Minutes

Minutes of the Remuneration Sub-committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 21 February 2008 at 2.00 pm at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Rachel Whittaker (Chair)
• Anthony Arbour
• Reshard Auladin
• Cindy Butts (items 1–4)

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive)
• Alan Johnson (Policy Officer, Human Resources)
• Mike Shurety (Interim Head of HR) (item 16 only) 
• Ruth Hastings Iqball (Committee Services)

MPS officers

• Kevin Courtney (Head, Pay and Benefits)
• Martin Tiplady (Director, Human Resources).

15. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Len Duvall.

16. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interest were received.

17. Minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2007 and 14 December 2007 (reconvened) (part 1)

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved - That the minutes (Part 1) of the Sub-Committee held on 8 November and 14 December 2007 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

18. ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officer) ranks – mid year reviews

(Agenda item 4)

At the reconvened Remuneration Sub Committee meeting on 14 December 2008 it was agreed that a report would be prepared on the mid years reviews carried out for MPS Management Board members. The members received such a report.

The Chair was concerned that objectives were not SMARTER. The Director, HR, outlined the process that had been agreed and which involved members of the Authority, including one (or both) of the two Deputy Chairs of the Authority and the Chair of the Authority. The Chief Executive was also present as an adviser. He suggested the Sub Committee should be able to satisfy itself that the process was carried out thoroughly, but not set objectives or determine if they were met. The Chair felt the Sub Committee needed to know how this was being done, including how the overall box marking was differentiated. One Deputy Chair of the Authority said that the Authority were able to reach their own assessment and could agree or disagree with the Commissioner’s assessment. The purpose of the interview with the Commissioner and the Management Board member was to discuss and challenge the evidence.

He suggested the Sub Committee needed a paper from the Chief Executive stating that, for the individual Management Board member, the objectives had been met. If they had not been met or if there were any concerns about the assessment, this should be set out by the Chief Executive. The Chair and Deputy Chairs of the Authority needed the corporate priorities and business group objectives set out clearly by the Director of HR before the mid year and end of year meetings, and explain – for example – what the business group objectives were and how they had been met if this was not clear. The other Deputy Chair agreed with this approach and suggested it was about having an audit trail, not a paper trail.

The Chief Executive acknowledged there were subtleties and sophistication required at this level and that crude measures of performance were not always relevant. As suggested by one of the Deputy Chair’s of the Authority, she agreed to provide the Sub Committee with a ‘proforma’ for each member of Management Board setting out the Authority’s assessment of performance.

The Chair also felt the Sub Committee needed to know the final method for calculating Box 1 and Box 2 markings. The Director of HR agreed to provide a note detailing the formula which had been tried for 2006-07 bonuses and which might be used for 2007-08 for calculating the remuneration for Box 1 and Box 2 by mid March in order that it could be appended to the minutes.

The Chair explained that ACPO rank pay was currently being discussed at Police Negotiating Board (PNB) but felt there was a need to jointly write to the Home Secretary, copied to the Police Negotiating Board, proposing the abolition of the bonus scheme and proposing some alternative options for ACPO officer pay. It was agreed that the Director of HR and the Chief Executive would draft a letter by mid March for agreement by the Sub Committee.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted;
2. the Director of HR provide by mid March the final formula for calculating the remuneration for Box 1 and Box 2 in order that it could be appended to the minutes; and
3. the Director of HR and the Chief Executive would draft a letter proposing options for ACPO officer pay by mid March for agreement by the Sub Committee.

19. ACPO ranks – overseas travel

(Agenda item 5)

The report was part of a formal reporting process to this Sub Committee. It was agreed that the Chief Executive would be supplied with a list of ACPO officers who had travelled overseas. A report would be made to this Sub Committee, stating that the list had been received and could be viewed by members on request, and that the Chief Executive was satisfied with the content of the list. This list should not be confused with the regular reports to Co-ordination and Policing Committee on Section 26 cases. One of the Deputy Chairs of the Authority suggested there was a need for issues of resilience to be addressed.

Resolved – That report be noted and the information regularly reported in the format discussed.

20. ACPO ranks – gifts and hospitality

(Agenda item 6)

As part of the 2006-07 audit plan, Internal Audit Directorate carried out a review of gifts and hospitality in the MPS. A small number of recommendations referred to the arrangements in respect of ACPO ranks. A report was received explicitly addressing the arrangements for the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner.

Resolved – That

1. members note the report; and
2. a report on all ACPO ranks and senior police staff should be received on a half yearly basis on or around June (for the preceding financial year) and December (for the period April to September).

21. ACPO ranks – commissioner’s and deputy commissioner’s expenses

(Agenda item 7)

As part of an Internal Audit Directorate review, a number of recommendations were considered by the Remuneration Sub Committee in relation to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner. A report was received addressing the arrangements for the Commissioner’s and Deputy Commissioner’s expenses.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted and
2. a report be taken on a half yearly basis on or around June (for the preceding financial year) and December (for the period April to September).

22. ACPO ranks – proposals for recruitment 2008-09

(Agenda item 8)

Members received a brief update on the current position in respect of likely ACPO recruitment for the forthcoming financial year 2008-09.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

23. ACPO terms and conditions - compulsory retirement ages update

(Agenda item 9)

In the light of the age discrimination legislation that came into effect on 1 October 2006, the Home Office amended the compulsory retirement ages (CRA) for all police officers. The CRA for all ACPO ranks is 65. Members received a report dealing with the implications for commanders.

Resolved – That the changes in respect of ACPO ranks be noted.

24. Review of ACPO terms and conditions – public speaking

(Agenda item 10)

This report followed on from a report previously considered by Remuneration Sub Committee. It set out a draft protocol covering public speaking by ACPO rank officers

The Chair suggested the protocol should be more positive in its approach, although the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner should know when a senior officer was speaking to the media. It was agreed the Director of HR would propose some amendments following the discussion with Management Board and this would be circulated to members by the end of March. It was agreed there was no need for the Sub Committee to receive the draft again.

Resolved – That the protocol be redrafted and circulated to members.

25. ACPO issues raised by staff associations (oral update by Chair of Sub Committee following PNB)

(Agenda item 11)

This item was covered by the discussion in relation to item 4.

Resolved – That the oral update be received.

26. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 12)

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 (as amended).

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

Summary of exempt items

27. Minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2007 and 14 December 2007 (reconvened) (part 2)

(Agenda item 13)

It was resolved that the minutes (Part 2) of the Sub-Committee held on 8 November and 14 December 2007 be confirmed and signed as a correct record; and that the process for dealing with fixed term appointments should now commence at 18 months before the end of the existing appointment.

28. ACPO ranks – alternative remuneration options

(Agenda item 14)

At the reconvened Remuneration Sub Committee meeting on 14 December 2008 it was agreed that, as part of a review of the current terms and conditions for ACPO officers, the HR Policy Officer, MPA, and the Head of Pay and Benefits, MPS would consider ways in which other forms of remuneration or incentives might be provided instead of bonuses. The Sub Committee received a report setting out some initial thoughts. It was agreed the Director of HR would draft a letter to the Home Office and PNB on a joint submission.

29. ACPO terms and conditions – relocation and incidental costs

(Agenda item 15)

In October 2002, the Remuneration Sub Committee considered a report on relocation and removal expenses for officers from other forces transferring to the MPS (on promotion or level transfer) at ACPO rank. The proposals set out in the report were agreed. It was also agreed that the same arrangements apply to senior police staff.

30. MPA Senior Management Team (SMT) pay

(Agenda item 16)

The Remuneration Sub Committee in November 2007 determined that the approach to the MPA SMT pay award for 2007/08 should be similar to that taken for MPS senior police staff. That the recommendations made in the report were agreed.

The meeting ended at 11.45 am.

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