Minutes

Minutes of the Standards Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 21 November 2003 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members:

• Cecile Wright (Chair)
• Jennette Arnold
• Stephanie Caplan
• Eric Ollerenshaw
• Ian Whitburn (Deputy Chair)

MPA Officers:

• David Riddle (Deputy Clerk)
• Nick Baker (Head of Committee Services)

Also present: Judith Chrystie (Seconded Solicitor).

Part 1

1. Election of Chair

(Agenda item 1)

Nominations were requested for the positions of Chair and Deputy Chair of the Committee, for a period up until the date of the annual meeting of the full Authority. Following nominations it was:

Resolved – That Cecile Wright be appointed Chair of the Committee and Ian Whitburn be appointed Deputy Chair of the Committee.

2. Apologies

(Agenda item 2)

Apologies for absence were received Nicholas Long.

3. Declarations of interests from Members of the Sub-committee

(Agenda item 3)

No declarations were made.

4. Minutes: 16 May 2003

(Agenda item 4)

The Committee considered the minutes of the meeting held on 16 May 2003.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 May 2003 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

5. Audit Commission review – ‘Setting High Ethical Standards’

(Agenda item 5)

The Committee were reminded that the Audit Commission Review of the MPA was currently underway. The Committee welcomed Siobhan Coldwell, from the Audit Commission who gave an up-date on the progress of the Review.

The Committee noted that the Audit Commission had extended the deadline for completion of the questionnaire that had been circulated to all members in relation to the code of conduct. The Deputy Clerk agreed to encourage members to respond. The Audit Commission would be reporting back to the Committee in further detail following the completion of the review.

Arising from the discussion, the Committee supported the suggestion that all newly appointed members to the Authority undertake a comprehensive training/induction session. It was also noted that the Deputy Clerk would ensure that all current members of the Authority had completed and signed up to the Authority’s code of conduct. (Secretary’s note: confirmation is given that all members of the Authority signed up to its code of conduct by the required date).

Resolved – That the report be noted.

6. Second annual assembly of Standards Committee – 9/10 June 2003

(Agenda item 6)

The Chair of the Committee and the Deputy Clerk reported back to the Committee on the second annual assembly of standards committees, which they both recently attended.

It was noted that the Assembly remained more focused on local or parish authorities and limited on the role of police authorities. The Deputy Chair of the Committee suggested that the APA should be approached about developing a session at future Assembly that focused more specifically on police authority matters.

Members noted that at the Assembly consideration of regional standards committee had been suggested.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. discussions be held with the APA on developing a session at future Assemblies focusing on police authorities.

7. Protocol on member/officer relations

(Agenda item 7)

The Committee received a report that proposed a protocol on the respective roles and reasonable expectations of members and officers and gave guidance on what do on the rare occasions when thing go wrong.

The Committee welcomed the protocol, and highlighted the importance of proper procedures being in place. In particular, members expressed the need for officers to have confidence in existing procedures in order to avoid having to approach members directly, which could be conceived as inappropriate.

However, in relation to the protocol, the Committee requested that it be consulted on more widely and agreed that the views of all staff and members should be sought before further consideration of it by the Committee and full Authority.

Resolved – That

1. a fuller consultation of members and staff on the protocol be undertaken following which;
2. the protocol be presented to the next meeting of the Committee for consideration.

8. Sponsorship issues

(Agenda item 8)

Members received a report that developed principles on when the Authority should or should not accept sponsorship.

In considering the guidelines, members agreed the following additions/amendments:

(a) that following the opening paragraph an additional bullet point be added to include ‘where the sponsor is seeking a preferential policing service to their area, business etc., and where acceptance may imply support for a cause, campaign or political party or call into question the MPA’s impartiality.

(b) that the paragraph relating to non acceptance of sponsorship (item no.2) should be reworded to exclude companies or individuals whose tender was due to expire within 6 months of possible re-tendering; and also to reflect that where a contractual relationship is deteriorating, acceptance of sponsorship should not compromise the Authority’s ability to take action.

Resolved – That the guidelines, subject to the amendment outlined by members, be recommended to the full Authority for adoption.

9. Members’ allowances and expenses 2002/03

(Agenda item 9)

The Committee received a report that set out the payments made to members of the Authority in respect of allowances and expenses in the financial year 2002/03.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

10. Local determinations by Standards Committees

(Agenda item 10)

The Committee received a report outlining the new regulations that enable standards committees to determine cases referred to them by an Ethical Standards Officer.

In addition to the report members received a presentation, which outlined the procedure for determining referred cases; details relating to the Committee obligation to ‘fact find’; sanctions available to the Committee; concepts of a fair hearing; Human Rights Act obligations, particularly those relating to Article 6; and the need to ‘act fairly’ and to account for natural justice and the Human Rights Act.

Members were reminded that the Standards Board for England and Wales had produced guidelines for standards committees. Confirmation was given that it was best practice for local determinations to be held in public.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

The meeting closed at 12.05 p.m.

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