Minutes

Minutes of the Chair's Co-ordination and Urgency Committee meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority held in AG21, Romney House, Westminster on Thursday 31 August 2000.

Present

Members

Toby Harris (Chair)
Richard Barnes (Deputy Chair)
Reshard Auladin
Nicholas Long
R David Muir
Richard Sumray
Graham Tope

MPA staff:

Peter Edwards (Clerk), Peter Martin (Treasurer) and Ian Gaskell

MPS staff:

I Blair (Deputy Commissioner), T Lawrence and D Croll

Plus one member of the press/public and six other staff members from the MPA and MPS.

Part 1

11. Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Rachel Whittaker.

12. Minutes: 14 July 2000

Resolved:
that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2000 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

13. Mayor’s Draft Transport Strategy - Transport in London: lets make a difference

The Committee received a report that informed them that the Mayor was currently in the process of preparing a draft transport strategy for London. As part of the initial consultation process and as stakeholders, both the MPA and the MPS had been asked for their views by way of a questionnaire.

It was noted that the MPS were currently mid way through the process of responding and that the report invited members’ to comment and to consider a joint response on this occasion.

The report also considered whether future responses by the MPA and MPS to the Mayor’s Office regarding mayoral strategies should be joint or separate.

Resolved:

1. that a joint MPS/MPA response be provided to the Mayor’s Office on the Mayor’s Draft Transport Strategy and that decisions on whether future responses regarding mayoral strategies should be joint or separate, be made on a case by case basis;
2. that the MPS be advised that the following points be included in the response to the Mayor’s Office on the Mayor’s Draft Transport Strategy;
   1. that the need for greater consultation between local authorities and the Police on traffic issues;
   2. that the responses to have a section coving the needs of the Police for transport;
   3. that the need for further discussions on the role and relationship of British Transport Police and Royal Park Police with the MPS; and
   4. that further detail on enforcing congestion charges and potential conflict between the police and public.

14. Amendments to the Members’ Allowance Scheme

The Committee considered a report that sought to amend the Members’ Allowance Scheme by reorganising further approved duties for Independent and Magistrate Members.

The proposals included incorporating into the Scheme as approved duties; attendance at meetings undertaken on behalf of the MPA, such as PCCG meetings and relevant local constituency meetings and informal briefing and familiarisation sessions relating to MPA responsibilities. A further amendment to the scheme, for reading time, was also proposed.

Members also considered an allowance for Independent and Magistrate members for business calls made from home or mobile phones, but rejected this proposal as it could prove difficult to monitor.

Arising from the discussion it was agreed that the Members’ Allowance Scheme be monitored, in order to assess the adequacy of the current ceiling limits for member claims and review this in September with a view to writing to the Home Office about increasing the level.

Resolved
that the Members’ Allowance Scheme - Approved Duties for Independent and Magistrate Members be amended to incorporate the following:

1. attendance at meetings undertaken on behalf of the MPA in relation to geographical links duties, such as PCCG meetings, discussions with crime and disorder partners, visits to local BOCUs and other relevant local constituency meetings;
2. informal briefing and familiarisation sessions relating to MPA responsibilities e.g. C3i; and
3. reading time up to a maximum of 7 hours per month.

15. GLA: planning code of conduct

The Committee received a report that informed them that the Mayor would be taking responsibility for determining planning applications that had ‘potential strategic planning’ implications. It was noted that the Mayor’s Spatial Development Strategy would provide guidance for regional development and Local Unitary Development Plans would need to take this into account.

The Greater London Authority (GLA) had subsequently drafted a ‘Planning Code of Conduct’ and sought the views of members by 11 September 2000.

Resolved:

1. that the GLA be advised that the MPA broadly supported the proposed Code as drafted subject to the MPA being kept fully informed of all matters relating to their estate and other matters of detail identified in the report;
2. that the Clerk, in consultation with the Chair of the MPA, the Commissioner and the Chair of the Finance, Planning and Best Value Committee be delegated the responsibility to respond to enquiries received from the GLA under this Code.

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