Question to the Authority

Report: 6
Date: 26 July 2007
By: Chief Executive

Summary

Members are requested, in accordance with the Authority’s Standing Orders, to hear a question from GLA member Val Shawcross. The Chief Executive’s response on behalf of the Authority’s is included in this report.

A. Recommendation

That the Authority hears the questions set out below and responds in accordance with Standing Orders 2.7.

B. Supporting information

1. The following question has been received from GLA members, Val Shawcross

'I am extremely concerned that I am told that Lambeth is very likely to be losing several of its very competent senior police offices within a short period of time. The gangs, drugs and armed crime issues in Lambeth are very challenging and spill over into neighbouring areas. What priority is the MPA and MPS giving to making sure that Lambeth police are securely led and fully staffed at middle and senior levels? Are you satisfied that the Met are focussed as they should be on staffing issues, especially succession planning, in territorial policing as I am now likely to be dealing with the 6th police Borough Commander for Lambeth in 8 years'.

2. Standing Order 2.7 sets out the process for receiving questions at Authority meetings, this is given at Appendix 1.

3. The Chief Executive will respond to Val Shawcross’ question as follows:

‘The MPS recognise concerns and issues relating to the continuity of leadership and relationships tension with police careers.

However, the policing environment within Lambeth will offer significant professional development for senior and middle managers. As such, it will develop competent senior officers who will be selected for promotion or other challenging roles within the MPS.

Stuart Lowe is a prime example and whilst a loss for Lambeth, he has a strong skills profile to perform the borough commander role. He has been posted to Wandsworth, specifically to draw upon his Lambeth background and to tackle cross borough crime issues (as referred to in Val's letter).

Careful and attention is given to selection of senior officers, particularly for Lambeth. The new Borough Commander, Sharon Rowe, is an experienced borough commander and her posting to Lambeth will bring experience, skills and knowledge to the role, which will quickly be seen as an asset.

However, as stated previously, the MPS recognises the need for continuity; and in doing so, Dave Musker will be temporarily promoted as he offers strong understanding of the crime issues facing Lambeth, particularly in Brixton and Alistair Sutherland has remained at Lambeth on promotion for 4 years for these reasons.

Confirmation can be given that at superintendent level, no other officers are transferring and the MPS are currently undertaking a Chief Inspector promotion process and the MPS are confident that suitable candidates will be identified to fill roles at Lambeth.

In 2006/07 Lambeth Borough achieved significant reductions in the key crime categories of residential burglary, personal robbery, motor vehicle crime and violence. In addition, Lambeth also met its target for sanction detections. These results were accomplished whilst demonstrating good fiscal and human resource performance and with particular careful attention given to selection of senior officers for Lambeth.

Lambeth benefited from outstanding leadership resulting in 16 AC/Commissioner’s commendations and crime reduction in all major categories over the last 5 years.

C. Race and equality impact

None related to the process of receiving questions from the public.

D. Financial implications

None

D. Background papers

None

E. Contact details

Report author: Nick Baker, MPA

For information contact:

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

Appendix 1

Extract from MPA Standing Orders – 2.7 Questions from the public at full Authority meetings

“2.7.1 Members of the public may ask questions of the Authority which are relevant to its business, functions or responsibilities. The Clerk must receive the question in writing not less than ten working days before a meeting of the Authority.

2.7.2 A person may not ask more than three questions in a rolling 12 month period.

2.7.3 The Clerk of the Authority will, in discussion with the Chair of the Authority, have the discretion to refuse a question. In this event, the Clerk shall respond in writing to the questioner outlining the reason(s) for this decision. This letter will be copied to all members, before the Authority meeting, and the Clerk’s decision reported to the meeting as part of the regular report on action taken under delegated authority. Without fettering that discretion, reasons why a question may not be accepted include the following:

1. The reasons set out in 2.6.2 above.
2. The question cannot be answered satisfactorily without the disclosure of exempt information (as defined in the Access to Information legislation).
3. In the Clerk's opinion, the question has already been answered by another means and contains no issues of wider public interest that require a public answer.
4. The question actually contains a number of different questions, in which case the Clerk will ask for an amended question to be submitted.
5. The question is similar to, or on a similar theme to, a question asked by someone else in the preceding three months.

2.7.4 Any question(s) shall be included on the agenda for the meeting, in the order of receipt, as the next item of business after the approval of the minutes of the last meeting, and must be addressed to the Chair. The Chair will then invite the Clerk to respond, orally or in writing, on behalf of the Authority. Following the Clerk’s response, the person asking the question may speak further for no more than three minutes. Members may also comment on or discuss the issues raised by the question and answer.

2.7.5 The person asking the question can attend the meeting to put the question. If they are not present, the answer as reported to the Authority shall be sent to them following the meeting. If the person asking the question needs some clarification in relation to the answer, this will be given by the Clerk or appropriate officer, in person or in writing, within ten working days of clarification being sought.

2.7.6 The Chair may use discretion to limit the number of questions asked by members of the public in order to avoid the business of the Authority being disrupted. In any event, no more than 30 minutes will be allowed for public questions and answers. Any questions that remain unanswered within the timescale shall receive written responses only.”

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