Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Finance and Resources Committee held on 14 April 2011 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Steve O’Connell (Chair)
• Reshard Auladin
• John Biggs
• Chris Boothman
• Dee Doocey

MPA officers

• Bob Atkins (Treasurer)
• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive)
• John Crompton (Treasury Team)
• Helen Sargeant, Solicitor to the Authority, attended for consideration of agenda items 6 and 14

MPS officers

• Jane Bond (Director of Property Services)
• Nina Cope (Director, TP Development)
• Anne McMeel (Director of Resources)
• Nick Rogers (Director of Finance Services)
• David Taylor (Deputy Director, Asset Management)
• Chief Inspector Dawn Morris (Kingston BOCU) attended for consideration of agenda item 7
• Hameera Darr (Solicitor, Department of Legal Services) attended for items 6 and 14.

174. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Faith Boardman, Amanda Sater, Valerie Shawcross and Graham Speed.

175. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

There were none.

176. Minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2011 (PART 1)

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 24 March 2011 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

177. Report from the Sub-committees of the Finance and Resources Committee

(Agenda item 4)

Resolved – That the information be noted.

158. Revenue and capital budget monitoring 2010/11 – period 11

(Agenda item 5)

This report provided an update on the revenue monitoring position for 2010/11 at period 11 (to the end of February). The revenue budget is forecast to under-spend by £6.4m (0.2% of budget). The capital programme as at the end of period 11 shows year to date total expenditure of £156.9m. This total represents 56.8% of the revised annual budget of £276.3m. The forecast for the year of £199.6m represents an under-spend of £76.7m (27.8% of the revised annual budget).

In reply to questions on the underspend on the capital programme the Director of Finance Services advised that a new monitoring system had been developed in the SAP system and this would improve the accuracy of forecasting in future years.

In reply to a question the Director of Finance Services advised that the position regarding the PCSO strength outlined in paragraph 62 of the report reflected the fact that the headcount was taken on a day which had been specified by the Home Office.

Resolved – That the year to date and forecast positions for the revenue and capital budgets be noted.

159. Local Authority match funding

(Agenda item 6)

A report was submitted which advised that a Match Funding Scheme has been offered to the Local Authorities, under Section 92 of the Police Act 1996, where if they fund one officer another officer will be provided at no additional charge to the Local Authority. The Scheme has seen initial expressions of interest for 200 officers (gross) and is expected to receive a maximum of 230 bids once all Local Authorities have established their position. This report sought approval to the Scheme as a means of working in partnership with borough councils and of safeguarding officer resilience during a period of increasing financial restraint.
The Committee agreed to receive a deputation from Philip Bradley and
Christopher McCracken concerning this report.

Mr Bradley introduced himself by explaining that he was the Staff Side Secretary from Wandsworth Council. He stated that he had sought permission to address the meeting as Wandsworth was one of the first boroughs which intended to use the match funding scheme and he was concerned at the effects that this would have on Council employees. He reminded members that Wandsworth Council had successfully operated its own parks police service since the demise of the Greater London Council in 1986. The service was generally held in high regard but like other local authorities, it had been required to take its share of spending reductions. Mr Bradley said he wished to draw members attention to the fact that if they agreed to implement the match funding scheme an unfortunate consequence would be that the posts of 27 staff he represented at Wandsworth would be deleted.

Mr Bradley concluded by saying he wished to seek clarity on one aspect of the scheme – did it relate to the provision of additional officers –ie. officers who would not otherwise have been provided.

Mr McCracken then addressed the Committee. He advised that he was engaged in this sector of the economy as Director of Involve CSP. He had discussed the proposal with a representative of the Institute of Directors and it was anticipated that the Institute would be submitting its own representations in due course. Mr McCracken advised that the legal basis for the proposed scheme was open to question as it appeared to him that the proposed use of Section 92 of the Police Act went beyond its original intention. He would also make the point that the cheapest solution would no doubt be favoured, but this type of competitive distortion was contrary to UK law. The subsidies distorted the market both in the public and private sector. He would also ask members to bear in mind that it was a often the case that things which were designed to save money turned out not to realise the anticipated savings in practice.

Mr McCracken concluded by urging members not to agree to the implement the match funding scheme in view of the way in which it would distort the market and the inherent unfairness.

The Director of Resources stated that the proposal before the Committee was not a radical new proposal as similar schemes had been in operation in boroughs for several years. Rather it provided a template of standard terms and conditions which would be applied locally. The scheme covered the whole of London, but the take up would no doubt vary from borough to borough. The scheme was designed to secure the provision of additional officers. She would remind members that the proposal was included in the business plan which had been approved by the Full Authority. The budget included provision for 115 additional officers on a match funding basis making 230 posts in total.

The Chair thanked Mr Bradley and Mr McCracken for attending and making their representations. He invited members to ask questions. He explained that the Committee would make a decision on the matter in the exempt section of the meeting as there were some exempt appendices which members would wish to discuss.

Having discussed the matter further in the exempt section of the meeting it was

Resolved (with John Biggs dissenting) – That

1. the terms of the Match Funding Scheme as set out in exempt, Appendix 1 be agreed;
2. the initial response by borough councils and that the Policing London Business Plan can accommodate agreements up to 230 officers (115 funded by councils) be noted; and
3. it be noted that individual agreements will be signed off by the MPA Chief Executive.

160. Transfer of the front counter service Sutton

(Agenda item 7)

A report was submitted which sought the approval of the Committee for the transfer of the front counter service on Sutton Borough Operational Command Unit from Wallington police station to the Safer Neighbourhoods base at Crosspoint House, Wallington. The report took into account the TP Development Programme public access review which is taking place.
Chief Inspector Dawn Morris from Sutton BOCU attended for consideration of this item and spoke in support of the proposal.

Arising from consideration of this report, members requested that the report on the outcome of the Safer Neighbourhood review being carried out by Territorial Policing which were due to be reported to the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee be also submitted to the Finance and Resources Committee.

Resolved – That

1. The transfer of front counter from Wallington Police Station to new front counter at Crosspoint House Safer Neighbourhoods (SN) base, Wallington be agreed;
2. the front counter footfall survey results and the outcome of public engagement be noted; and
   
3. the future plans for Wallington police station be noted.

161. Disposal of Surbiton former police station Kingston

(Agenda item 8)

This report requested members approval to the disposal of the freehold interest in Surbiton former police station, 299 Ewell Road, Surbiton following an open market tender.

Resolved – That

1. Approval be given to the disposal of the freehold interest in Surbiton former police station at the value and to the highest bidder identified in Exempt Appendix 2 following an open market tender;
2. It be noted that the disposal is consistent with the approval in principle decision made by the Committee on 16 December 2010; and
3. It be noted that the capital receipts from the disposal will support the 2011/12 Capital Programme.

162. Disposal of Harold Hill Former Police Station Havering

(Agenda item 9)

This report requested members approval to the disposal of the freehold interest in Harold Hill Former Police Station, Gooshays Drive, Harold Hill, Romford, RM3 8AE following an open market tender.

Resolved – That

1. Approval be given to the disposal of the freehold interest in Harold Hill former police station at the value and to the highest bidder identified in Exempt Appendix 2 following an open market tender;
2. it be noted that the disposal is consistent with the approval in principle decision made by the Committee on 16 December 2010; and
3. it be noted that the capital receipts from the disposal will support the 2011/12 Capital Programme.

163. Disposal OF Rainham Former Police Station Havering

(Agenda item 10)

This report requested members approval to the dispose of the freehold interest in Rainham Former Police Station, 1-6 New Road, Rainham, Essex RM13 9PW following an open market tender.
(In the exempt section of the meeting a revised version of exempt Appendix 2 was tabled to reflect developments which had taken place since the agenda despatch)

Resolved – That

1. Approval be given to the disposal of the freehold interest in Rainhaml former police station at the value and to the second highest bidder identified in the revised Exempt Appendix 2 following an open market tender and the subsequent withdrawal of the offer from the highest bidder;
2. it be noted that the disposal is consistent with the approval in principle decision made by the Committee on 16 December 2010;
   
3. it be noted that the capital receipts from the disposal will support the 2011/12 Capital Programme; and
4. it be agreed that in the event of this matter not proceeding to completion a fresh marketing exercise be carried out.

164. Sovereign Gate Richmond post acquisition report

(Agenda item 11)

A report was submitted which updated the Committee on the progress since its approval to acquire the freehold of this building was given in March 2010.

The Director of Property Services advised that the intention was to provide relevant developments in the post-occupation period as part of the quarterly estates updates paper.

Resolved – That

1. The financial benefits of the acquisition and review the key issues of the original business case to determine whether the original objectives have been achieved be noted;
2. note the decisions taken to support operational requirements be noted; and
3. the progress in delivering the property for occupation be noted.

167. Any other urgent business

(Agenda item 12)

The Committee agreed to receive as an urgent exempt item a report relating to the commencement of contracts action for the procurement of building works

168. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 15)

Resolved - That under section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved disclosure of exempt information as detailed in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.

Summary of decisions made on exempt items

169. Exempt appendices to Local Authority Match Funding Scheme

(Agenda item 14)

Information noted.

170. Exempt appendices to disposal of disposal of Surbiton former police station Kingston

(Agenda item 15)

Information noted.

171. Exempt appendices to disposal of Harold Hill former police station Havering

(Agenda item 16)

Information noted.

172. Exempt appendices to disposal of Rainham former police station Havering

(Agenda item 17)

Information noted.

173. Exempt appendices to Sovereign Gate Richmond

(Agenda item 18)

Information noted.

174. Minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2011 (part 2)

(Agenda item 19)

Agreed and signed as a correct record.

175. Any other urgent business commencement of contract action for building works in support of information communications technology secure infrastructure programme

Approval was given to the commencement of contract action.

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