Minutes - draft

Please note these minutes are currently draft and are subject to committee approval.

Minutes of the meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 30 March 2006 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Len Duvall (Chair)
• Reshard Auladin (Deputy Chair)
• Cindy Butts (Deputy Chair)
• Tony Arbour
• Jennette Arnold
• Richard Barnes
• Dee Doocey
• Nicky Gavron
• Toby Harris
• Kirsten Hearn
• Peter Herbert
• Elizabeth Howlett
• Jenny Jones
• Karim Murji
• Bob Neill
• Aneeta Prem
• Murad Qureshi
• John Roberts
• Richard Sumray
• Graham Tope
• Abdal Ullah 
• Rachel Whittaker

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive)
• Ken Hunt (Treasurer)
• David Riddle (Deputy Chief Executive)
• Simon Vile (Head of Secretariat)

MPS officers

• Sir Ian Blair (Commissioner)
• Paul Stephenson (Deputy Commissioner)
• Keith Luck (Director of Resources)
• Tim Godwin (Assistant Commissioner)

107. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

An apology for absence was received from Damian Hockney.

108. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

None notified.

109. Minutes

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings of the Authority held on 23 February 2006 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

110. Minutes of committees

(Agenda item 4)

The minutes of the following committees were received for information:

• Equal Opportunities & Diversity Board, 2 February 2006
• Co-ordination & Policing Committee, 3 February & 3 March 2006
• Human Resources Committee, 2 February 2006
• Planning, Performance & Review Committee, 9 February 2006
• Finance Committee, 16 February 2006
• Professional Standards & Complaints Committee, 9 March 2006

111. Chair’s update

(Agenda item 5)

The Chair received a letter at the meeting from the Public and Commercial Services Union in relation to the suspension of the Met Trades Union Side. This would be copied to all members.

112. Safer Neighbourhoods update

(Agenda item 6)

The Authority considered a report by the Commissioner on the current position in respect of the Safer Neighbourhoods programme.

The Commissioner commented that, whilst the budgetary basis was complex, the entire roll out would be completed in the current calendar year. It should also be remembered that the roll out was being achieved without reducing resources to the rest of the organisation.

In reply to a member’s question on the impact on the vetting process, the Commissioner said that with a target of 1400 in the coming year it had been necessary to reinforce the vetting resource. As a consequence the vetting process was speeding up and he was keen to extend these improvements to the recruitment of probationary constables and special constables.

Members stressed the importance of borough link members being kept informed about the roll out of the programme, particularly if there was any delay or shortfall in the number of officers and PCSOs per team, so that they could help to manage community expectations. Media management would be necessary to get across the success of Safer Neighbourhoods, despite the roll out delay until May. Where boroughs had paid for Safer Neighbourhood provision it was important to be clear that this was additional to the basic provision. Boroughs should have local flexibility in arrangements for Safer Neighbourhood Panels, as one size did not fit all. Community Police Consultative Groups and Community Safety Boards had a role to play in liaising with these panels.

The Chair expressed the Authority’s appreciation to A C Godwin and all who were involved in the programme, which would transform the way that the public engages with the police service.

Resolved - That the report be received.

113. Commissioner’s update

(Agenda item 7)

The Commissioner reported orally on a number of matters. Monthly performance information was also tabled.

The Commissioner referred, amongst other things, to the major terrorism trial currently taking place together with a further arrest in Staffordshire that morning. He also reported that four people had now been charged in relation to the demonstration at the Danish Embassy. The MPS had established two new units – a film unit and the Violent Crime Directorate – officers from this Directorate had arrested 210 people in its first week of operation.

With regard to performance the Commissioner reported that overall crime figures were down. The murder rate was the lowest for at least seven years, the sanction detection rate was greatly improved and there had been a large increase in victim satisfaction. However, burglary and gun crime remained areas of concern. The Commissioner commented that he wanted to work with Richard Sumray, as Chair of the Planning, Performance and Review Committee, to develop future performance reports to the full Authority, to reflect aspects of customer/citizen satisfaction and the impact of the Safer Neighbourhoods programme.

Peter Herbert asked whether there is any risk on return of the seven UK residents still held at Guantanamo Bay. The Commissioner said that he had no further information about these individuals – he would look into this and come back to Peter Herbert if appropriate.

Peter Herbert also asked about any MPS involvement in US rendition. The Chair referred to the public question and answer on this matter to a previous full Authority meeting – this would be sent to Peter Herbert.

Peter Herbert also referred to an instance where it appeared that the number of stops and searches carried out by police officers was included in their performance assessment. AC Godwin responded that he was aware of this case – it was being investigated and he would report to the Stop & Search Panel. The Chair asked that the outcome of this investigation be copied to all members.

Jenny Jones expressed concern about the further arrest of Brian Haw, who has been protesting outside Parliament for some years. She commented that this appeared to be harassment of a peaceful protester. The Commissioner commented that Mr Haw had rarely been arrested and he did not accept that this constituted harassment.

Jennette Arnold raised the case of the abortive prosecution of Mr O’Neill Crooks. She considered that Londoners were concerned about both the quantity and quality of London policing, and the actions of officers in cases such as these could quickly damage community confidence in policing. She was concerned that the Authority needed a mechanism for picking up these kinds of issues. The Commissioner responded that he would condemn any wrong behaviour. In this case the MPS had voluntarily referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission although a formal complaint had not yet been received.

114. 2006/07 revenue budget

(Agenda item 8)

The Authority considered a report by the Commissioner and the Treasurer presenting the final 2006/07 MPA/MPS budget for approval. The Treasurer proposed an amendment to Appendix 3 to the report to enable flexibility on the investment of principal funds for longer than 364 days. After discussion it was

Resolved – That

1. The final MPS/MPA revenue budget for 2006/07 be approved; and
2. That the Prudential Indicators (appendix 3 to the report) be approved, subject to an amendment to enable principal sums to be invested for longer than 364 days, subject to a £40 million cap.

115. MPA Scrutiny programme 2006/07

(Agenda item 9)

The Authority considered a report by the Chief Executive proposing a scrutiny programme for 2006/07. After discussion it was

Resolved

1. To proceed with scrutinies on drugs and high tech crime capability; and
2. That the Strategy & Policing Committee should review the programme in a few months time. In doing so it could consider possible future scrutinies such as the Safer Neighbourhood programme and learning lessons from Northern Ireland around equalities and recruitment practices.

116. MPA committee terms of reference

(Agenda item 10a)

The Authority considered a report by the Chief Executive proposing terms of reference for the MPA’s committees.

Resolved

1. That the Committee Terms of Reference attached as an appendix to the report be approved, subject to an amendment to the Conduct Sub-Committee so that reference is made to ‘core’ rather than ‘fixed’ membership; and
2. that the Co-ordination & Policing Committee be renamed Strategy & Policing Committee

117. Appointment of Chairs and Deputy Chairs of committees and membership of committees

(Agenda item 10b)

The Authority considered a report by the Chief Executive inviting committee etc appointments. In addition to making committee appointments the Authority agreed portfolio member appointments.

In relation to the Professional Standards Cases Sub-Committee it was suggested that the Authority explores the possibility of appointing Associate Members.

Resolved – That appointments be made to committees and portfolio positions as shown in the appendix to these minutes.

118. Urgent action taken under delegated authority

(Supplemental item)

The Authority received as information a report of urgent action taken under delegated authority.

119. Exclusion of press and public

Resolved – That the press and public be asked to leave the meeting during discussion of the remaining items of business because exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12a to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended is likely to be made known.

Summary of Exempt Items

120. Exempt minutes

(Agenda item 13)

The Authority confirmed the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2006.

121. Recovery pf policing costs for Heathrow and London city airports

(Agenda item 14)

The Authority considered and discussed reports in relation to the recovery of policing costs at airports.

The meeting ended at 12.50 p.m.

Appendix 1

MPA committees membership

Strategy and Policing Committee (15)

• Len Duvall (as Chair of Authority)
• Cindy Butts (as Dep Chair of Authority)
• Reshard Auladin (as Dep Chair of Authority) and (as Chair of PSC)
• Richard Sumray (as Chair of PPR)
• Kirsten Hearn (as Chair of EODB)
• Graham Tope (as Chair of Finance)
• Toby Harris (as Chair of Corporate Governance)

Plus Portfolio holders

• Rachel Whittaker: Workforce Modernisation
• Aneeta Prem: Estate Strategy
• John Roberts: Stop and Search/Independent Custody
• Visiting/link member for Custody Command
• Len Duvall: Met Modernisation
• Cindy Butts: Community Engagement

Plus 5 others

• Richard Barnes
• Elizabeth Howlett
• Damian Hockney
• Karim Murji
• Jennette Arnold

Corporate Governance Committee

• Toby Harris (as Chair)
• Jennette Arnold
• Rachel Whittaker

Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board (6)

• Kirsten Hearn (as Chair)
• John Roberts (as Deputy Chair)
• Cindy Butts
• Peter Herbert
• Damian Hockney
• Aneeta Prem

Finance Committee (8)

• Graham Tope (as Chair)
• Richard Sumray (as Deputy Chair)
• Reshard Auladin
• Richard Barnes
• Bob Neill
• Elizabeth Howlett
• Aneeta Prem
• Rachel Whittaker

Professional Standards and Complaints (11)

• Reshard Auladin (as Chair)
• Elizabeth Howlett (as Deputy Chair)
• Tony Arbour
• Richard Barnes
• Damian Hockney
• Jenny Jones
• Karim Murji
• Richard Sumray
• Aneeta Prem
• Abdal Ullah
• Rachel Whittaker

Standards Committee

• Aneeta Prem (Chair)
• Damian Hockney
• Bob Neill
• John Roberts
• Plus 2 independent members

Planning, Performance and Review (6)

• Richard Sumray (as Chair)
• Karim Murji (as Deputy Chair)
• Tony Arbour
• Reshard Auladin
• Richard Barnes
• Dee Doocey

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