Minutes

Minutes of the Consultation Committee of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 4 July 2002 at Romney House SW1.

Present:

Members:

• Cindy Butts (Chair)
• Kirsten Hearn
• Nicholas Long.

Also present:

•  R. David Muir (Deputy Chair, MPA)

MPA Officers:

• Julia Smith (Policy Officer, CDO)
• John Crompton (Committee Services)

MPS Officers:

• Sue Merchant (Head of Business Change)
• Superintendent Chas Bailey (Consultation Manager)

In addition approximately 10 members of the press/public and other Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) / Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) staff were present.

Membership

At the Annual Meeting of the Authority held on 27 June the membership of the Committee was agreed as Cindy Butts (Chair), Abdal Ullah (Deputy Chair), Kirsten Hearn, Jenny Jones and Nicholas Long.

1. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Abdal Ullah and Jenny Jones (Members), Assistant Commissioner Ghaffur (MPS) and Catherine Crawford (MPA).

2. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interests were made.

3. Minutes of the meeting of the Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee held on 9 May 2002

(Agenda item 3)

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting of the Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee held on 9 May 2002 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

4. Chair and Link Members’ update

(Agenda item 4)

Members reported on recent meetings they had attended and other MPA activities.

RESOLVED - That the Chair and Members update be noted.

5. Terms of reference and remit of the Consultation Committee and Draft Consultation Strategy

(Agenda item 5)

The Committee considered a report that set out the terms of reference for the Consultation Committee. Members drew attention to the substantial overlap between both the work and the membership of the Committee and the Consultation Strategy Management Board (CSMB). The policy officer CDO reminded the Committee that the Strategy Board had been established as a result of a recommendation from the best value review of consultation. At that time, the Authority did not have a dedicated consultation forum. Members proposed that the Consultation Board be wound up and its remit included in that of the Consultation Committee. In doing so, it would be appropriate to make some co-opted appointments to the Committee to include some who had previously been members of the Consultation Strategy Management Board, and young people. It was agreed that any meetings of CSMB arranged during the summer to consider feedback on the policing plan should continue. The Chair said she would be discussing further aspects of the format of the Committee’s meetings with the policy officer, CDO.

In reply to a question from the Chair the policy officer, CDO, confirmed that the distribution of the Consultation Strategy would include the community safety units in local authorities.

RESOLVED - That -

1. the terms of reference be noted;
2. the Consultation Strategy Management Board be abolished and its remit be subsumed into the Consultation Committee;
3. a report be submitted to the next meeting concerning the appointment of co-opted members to the Committee; and
4. the draft consultation strategy be circulated to local community and police consultative groups and borough commanders before finalisation.

6. Communications and public relations matters

(Agenda item 6)

A report was submitted which set out details of a number of initiatives. The report also sought guidance from the Committee on a possible change to the MPA logo. The Director of Communications said that PA Consulting was aware of the similarity between with the logos of the two organisations but had not raised an objection. The Committee felt it was inappropriate to make changes to the corporate logo at this early stage in the life of the Authority. The Director of Communications was asked however to monitor the position with regard to the PA Consulting logo.

RESOLVED - That

1. the report be noted; and
2. there be no change to the logo.

7. Measuring community involvement

(Agenda item 7)

A report was submitted which informed Members about a set of indicators developed by the Audit Commission and Improvement and Development Agency to measure community involvement. The indicators had been circulated for consultation and could be adopted by services on a voluntary basis.

The policy officer, CDO, advised that it was not yet known which indicators other police authorities intended to adopt. The Head of Business Change said that whilst the need for measurement was supported, the cost of carrying out extra consultation should be borne in mind. The Chair said she also had some concerns on the proposals which should be included in the response to the Audit Commission and Improvement and Development Agency.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted and a response be made to the Audit Commission and IDeA in consultation with the Chair.

8. Consultative groups and ICVS progress report

(Agenda item 8)

A report was submitted which set out a summary of work undertaken to progress the work on community and police consultative groups and independent custody visiting panels since the last meeting of the Committee. The Committee agreed to consider this report, which had not been available at the time of the main agenda despatch. R. David Muir said he wished to pay tribute to the hard work undertaken by Nicholas Long, the lead member for CPCGs.

RESOLVED –

1. the agreement made for the scrutiny of the internal management of the overall consultation budget be noted;
2. the wide variation in expenditure claims of the Groups and Panels and the actions in place for addressing this be noted; and
3. the decision taken to retain 10% of the budget allocated to those Groups that do not submit an annual consultation work programme be noted.

9. Consultation plan for policing priorities

(Agenda item 9)

The consultation process for the 2003/4 policing plan had commenced with the impending launch of the online consultation facility and the start of the Public Attitude Survey. A report was submitted which updated the Committee on the format and progress of the consultation process.

RESOLVED – That the consultation plan be agreed.

10. Public attitude survey

(Agenda item 10)

The Public Attitude Survey (PAS) had been carried out by the MPS for the last 10 years. It was now timely to review its use and focus. A report was submitted which sought Members views on the scope of the review. The Committee agreed to consider this report, which had not been available at the time of the main agenda despatch. Kirsten Hearn indicated that she would be interested in attending the workshop referred to at paragraph 7.

RESOLVED – That the scope of the review be agreed.

11. MPA Race Equality Scheme – consultation action plan

(Agenda item 11)

A report was submitted which informed members about the programme of further consultation on the race equality scheme.

RESOLVED - That the programme of further consultation on the MPA race equality scheme be agreed.

The meeting finished at 3.40 p.m.

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