Best value review on consultation progress report

Report: 8
Date: 23 January 2001
By: Clerk and Commissioner

Summary

This report gives an update on the implementation of the best value review on consultation and sets out an action plan for the next steps.

A. Supporting information

Background

1. The best value review of consultation was undertaken by a joint team from the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) and Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). The review is completed and the following reports have been produced:

• Executive summary of the draft best value report
• Draft PCCG model
• Implementation paper
• Provisional costings paper
• Draft consultation strategy.
• best value review final report

Where we are now

2. The CDO committee approved in principle the recommendations in the best value report at its November meeting. At the full Authority meeting on 14 December, members agreed to defer consideration of the report to allow members time to consider the recommendations more fully. A workshop to debate strategy and implementation has been arranged for [mid February] [21st February]

3. A request for formal approval of the recommendations and detailed implementation proposals will be put to the full Authority at its meeting on 8th March.

4. In the meantime the Authority recognise that interested parties, particularly PCCG chairs and administrators, need to be kept up to date with developments. The Chair of CDO wrote to chairs on 4th January, asking for feedback on the proposals. He will write again with an update on progress following discussion of this paper at the CDO meeting.

5. Some administrators may be unsure of their personal position. Officers of the MPA are in the process of re-arranging the planned meeting with administrators, to discuss with them in detail the recommendations of the report and their implications.

Next steps

6. The following key actions are vital to the implementation of the principles of the consultation strategy and the establishment of effective consultation arrangements.

• The drafting of job descriptions, responsibilities and grades for all new consultation staff.
• The recruitment of an Implementation/Consultation Manager for the MPA who will oversee the implementation and set up of the MPA Consultation Unit.
• The agreement of a formal timetable for implementation and PID.
• The briefing of Borough Commanders, PCCG Chairs, local authority chief executives and other key stakeholders.
• The agreement with potential key partners about financial arrangements.
• The identification and analysis of current contractual arrangements of PCCG employees.
• The identification of prospective PCCGs to take part in a pilot scheme for the new arrangements and recruitment of CCOs accordingly.
• The monitoring and review of pilot PCCGs and associated Boroughs.
• The approach to the Voluntary and Community Sector to begin establishing arrangements and protocols for the future consultation.
• Agreement and planning of the official launch of the new arrangements and the relevant publicity.

7. In anticipation of formal agreement of the recommendations, officers have begun informal consultation with partners about the likely way forward.

B. Recommendations

The Consultation, Diversity & Outreach Committee is asked to note the work in progress on preparing for the implementation of the new consultation framework, in anticipation of the strategy receiving formal notification.

C. Financial implications

To be covered in the formal report by the full Authority.

D. Review arrangements

Under continuous review

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.

• Full Authority Meeting - Best Value Review of Consultation - 14 December 2000
• Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee - Consultation Strategy - 19 December 2000

F. Contact details

The author of this report is Sultan Taylor.

For information contact:

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

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