Contents

These are the minutes for the 14 January 2010 meeting of the Resources and Productivity Sub-committee.

Minutes

Warning: This is archived material and may be out of date. The Metropolitan Police Authority has been replaced by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC).

See the MOPC website for further information.

Minutes

Minutes of the Resources and Productivity Sub-committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 14 January 2010 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

Faith Boardman (Chairman)
John Biggs
Valerie Brasse
Graham Speed (Vice Chairman)

MPA officers

Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive)
Annabel Adams (Deputy Treasurer)
Julie Norgrove (Director of Audit, Risk and Assurance)
John Crompton (Treasury Team)

MPS officers

Ailsa Beaton (Director of Information)
Jane Bond (Director of Property Services)
Paul Daly (Director of Exchequer Services)
Anthony Doyle (Director of Procurement)
Paul James (Director of Finance Services)
Nigel Jakubowski (Director of Transport Services)
Anne McMeel (Director of Resources)
Gordon Mitchell (Strategic Insurance Manager)
Peter Ross (Director, Procurement Delivery PSD)
Stephen Skirten (Treasury Manager)
John Whitaker (Director of Logisitcal Services)

Also in attendance: Phiroza Katrak from Arlingclose attended for consideration of agenda item 6

62. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

There were none.

The Chairman congratulated Jane Bond on her recent appointment as Director of Property Services

63. Declaration of interests

(Agenda item 2)

There were none.

64. Minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2009

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved That the minutes of the Resources Sub-Committee held on 5 November 2009 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

Graham Speed asked about the note he had requested at a previous meeting concerning LAS/MPS crewing pilot which was still to be provided.

65. Terms of reference and work programme for the sub-committee

(Agenda item 4)

No report submitted. To be considered at the meeting on 1 March.

66. Borrowing strategy

(Agenda item 5)

A report was submitted which provided information on MPA cash flow planning, the funding of the capital programme and the decision making process when assessing the scale and timing of external borrowing to support the capital programme. It showed how current long term borrowing is historically low priced illustrated by the PWLB yields and as assessment of future changes.

Phiroza Katrak from Arlingclose attended the meeting and replied to questions from members.

The Chairman asked for clarification with regard to the amount of borrowing associated with the purchase of New Scotland Yard.

The Director of Resources advised that decisions concerning the amount and type of borrowing had been taken in line with the requirements of the MPA Treasurer. Because of circumstances at the time the Treasurer decided that the purchase of NSY should be funded by using cash balances. The Deputy Treasurer confirmed that the action taken as outlined in paragraphs 7 and 8 of the report had not had an adverse effect on the decision which members were being asked to make.

Members noted that the borrowing strategy for 2010/11 will form part of the Treasury Management Strategy which is due to be considered by members in March and at that meeting the Sub-Committee will be considering the options for adjusting the level of risk. Members requested that the report should also contain information about cash flow.

Resolved - That the report be noted and be forwarded to the Finance and Resources Committee for decision.

67. Future of radio mast sites

(Agenda item 6)

The Association of Police Authorities has contacted all Police Authorities seeking reassurance that if radio masts are sold they will, in future, ensure that access can be gained without being charged by the new owner. The Sub-Committee received a report which advised that the Authority owns four masts and there are currently no proposals to dispose of these. The position will be monitored on an annual basis, if the position was to change we would ensure access rights were considered.

Resolved - That it be noted that four sites are owned on a freehold basis and that there are no intentions to dispose any of them at the present time.

68. Transport services costs

(Agenda item 7)

A report was received which provided details of Transport Service costs . The primary role of Transport Services is to provide the MPS with a safe and cost effective vehicle fleet and operational support.. Transport Services also provide a secure despatch and distribution service, as well as a driver service across the MPS. In recognition of the fact that further opportunities to bring other services under the remit of Transport Services may occur in the future some of these were also included in this report.

A member drew attention to a certain level of frustration in the boroughs at the fact that many of the cycles were out of action awaiting repair. In reply, the Director of Logistical Services advised that the MPS was working with a number of suppliers to work up a maintenance agreement.

In reply to a question from a member the Director of Logistical Services advised that something like 95% of cases of damage to vehicles was financed internally rather than by means of an insurance claim. The Director also outline collaborative work which the MPS undertook with the rest of the GLA family and the National Policing Improvement Agency on procurement and other aspects.

In response to questions from members about how information on the anticipated savings which were identified in the report would be reported back to members, the Director of Resources stated that as these savings were included within the Service Improvement Programme progress in identifying these savings would be reported in connection with updates on the Programme.

Members requested a site visit to a Transport facility and indicated that the opportunity would be taken to exploring a number of specific issues (for example the number of workshops in use) further with the Director of Logistical Services and Director of Transport Services.

Resolved – That

the report be noted; and
a site visit be arranged.

69. Implications of Office of Fair Trading reports on bid rigging in the property and recruitment industries

(Agenda item 8)

No report submitted. Matter to be considered at the next meeting.

70. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 9)

Resolved - That under section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved disclosure of exempt information as detailed in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.

Summary of decisions made on exempt items