Committee Structure and Committee Terms Of Reference

Report: 4 - agm
Date: 08 July 2004
By: Clerk

AGM report

Summary

This report asks members to confirm the Authority’s committee structure and presents the Authority’s, committees’ and sub-committees’ terms of reference.Following decisions about the committee structure at the Authority meeting in May 2004, there are minor changes: a new Corporate Governance Committee was established; a change of name of the former Consultation Committee and former ACPO Conduct Sub-Committee; and membership arrangements for the Senior Officers Conduct Sub-Committee and Pensions Forfeiture Sub-Committee.

A. Recommendation

1. confirms the committee structure as given at Appendix 1

2. approves the terms of reference attached as Appendix 2, and in particular the terms of reference of the Corporate Governance Committee (and subsequent amendment to standing order 1.1.3), the addition to the Community Engagement Committee and Finance Committee and the arrangements for membership of the Senior Officers Conduct Sub-Committee and Pensions Forfeiture Sub-Committee.

B. Supporting information

1. At the Authority meeting on 27 May 2004 members agreed to minor changes in the Authority’s committee structure (see Appendix 1): These were:

• The formation of a Corporate Governance Committee, which would incorporate the functions of the Audit Panel, Health and Safety Committee and risk management functions.
• The re-naming of the Consultation Committee to the Community Engagement Committee.
• That the Senior Officers Conduct Committee and Pensions Forfeiture Sub-Committee membership be fixed membership of five members each, drawn from the membership of their respective parent committees. In the event of a member being unable to hear a particular case, the Clerk to be given delegated authority to select another member for that meeting, initially from amongst the membership of the parent committee, or failing that from the membership of the Authority as a whole.

2. Members are now asked to confirm the committee structure following these minor changes.

Terms of reference

3. The Authority, committee and sub-committee terms of reference are attached at Appendix 2 and members are asked to confirm them, to agree those for the new Corporate Governance Committee (with a consequential change to Finance Committee terms of reference – see below); the change of name of the former Consultation Committee to Community Engagement Committee; an additional term of reference for this committee (see below); and the membership arrangements for the Senior Officers Conduct Committee and Pensions Forfeiture Sub-Committee

4. The Terms of Reference for the Corporate Governance Committee include reference to restrictions on membership. It is proposed that the Chair and Deputy Chairs of the Authority and the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Finance Committee should not attend the Corporate Governance Committee. It is seen as good practice for these lead posts dealing with the Authority’s finances not to be involved in the audit process as well. If agreed, this would require a minor amendment to standing order 1.1.3 to reflect this proposal.

5. The Terms of Reference for the Corporate Governance Committee include those for dealing with risk management issues and this has required an addition to the Finance Committee terms of reference. This change is as follows:

‘To consider the financial risk to which the Authority is exposed and, within the risk management framework approved by Corporate Governance Committee, approve measures to reduce or eliminate them or to insure against them.’

6. The following additional terms of reference is proposed for the Community Engagement Committee:

‘To develop a community engagement strategy and polices for the MPA and to promote and monitor the development of effective arrangements for the MPS to engage with local communities in the delivery of local policing services and in building safer neighbourhoods’.

C. Equality and diversity implications

The changes proposed will enhance the ability to meet its legislative and good practice race, equalities and diversity responsibilities. Each committee has a distinct race, equalities and diversity responsibility and processes are in place to see that these are taken into consideration in all committee process. The changes will directly contribute to meeting the general duty of the Race Relation’s Amendment Act.

D. Financial implications

None

E. Background papers

Existing committee terms of reference

F. Contact details

Report author: Nick Baker
For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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