Best Value Review - progress report

Report: 3
Date: 28 July 2000
By: Commissioner & Clerk

Summary

This report provides details of the review and reports on progress. The Committee is asked to discuss the emerging findings/issues and consider their role its the future of the project.

A. Supporting information

Background

1. The Best Value Review of Consultation is being conducted by a joint MPS/MPA project team. A Work In Progress (WIP) Report which described the work already done as part of the review was circulated to Members in advance of a workshop held on 11 July 2000. This report summarises the WIP Report and gives details of progress since its publication.

Review update

2. The three main stages in the Review are:

• Stage 1 - planning the review, undertaking background reviews and ensuring that Independent Challenge (required for Best Value Reviews) is fulfilled
• Stage 2 - stakeholder analysis and communication plan
• Stage 3 - detailed review

3. As part of stage 3, the work is split into the 4C’s, ie: Challenge, Compare, Consult and Compete. Work on the 4Cs so far is as follows:

• Challenge - Surveys of MPS Borough Commanders, London’s Local Authorities and PCCGs as well as a review of existing MPS surveys.
• Compare - Literature review, visits to Police Authorities and Constabularies.
• Consult - Communications implementation plan and consultation implementation plan.
• Compete - Not initiated at present.

Consultation implementation plan

Consultation is now under way and comprises the following:

• a range of focus groups aimed at officers and staff in the MPS;
• a range of focus groups and survey work aimed at the general public;
• work with members of the MPA;
• consultative meeting with PCCGs, community safety officers of London’s local authorities and others;
• the formation of a key stakeholders groups to work with MPA/MPS on the formation of the draft consultation strategy.

4. The final section of the plan, consulting with community and voluntary groups, is still being discussed and proposals will be put to the meeting for discussion by Members.

The Independent Challenge Panel (ICP)

5. A key element of Best Value is the need to 'challenge' how the Review is conducted. Accordingly, the Project Board agreed to the formation of an Independent Challenge Panel (ICP).

The objectives of the ICP were agreed as:

• to provide critical input to the development of a consultation strategy;
• to provide advice on interim measures for next year’s Policing Plan;
• to provide an independent challenge to the work of the joint project team (including a challenge to ensure that the strategy covers the fullest spectrum of interests).

6. The composition of the proposed ICP was questioned at the workshop on 11 July as a result of which a paper was submitted to the Chair’s Co-ordination and Urgency Committee on 14 July, The following proposals were agreed:

• the original ICP be disbanded; the Chair of the CDO Committee, after liaising with other members of the Committee, would be asked to nominate three experts from the original ICP;
• the Chair of the MPS Independent Advisory Group would be asked to nominate three or four members of the IAG;
• the Chair of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Advisory Group would be asked to nominate two or three members from the LGBAG; the Chair of the MPA would be asked to nominate a member of the authority who is not a member of the CDO Committee to chair the ICP.

Developing the consultation strategy

7. The aim of the project is to develop a strategy for consultation with proposals as to a strategy and implementation plan on how the MPA/ MPS will consult on policing issues in the future. This strategy will need to be adopted by the Authority by the end of November to fit in with the needs of next year’s Policing Plan and budgetary requirements, eg: for PCCGs.

8. A process for developing the strategy for publication in November is discussed in a separate item on this agenda.

B. Recommendation

1. That the CDO Committee note the agreement of the Chair’s Co-ordination and Urgency Committee to the proposals for reconstituting the membership of the Independent Challenge Panel and the extension of the project by one month such that the draft strategy is published in November.
2. That the CDO Committee discuss and approve the proposals for consultation with the community and voluntary sector which will be brought to the meeting.

C. Financial implications

There may be financial implications from the proposals to consult with community and voluntary groups which will be discussed at the meeting.

D. Review arrangements

Further review will be undertaken by future meetings of this committee.

E. Background papers

The following is a statutory list of background papers (under the Local Government Act 1972 S.100 D) which disclose facts or matters on which the report is based and which have been relied on to a material extent in preparing this report. They are available on request to either the contact officer listed above or to the Clerk to the Police Authority at the address indicated on the agenda.

• MPS Guidelines for Best Value Reviews, January 2000
• Best Value Review of Consultation Work In Progress Report, No 1, July 2000

F. Contact details

The authors of this report are Anne Wheeler, MPS Project Manager, and Paul Dutton and Sultan Taylor, MPA Consultation and Outreach Team.

For information contact:

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

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