Minutes

Minutes of the Chair's Co-ordination and Urgency Committee meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority held in AG23, Romney House, Westminster on Thursday 25 January 2001.

Present

Members

• Toby Harris (Chair)
• Richard Barnes (Deputy Chair)
• Peter Herbert (Deputy Chair)
• Reshard Auladin
• Nicholas Long
• Richard Sumray
• Graham Tope
• Rachel Whittaker

MPA staff

• Catherine Crawford (Clerk)
• Peter Martin (Treasurer)
• Simon Vile (Head of Secretariat)

MPS staff:

• Ian Blair (Deputy Commissioner)

Also in attendance 18 members of the public and MPS/MPA staff.

36. Apologies

(Agenda item 1)

None.

37. Minutes: 23 November 2000

(Agenda item 2)

It was agreed that as the minutes (Part 2) of the meeting held on the 23 November 2000, did not contain exempt information they should be considered in the open session of the meeting.

Resolved:
that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2000 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

38. MPA staff pay grading and terms of reference

(Agenda item 3)

The Committee considered a report that outlined a draft MPA staff structure and timetable for recruiting permanent staff for the MPA.

It was reported that the Human Resources Committee, at its meeting on 21 September 2000, had resolved to appoint consultants to review both salaries and grading for MPA staff and appointed a working party to consider non-contractual terms and conditions. At its meeting on 20 December 2000, the Human Resources Committee approved the consultants' findings and the general terms and conditions for MPA staff. Members were now asked to approve the recommendations of the Human Resources Committee.

In addition, the report outlined a proposed structure and staffing levels and a recruitment timetable.

Members in considering this report requested that fuller details of the structure and salary bands be circulated to them. Members also requested further information on future support from Members Services, particularly for magistrate and independent members.

Resolved:

1. the Co-ordination and Urgency Committee endorses the decisions of the Human Resources Committee, as outlined at Appendix 1 to the report;
2. the Co-ordination and Urgency Committee approve the draft structure and staffing levels, as outlined at paragraphs 4 and 5 of the report;
3. the Co-ordination and Urgency Committee approve the draft recruitment timetable outlined at paragraph 7 of the report.

39. MPA support organisation budget 2001/02

(Agenda item 4)

The Committee considered a report that presented the proposed MPA support organisation budget for 2001/02.

It was agreed that following the revision of the staffing budget, the subsequent saving should be allocated towards funding future MPA conference and seminars.

Members also commissioned a report to the full Authority on the benefits of membership of the Local Government Association.

Resolved:

1. the break down of the MPA support organisation budget for 2001/02 be approved, subject to the inclusion of the saving from staffing costs being allocated to funding future MPA conferences and seminars;
2. a report be presented to a future meeting of the full Authority on the benefits of membership of the Local Government Association.

40. MPA/MPS protocol on compensation cases

(Agenda item 5)

The Committee considered a report that outlined the protocol arrangements for dealing with compensation cases, whether of an urgent nature or not agreed between the MPA and the MPS.

The basis for the protocol was the Scheme of Delegation (Section D – Finance), that provided the Commissioner to take day-to-day financial management of the MPS and to devolve financial management responsibility within the MPS in accordance with the scheme agreed with the Treasurer.

The report outlined the purposes of the protocol, which are:

• to set out agreed arrangements for notifying the MPA on a regular basis as to the number and progress of compensation cases;
• to set out an agreed understanding between the MPA and MPS on the practical interpretation of paragraph 5 of the Scheme of Delegation, in relation to settlement of compensation cases; and
• to set out agreed arrangements for the MPA to approve settlements of compensation cases requiring further reference to the Authority.

The report also outlined the notification of compensation cases to the Authority, particularly cases that are significant in terms of quantum or sensitivity; arrangements for MPA approval of settlements; and the use of urgent business protocol and out of hours contact.

As a procedural matter, confirmation was given that compensation cases should be initially presented, through the Clerk, to the Professional Standards and Performance Monitoring Committee.

Members requested a list of current civil actions be circulated for information.

Resolved:
that the protocol to agreed and drafted into a protocol format.

41. Meeting calendar for 2001/02

(Agenda item 6)

Following a recent away day for Members, one of the issues raised was that of the frequency of MPA meetings.

The Committee considered a report that made proposals for the frequency of meetings, together with future meeting dates, in line with the views expressed at the away day.

The report outlined two options, both based on monthly meetings of the full Authority, except August: monthly meetings of the Co-ordination and Urgency Committee (if there is business to be discussed): meetings every two months for other committees, except August and continuing to hold all MPA committee meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The difference between the two options being that option one keeps Authority meetings on the second Thursday of every month. Option two moved the full Authority meeting to the end of the month, and the end of the committee cycle.

Members were also asked to consider a preference for full Authority meetings to be held during the mornings or to continue to alternate between, morning and evening meetings.

Resolved:
that the Committee recommend to the full Authority:

1. for meetings of the full Authority option 2 recommended;
2. future meetings of the full Authority be held at Romney House and following the February 2001 meeting, future meetings commence at 10.00am;
3. the April 2001 meeting of the Authority be held on 19 April 2001 at 10.00am
4. at the annual meeting of the Authority in June 2001, be used as a 'show case' to review the first year of the MPA, together with a presentation on a high profile subject;
5. option 2 be used for committee meetings, but the calendar be revised to ensure that meetings are spread further over the calendar year;
6. start times and arrangements of committee meetings be discussed further with chairs of committees
7. regular scrutiny/seminar dates be included into the calendar; and
8. the calendar incorporate regular Finance, Planning and Best Value Committee meetings during the budget period, that future dates for the Professional Standards and Performance Monitoring Committee take account of the availability of performance figures and there should be an avoidance of clashes with GLA meetings.

The meeting closed at 4.05pm.

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