Reports from committees

Report: 12
Date: 24 September 2009
By: Chief Executive

Summary

At each meeting of the Authority members will receive a report from committees that have met in recent weeks.

This is the first report from the authority’s committees to the full authority. It provides members with details of the key items considered at each of the committees and their sub-committees.

This report covers the following meetings:

• Corporate Governance Committee – 15 June 2009
• Finance and Resources Committee – 18 June 2009
• Strategic and Operational Policing Committee – 9 July 2009
• Communities, Equalities and People Committee – 16 July 2009
• Finance and Resources Committee – 30 July 2009

Corporate Governance Committee – 15 June 2009

Members present: Toby Harris (Chair), John Biggs, Neil Johnson, Joanne McCartney and Caroline Pidgeon.

Health and safety performance report

A report was received comparing injuries reported on the Metropolitan Police Accident and Incident Reporting System (MetAIR) between April 2007 and March 2008, and April 2008 and March 2009. It also provided details of Health and Safety initiatives within the MPS to ensure the MPA/MPS were compliant with Health and Safety at Work legislation. The Chair also asked about the target date for letters of assurance. The Head, Safety and Health, Risk Management Team, said the first two were expected by the beginning of the next month

External audit fee 2009-10 and audit opinion plan

The proposed indicative fee for the audit for 2009/10 was £516,000, an increase of 1.2% on the planned fee of £510,000 for 2008/09. The Chief Executive recommended that the Committee accept the fee.

Internal Audit annual report 2007/8

The report at Appendix 1 summarised the work of Internal Audit for the year 2007/8. It also gave the opinion of the Director of Internal Audit on the adequacy and effectiveness of control within the MPS, which was that it continued to fall below an acceptable standard. The Chair stated that he hoped to see a better score next year. The Director of Resources responded by saying that she could not make predictions, but the MPS was now in a better position to improve its score. She added that the remedial action to some Internal Audit recommendations lay outside the remit of the MPS.

MPA oversight of issues arising from Internal Audit reports and recommendations

A report was received presenting proposals for enhancing the level of Corporate Governance Committee oversight of the key strategic issues and risks highlighted as a result of internal audit work, including the implementation of any related internal audit recommendations.

MPS corporate governance framework update

This report provided a progress update on the MPS corporate governance framework.

MPA's statement of accounts for year end 31 March 2009

The Committee recommended the Authority’s draft set of accounts for 2008-09 (prior to audit) to the full Authority.

Annual Governance Statement

The Annual Governance Statements include details of governance arrangements, highlighting how effectively they are being deployed and identifying significant governance issues and actions being taken to address them. The statement had to be included in the Statement of Accounts considered above.

Treasury management action plan - update

This report was the first update on progress in implementing the Treasury Management action plan agreed by the Finance and Resources Committee in March 2009. Further update reports on progress would be brought to the Corporate Governance Committee on a quarterly basis.

MPA - risk management strategy update

A report was received outlining progress in ensuring effective risk management is in place in the MPA and the MPS. In particular, it presented the Authority’s top ten strategic risks and supporting corporate risk register for consideration and identified progress in ensuring that key risks were properly identified, assessed and managed. Members suggested that the MPA risks shown came mostly under the incompetence label. They felt the register did not reflect external risks (such as power failure) and what could be done to mitigate against them. They were told theses were top 10 risks to the strategic plan, and that there could be a second piece of work on systematic risk. The Director of Resources said that corporate risk was dealt with generically within the MPS and operational risks dealt with in business groups which had their own risk registers, only the Olympic Games appeared on the corporate risk register. She suggested that the MPS risk register could be shared with officers privately, however the Chair stated that it should be included in a report to a the Committee, which could be considered in part 2 of the meeting if it contained exempt material. The Director of Resources requested that this be discussed further outside the meeting.

Implementing International Financial Reporting Standards

This report updated members on progress made since the last update in March 2009.

MPA urgency procedure

It was agreed that the proposed changes to the Standing Order in relation to urgent action be recommended to full Authority.

Corporate Governance Committee work programme and equality objective

This report outlined a workplan by which the Committee would fulfil its role as agreed in its terms of reference.

Appointment of co-opted members

This report proposed that full Authority ratify the reappointment of the co-opted members to the Corporate Governance Committee for 2009/10.

Business charge card update (exempt)

A report was received updating members of progress made in reviewing and investigating the potential misuse of MPS Amex charge cards based on information from the MPA’s Internal Audit and the MPS’s Directorate of Professional Standards.

High-risk audit recommendations (exempt)

This report confirmed the status of outstanding high-risk MPA Internal Audit recommendations as at 20 May 2009, and provided details of ongoing work to enhance the process by which the MPS responded to the recommendations. Members were also asked to consider the possible responses to one particular recommendation and the accompanying financial implications.

Imber Court Sports Club (exempt)

A report was received updating members on events since the report on Imber Court received by the Committee in March 2009.

Strategic and Operational Policing Committee - 9 July 2009

Members present: Reshard Auladin (Chair), Jennette Arnold (items 1-18), Cindy Butts (item 7 onwards), James Cleverly (item 7 onwards), Toby Harris (Vice Chair) (item 5 onwards), Jenny Jones, Joanne McCartney and Caroline Pidgeon.

Urgent operational issues - oral report

The committee received an oral report on the HMIC’s report ‘Adapting to Protest’. The MPS was considering how the recommendations could be taken forward. Members also received an update on a murder in Waltham Forest which had been forensically linked to two earlier rapes.

Headline performance report - 12 months to April 2009

The Cdr, TP, introduced a report providing an overview of progress against targets set for Critical Performance Areas and other corporate measures featured in the Policing London 2009 – 2012 Business Plan.

Central Operations thematic performance

This report updated members on roads and traffic policing. It provided details on the MPS’s drive to deny criminals the use of the road and to reduce road casualties.

MPA Stockwell Scrutiny / HMIC Stockwell Inspection 2009

A report was received outlining the activity of the Stockwell Panel since February this year. The serious concerns of the Stockwell Panel about the failure of the MPS to date to provide members with a sufficiently detailed and robust MPS action plan to allow the Authority to monitor implementation of the findings of the HMIC report Members were noted. It was agreed that the Stockwell Panel would meet further to review the more detailed action plan requested from the MPS, with a view to

1. identifying any further improvements needed to achieve a sufficiently robust action plan, and
2. advising the Committee of those areas of concern which would require further regular progress monitoring by the MPA;

MPS response to the HMIC Stockwell Inspection

This report summarised the findings of the latest HMIC inspection into the MPS response to Stockwell and outlined how the MPS would action the issues raised in that report. The Chief Executive noted that this report had been completed before the MPS’s Stockwell Panel had met. Members commented upon a letter from the AC, SO, that had been circulated to them before the meeting noting his concerns over the content of the previous report. The Chief Executive noted that the letter contained information that had not been made known to the Panel at its last meeting a few days earlier, however at its next meeting it would take into account this new information.

Specialist Crime Directorate - future reporting

This report provided an overview of Specialist Crime Directorate’s reporting arrangements to future committee meetings.

Taylor Reforms: a 6 month update

This report provided members with an update on progress following the implementation of the first six months of the Taylor Reforms (new police misconduct and performance procedures) on 1 December 2008. Early indications showed that implementation had been successful with performance and benefits realisation on track.

Professional Standards performance indicators

The report informed members that public complaint allegations had risen by 26% at the end of 2008/09 continuing the trend of recent years. These figures were similar to those of the majority of forces within England & Wales in 2007/08. However, there has been a reduction in the proportion of allegations relating to incivility and oppressive behaviour in 2007/08, although the latter was predicted to rise in 2009/10 particularly as a result of allegations made at the G20.

Operation Dockery - the investigation into the murder of Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez

A report was received providing some details of the investigation of the murders of Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez. It focused on the events leading up to the murders in June 2008 and the agencies (including the MPS) which had dealings with one of the murderers, Daniel Sonnex, during this period. The actions of the MPS had been investigated by the IPCC and the report provided details of its recommendations and the subsequent MPS response to them. The Cdr, SCD, said that there were working arrangements between agencies to exchange information and plan how to manage individuals on a case by case arrangement. He could not be confident that the system would work every time, but the system was as rigorous as it could be.

Monitoring compliance of the MPS with Human Rights Act 1998

The report outlined police authorities’ duty to monitor police force compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998. It proposes that the SOPC took overall responsibility for monitoring MPS compliance and a strategic view of work carried out across MPA committees, boards and community monitoring networks.

Appointments to sub committees

The Committee received a report asking it to agree appointments to its three sub committees – Counter Terrorism (CT) and Protective Services Sub-Committee, Olympic/Paralympic Sub-Committee and Professional Standards Cases Sub-Committee.

Strategic and Operational Policing Committee work programme and equality objective

This report outlined a workplan by which the Committee would fulfil its role as agreed in its terms of reference. The proposed equality objective for the Committee was agreed.

Report on the sub committees of the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee

This report contained a summary of reports received by the sub committees of the SOPC.

Amendment to standing orders

The report sought to amend the terms of reference of the SOPC. The amendment would allow the Communities, Equalities and People (CEP) Committee to monitor MPS activity in relation to employment tribunals and grievances, with the SOPC retaining the function to agree any proposed employment tribunal or grievance financial settlement. The report also sought to make an addition to the terms of reference of the main committees to include the monitoring of MPS compliance with Human Rights Act 1998 (as proposed at item 13 above).

Approval of the counter terrorism IS/IT business case

Members were asked to agree to delegate authority from the SOPC to the Counter Terrorism and Protective Services Sub Committee for the approval of the Counter Terrorism IS/IT business case.

The role and work of the Directorate of Legal Services (DLS)

Members received the DLS’s end of year report which brought to the attention to the Committee issues relating to the DLS performance, its working relationships and its links with the key objectives/priorities of the MPS.

Report on a financial settlement

The Committee had requested this report from the DLS.

Finance and Resources Committee – 18 June 2009

Members present: Steve O’Connell (Chairman), Reshard Auladin, John Biggs, Graham Speed and Richard Tracey.

Procurement Strategy 2009/12

The Committee approved the revised Procurement Strategy. It was based on the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) guidance for developing a Procurement Strategy and had been drafted jointly by MPA and MPS officers in consultation with members, MPS business groups and Senior Management both within the Authority and Service over a period of several months. The revised strategy detailed objectives for the three year period, 2009-2012, the principles underpinning these and the key actions needed to ensure these were delivered by 2012. Roles and responsibilities had been made more explicit, not only defining the role of MPS procurement services in delivering the strategy but also the role of both the Authority and business groups. The strategy now included a section specifically on the various procurement models that the Service might use when procuring goods and services. The precise method to be used would be made known to the Committee in advance

Additional borrowing to support the capital programme

The Committee has been examining ways in which funding can be provided to support the capital programme during a period of reduced resources from capital receipts. The report identified that it was possible to borrow prudentially as long as the borrowing was affordable, that net borrowing was for a capital purpose and that the approved borrowing was within the borrowing limits approved by the Mayor

The Committee approved, in principle, additional borrowing over the three years 2009/10 to 2011/12 in the sum of £60M to support additional capital infrastructure and/or deferral of police property disposal and to finance the additional revenue costs of borrowing in 2009/10 from balance sheet reserves, and to include additional costs for 2010/11 and future years in the medium term financial plan.

At the March 2009 meeting of the committee, the possibility of additional borrowing to support the capital programme was considered. Members were advised that because of reduced resources to support the programme, although the Authority had agreed to minimise as far as possible the operational and contractual impact of slowing down the programme, there was a reduction between the new capital programme and that which had previously been agreed of £26.4m in 2009/10, £39.4m in 2010/11 and £35.1m in 2011/12

Tamil Protest –financing additional costs

A report was provided on the Tamil protest in Parliament Square which took place earlier in the year and its impact on budget and performance and contains proposals on how the additional costs might be met. It was agreed to

Proceeds of Crime Act

Approval was given to some variations to the following a review by the Home Office of The new arrangements take effect from 1 July 2009.

Disposal of Johnson House SW1 (exempt)

Details of the bids received were presented and the Committee decided to dispose of the building to the highest bidder, the Berkeley Group

MPS Language Programme (exempt)

A report was submitted which sought financial support for the MPS Language Programme in order that it can put in place an integrated solution to improve systems for linguistic support which will not only improve levels of service but in doing so will pre-empt the need for £17.5m of costs over a period of 4 years.

Communities, Equalities & People Committee 16 July 2009

Members present: Cindy Butts (Chairman), Victoria Borwick, Chris Boothman, Valerie Brasse, Kirsten Hearn, Clive Lawton and Faith Boardman.

Communities, Equalities and People Committee Work Programme and Equality Objective

The Committee agreed its outline work plan, its terms of reference and the following equality objectives.

The Communities Equalities and People Committee is the lead committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority concerned with:

• the delivery of crime and disorder reduction services to the communities of London
• equalities issues including MPA and MPS policy and the delivery of services
• overarching human resources issues for both the MPA and the MPS

In doing so, the Committee will:

• ensure that the terms of reference of all scrutinies include the need to conduct an equalities impact assessment (EqIA); and
• in receiving scrutiny reports, ensure that the equalities issues have been adequately addressed and equalities impact assessment have been correctly carried out.

In addition, the Communities Equalities and People Committee will ensure that equality and diversity issues are adequately considered within all performance reports.

Amendment to Standing Orders

The Committee approved a number of amendments to its Terms of Reference and those of the Human Resources & Remuneration Sub-Committee. The amendments, would allow the CEP Committee to monitor MPS activity in relation to employment tribunals and grievances, with the Strategic and Operational Policing Committee to retain the function to agree any proposed financial settlement of any employment tribunal or grievance.

The Committee also agreed to make an addition to its terms of reference to include the monitoring of MPS compliance with Human Rights Act 1998.

Appointments to Sub Committees

The Committee noted the reappointments of Chairs and Vice Chairs to the sub committees made by the full Authority. The appointments will be effective until the full Authority meeting in October 2009.

Guidance for the Scrutiny of Crime and Disorder matters, implementing Sections 19 and 20 of the Police and Justice Act

The report outlined the new statutory powers that enabled Local Authority Councillors to scrutinise Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships and ensure their accountability. The Committee agreed to adopt the option that would enable the MPA link member to receive a standing invitation to attend the scrutiny meetings as an ‘expert advisor’ or nominate an officer to attend. A full report on these issues can be found on this agenda.

MPA Response to the Mayoral London Violence against Women Strategy

The Committee agreed section two of the report as the MPA’s corporate response to the Mayoral Violence Against Women Strategy for London. The authority is asked to endorse this decision.

Women’s Safety and the Policing of the 2012 Olympics

The Committee noted the preparations currently underway by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in relation to women’s safety during the 2012 Olympic Games. It was noted that a number of other issues relating to women’s safety had to be addressed, not just those highlighted within the report.

The Committee agreed to commission a report that set out the areas of concern identified by an Equality Impact Assessment and how these issues will be addressed.

Development and Activities of the Safer London Foundation 2008-09

This report outlined the progress made by the Foundation since it started three years ago and its move towards financial independence through a fundraising programme. The Committee welcomed the significant contribution the Foundation had made to a safer London by supporting community safety and crime reduction projects at a local level. The difficulties of fundraising in the current economic climate were recognised, and the Committee wished the Foundation continued success.

Sponsorship and Grant Aiding Voluntary Projects

The report outlined how the MPS funds projects, and sponsors initiatives and one-off events requested by the voluntary sector and community groups. The Committee agreed that a more comprehensive report should be submitted to the Committee in September.

Equality Standards for the MPA

The Committee was advised that for the past several years the MPA had followed the Equality Standard for Local Government (ESLG). The ESLG is a voluntary best value performance indicator designed to assist councils recognise the importance of fair equal treatment by providing a framework to enable local authorities to mainstream age, disability, gender, race, religion &/or belief and sexual orientation into council policy and practice at all levels. It was recognised that the ESLG and the EFLG were not the best frameworks to deliver the MPA’s equality commitments. It was agreed that MPA develops its own generic equality schemes to provide a framework within which to mainstream equality and diversity, rather than continue with the ESLG (or EFLG).

The Committee also considered the following reports

• Annual Learning and Development Business Plan 2009-10
• Home Office Borough Command Unit Fund 2009/10
• Reports from the Sub Committees

Finance and Resources Committee – 30 July 2009

Members present: Steve O’Connell (Chairman), Reshard Auladin, John Biggs, Faith Boardman, (Deputy Chairman), Dee Doocey, Deborah Regal, Graham Speed and Richard Tracey.

Revenue and capital budget monitoring position for 2008/09 at Period 2 (to the end of May)

This report provides an update on the revenue and capital budget monitoring position for 2009/10 at Period 2 (to the end of May). The revenue budget is forecast to overspend by £17.8m (approximately 0.6% of budget). The Capital Programme shows year to date total expenditure of £9.8m. This total represents 4.2% of the revised annual budget of £234.2m. The forecast for the year of £234.2m is equal to the revised annual budget.

Capital out turn review 2008/09

The Committee was provided with an analysis of the provisional capital outturn for the rephrasing of capital projects into 2009/10. The total sum to re-phased from 2008/09 is £49.2m

Cost of policing public order events 2008/09

A report was provided which set out the policing costs associated with major public order events held between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009.

Patrol Base and Custody Centre Property Programme (exempt)

The report provided an update on the performance to date of the Patrol Base and Custody Centre Property Programme. A report was also considered on the cost of Polar Park Heathrow Airport programme which provides an update on the proposed design and details of the process management and controls that have been implemented and seeks approval to the necessary budget changes.

Forensic services contract for DNA services (exempt)

A contract was awarded for PACE and crime scene stains DNA services for two years.

Vehicle Charge card facilities (exempt)

This report sought approval to sign a new agreement for the supply of vehicle fuel cards which are used to re-fuel the MPS vehicle fleet. The report contained assurances concerning misuse.

Improving the health and well-being of police officers, PCSOs and police staff (exempt)

Agreed to a four part health and well being imitative supplemented with modernising catering facilities. The initiative includes offering health screening and to provide overweight staff with opportunities to lose weight and improve fitness levels

Contact details

Copies of reports and minutes from the Authority and its Committees are available from the MPA website at www.mpa.gov.uk.

If you require any further information regarding MPA Committee please contact the MPA Committee Services team.

• Nick Baker 0207 202 0183 nick.baker@mpa.gov.uk 
• Chris Benson 0207 202 0118 chris.benson@mpa.gov.uk 
• John Crompton 0207 202 0181 john.crompton@mpa.gov.uk 
• Ruth Hastings Iqball 0207 202 0186 ruth.hastings-iqball@mpa.gov.uk

For more information contact:

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

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