Reports from Committees

Report: 11
Date: 30 September 2010
By: Chief Executive

At each meeting of the Authority members will receive a report from committees that have meet 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:

• Finance and Resources Committee – 15 July 2010
• Communities, Equalities and Peoples Committee – 2 September 2010
• Corporate Governance Committee – 13 September 2010
• Standards Committee – 15 September 2010
• Strategic and Operational Policing Committee – 16 September 2010

Finance and Resources Committee – 15 July 2010

The following Members were in attendance: Steve O’Connell, Faith Boardman, Chris Boothman, Valerie Shawcross and Graham Speed.

Review of the capital programme 2010/11

A report providing details of the first review of the capital programme 2010/11 was considered. This was required to ensure that budgets are suitably adjusted to reflect (i) the capital outturn for 2009/10; and (ii) known changes to project profiles; since approval of the capital programme 2010/11 to 2016/17 as part of the Policing London Business Plan 2010-13. The Committee approved the revised funding proposals for the capital programme 2010/11.

Cost of policing public events

The Committee received the annual report which sets out the annual policing costs associated with major public order events between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010. Members felt that with regard to professional football that as this was essentially a commercial activity there should be an expectation of full cost recovery. Members agreed that a review be undertaken of the current policy for charging and requested that a report be submitted to a future meeting on options for changing the current charging regime.

Provision of new custody centre in Croydon

Authorisation was given to proceed with the development of a 40 cell custody centre on a site at Windmill Road for the Croydon Borough Operational Command Unit. The centre will support operational needs in the borough the standard provision is for the custody centres to have 30 cells.).

Disposal of properties

Approval was given to the disposal of the following properties following a marketing exercise : Rennet’s Wood House Eltham. 17A –C Old Park Avenue Wandsworth and 9-11 Lawford Road Kentish Town.

METAFOR programme closure (exempt)

The METAFOR Programme was initiated in 2003 to introduce forensic case management and the focus was on improving the forensic processes across the MPS. The Committee was advised of the reasons not to .continue with the Programme. The Office of Government Commerce has been commissioned to carry out a “lessons learnt” review and a report on the outcome will be shared with the MPA.

Communities, Equalities and Peoples Committee – 2 September 2010

The following Members were in attendance: Reshard Auladin, Victoria Borwick, Cindy Butts and Clive Lawton.

Following on from the 8 July meeting item on equality and diversity issues in the Detective Capacity; it was agreed that a joint action plan be created for increasing numbers of BME citizens and females in detective ranks.

Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy

The Committee received a report on the MPS Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy. The objective of constructing the CSR indicators is to encourage efficient business practice, in support of the budget planning process. The strategy has been in operation since December 2009, and shall be embedded into the MPS budget and business process, with the aim of providing value for money by identifying best practice in procurement. Members requested that the strategy should also make reference to Met Forward, which was agreed. Action Plans shall be developed for each objective of the strategy, with the MPA receiving an annual progress report.

The objectives of the strategy are broadly similar to those of the business plan. The strategy shall examine charitable endeavours, and the influence of the recruitment freeze on MPS employment targets. Members requested clarification that the Safer London Foundation shall be included in the action plan, and the MPS confirmed that this would be the case.

The MPS are working with partners, such as the GLA, who are developing similar action plans, with a ‘values framework’ enabling learning to be incorporated into the business plan. The MPS outlined that a central strategy shall still provide opportunities for local suppliers, with conferences being held to advise contractors on how to attain contracts.

Members resolved that the CSR strategy be endorsed.

Corporate Governance Committee – 13 September 2010

The following Members were in attendance: Toby Harris (Chair), John Biggs, Valerie Brasse, Joanne McCartney and Caroline Pidgeon.

Audit Commission Annual Governance Report 2009/10

The District Auditor and Audit Manager were present to introduce the Audit Commission’s annual governance report on the MPA covering the audit of the Authority for the year ended March 2010. Members were informed that it was proposed to give an unqualified opinion on the accounts. The report identified areas where adjustments were required to the disclosure notes which had been agreed by the officers.

Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007

The majority of this Act was implemented on 6 April 2008,introduced a new statutory offence of corporate manslaughter (corporate homicide in Scotland) where serious failures in the management of health and safety by the senior managers of an organisation result in a fatality. The Act applies to companies, Crown bodies such as Government departments and some non-corporate entities including police forces.

The Act does not introduce new regulatory standards in respect of health and safety. It is designed to secure in a wider range of cases and conviction for a specific, serious criminal offence, which properly reflects the gravity, and consequences of the conduct involved. Whilst the Act applies to the police, it contains broad exemptions in respect of policing activities and (until the duty owed to those in custody comes into effect operates to exclude circumstances where the pursuit of such activities has resulted in a fatality to a member of the public. The Section which covers the duty of care a custody provider owes to a person who is detained has yet to be implemented. It was envisaged that because of the significant number of organisations this affected, e.g. to allow a ‘lead in’ time to implement ACPO’s Safer Detention Guidance, this provision would be implemented by April 2011. This remains the intention.

Outstanding high risk Directorate of Audit, Risk and Assurance recommendations

The regular update report showed that there are 12 high risk recommendations outstanding to the MPS, an increase of 2 since the last meeting. The report contained a detailed note of progress in implementing each one. .

Business Charge Card update

The Committee was updated on the progress made by the Directorate of Professional Standards in reviewing and investigating the potential misuse of MPS Amex charge cards .

Updates

The committee received updates in respect of a number of issues including implementing International Financial Reporting Standards and the MPS corporate governance framework

MPS Risk Management Update (exempt)

The Committee reviewed the current MPS risk register and a summary of the ongoing work to improve the quality of the risk analysis and information contained in the register.

Standards Committee – 15 September 2010

The following Members were in attendance: Christopher Boothman, John Bowers, Anne Dickens (Chair), Janet Grey and Toby Harris,

Appointments

The Committee welcomed its new Independent members. Anne Dickens was appointed Chair and Janet Grey as Vice Chair.

Update on the standards regime

A report was presented that informed the Committee of the Coalition Government’s proposals in relation to the abolition of Standards for England as well as noting Standards for England’s Review of the Local Standards Framework.

Members briefly discussed possible impacts and the future of the standards regime. They asked the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, if the MPA response to the current ‘Policing London in 21st Century’ consultation could include a statement about the future of the standards regime.

Update on the local assessment of complaints about MPA members and committee’s annual returns to Standards for England

The Committee received a report that provided details local assessments of complaints about MPA members since the last meeting of the Committee.

The Committee also noted the Committee’s annual returns to Standards for England.

Outcomes of London-wide Standards Committee seminar

The Committee received a report that proved members with feedback from the London wide Standards Committee seminar hosted by the GLA Standards Committee.

Update on politically restricted posts

Members received a report that summarised the current law on employees’ posts being politically restricted and provided guidance to staff for members to agree when a member of staff wished to apply for an exemption from political restriction.

In noting the guidance, the Committee asked for a further details how many and which posts in the organisations restrictions would apply too. Members also asked if a process for considering exemptions could be developed for consideration.

DARA report on members’ allowances and expenses

The Committee received a report provided members with details on the progression being made in implementing the recommendations from a report from the Director of Audit, Risk and Assurance on members allowances and expenses.

The Committee also received two further reports on standards indicators and the standards committee work plan for 2011

Strategic and Operational Policing Committee – 16 September 2010

Members present:

Amendment to the Terms of Reference for the Professional Standards Cases sub committee

The Chair agreed to receive a request to modify the MPA terms of reference as urgent under the provisions of Section 100B 4b of the Local Government Act 1972. The report asked that Members recommend to the Full Authority that it agrees the following changes to the terms of reference of the Professional Standards Cases Sub-Committee:

To delete paragraph 5 and add as a header “Business Interests” and add 5.1 “To exercise the Authority’s functions in relation to business interests, including applications and requests for reconsideration from senior officers, and appeals from officers.

Add a new paragraph 6 “Dip Sampling” and insert “to exercise the functions of the Authority in relation to reviewing the quality assurance processes of the MPS complaint and conduct process in relation to officers, including all matters around dip sampling of MPS closed complaint and conduct files.”

Members agreed the proposed changes to the terms of reference and recommended and that they be approved by the full Authority.

Recommendations – That The full Authority be asked to approve the amendments to the terms of reference of the Professional Standards Cases Sub-Committee.

MPS response to Woodhams

The Committee received a report that provided an overview of measures taken and actions implemented by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in line with organisational learning arising from the death of the late Mr Peter Woodhams and inquiries that followed thereafter.

The Chair introduced this discussion, stating that Mr Woodhams had attended a meeting of the Full Authority approximately two years ago and that he has a standing invitation to attend MPA meetings. The Chair had met with Mr Woodhams prior to this meeting of SOPC, within which they spoke about the two officers disciplined and agreed that most important is that the MPS learn from the case.

Mr Woodhams thanked the Committee for receiving this report, and recognised that although the family is disappointed that no further action will be taken with regard the officers in question, that a line must be drawn under the issue. His paramount concern was that budget constraints may affect the on-going implementation of procedures in place to reduce the likelihood of other families suffering through similar error.

DAC Owens offered Mr Woodhams an apology on behalf of the MPS and reaffirmed that if he would like to visit officers Newham, which she would facilitate. She reported that the failure of supervision was being addressed by both the IPCC and improved internal processes. With regard financial tightening, the safety of citizens shall remain the primary concern of the MPS and improved sanction-detection rate remains a vital indicator. She offered that Mr Woodhams could phone her office as a single point of contact within the MPS if he wishes to raise any further concerns.

Members asked a number of further questions. The MPS confirmed that a ‘withdrawal statement’ is a victim-led process – officers will take victim statements, and may not seek prosecution in cases where victims feel unable to give evidence (although they can proceed with investigation if appropriate).

The MPS told Members that these processes have been incorporated not only in Newham but in every borough – including a new performance product measuring most serious offences, which is looked at weekly centrally, and daily by Borough Commanders. Members asked what they could do in order to ensure implementation, and to hold Borough Commanders accountable in this regard. The Chair responded that Met Forward was currently being refreshed and that this element of BOCU monitoring should be incorporated – potentially at monthly link member meetings.

MPA response to the home office consultation paper on police reform
The Chief Executive introduced this report, highlighting that although it has been difficult to reflect the views of all Members within the document, broad consensus had been met on most issues – over an eight week course of consultation. Where this had not been possible the qualification ‘it is for consideration’ had been added. The MPA had now received a copy of the GLA (Mayoral) response, and it was proposed that wording within the MPA submission would be amended to reflect that. She concluded that the final draft will be submitted to the Home Office on 20 September 2010 subject to the caveat that it is to be ratified at Full Authority later in the month. She reminded Members that as the Bill is debated more opportunities will be available to affect the legislative outcome.

Members debated the length of the submission - the GLA response is very concise. However, the MPA response addresses all areas of the reform, not just the powers of the new scrutiny panel. Some Members expressed reservations about cutting the document back.

Members raised a number of points including:

• that the document be clarified to reflect the fact that in London to say that ex-police officers could not stand as PCC would disqualify a whole section of the public from becoming Mayor of London
• Furthermore, it was requested that statements regarding the abolishment of the NPIA and the capacity of the MPS to provide ICT procurement services nationally, be clarified.
• Some members raised concerns that the report read as though the MPA began with the development of Met Forward. MPA officers agreed to clarify this section.
• Members were unsatisfied by the level of attention given by the Home Office consultation document to diversity and equalities issues in London. MPA officers agreed to reflect this within the response.
• MPA agreed to include a paragraph that was being prepared by the Standards Committee, and to reflect concerns that if the Mayor is not going to fulfil the role of PCC that there should be a separate democratic process for the election of the PCC.

It was noted that the MPA should seek to be represented at the Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry.

TP Development Programme (PART 1)

This report provided an overview of the proposed changes which are currently being scoped as part of the TP Development Programme. This report follows a presentation from the Commissioner to the Management Group and an oral briefing given by AC McPherson. A number of suggestions and proposals have gone to the Management Board, and pending approval, these shall be developed into business cases – for MPA approval.

Members raised concerns regarding the equalities impact of the proposed changes. The EIA does not pick up on issues regarding the removal of front counters (BME users use this form of interaction with the Service more frequently than others), for instance. The MPS responded that each work stream business case will have its own EIA; and that the work being undertaken is far broader than just closing front counters – new avenues of access are being explored. With regard custody suites, the estates panel is involved. The MPS contended that a number of suites were poorly located (e.g there were too few in the east).

Members asked that indications as to savings arising from each business case be detailed on the reports received by the MPA, and that link members require regular information regarding the withdrawal of third party funding within their boroughs. The MPS agreed that the business cases will incorporate savings and opportunity costs, and that Borough Commanders have been asked to engage with link members as soon as funding withdrawals are being considered. The MPS affirmed that much of this work was geared toward increasing satisfaction (although not at the expense of crime reduction).

Contact details

Report author(s): Nick Baker, MPA

For more information contact:

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

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