Members were told they were linked to the Local Area Agreements. Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships and BOCUs proposed targets which were subjected a ‘Star Chamber’ process before assisting in the formation of overall targets.

The Chair asked why the target for 2009/10 was reduced to 80% from the previous 95% for ‘Policing Pledge Promise 2: Safer Neighbourhood teams visible time on Wards as a percentage of work hours’. He was told this to tie it to the national target.

Resolved - That

1. the 2009-12 Policing London Business Plan and budget (capital and revenue) for publication by 31 March 2009 as required by statute (Appendix 1 of the report);
2. the revised Capital Programme details projects (Appendix 3 of the report - EXEMPT); and
3. the revised Capital Programme prudential indicators (Appendix 4 of the report) be approved for submission to the Authority on 26 March 2009, subject to a change to the foreword and any proofing changes.

5. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 5)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during remaining items on the agenda as they were likely to disclose exempt information as described in Schedule 12(a) of the Local Government Act 1972, paragraph 3.

Resolved - That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of the remaining items on the agenda.

6. Update on the Policing London Business Plan 2009-12 – exempt appendix

(Agenda item 6)

The exempt appendix 3 was considered under item 4

7. Investments in Icelandic banks

(Agenda item 7)

The report was considered by the Finance and Resources Committee earlier in the day instead of the joint meeting of the F&RC and SOPC.

The meeting ended at 2.40 pm

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback