Minutes

Minutes of the Co-ordination and Policing Committee held on 03 October 2003 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Toby Harris (Chair)
• Jennette Arnold
• Reshard Auladin
• R. David Muir (Deputy Chair)
• Sir John Quinton
• Richard Sumray
• Graham Tope
• Cecile Wright

MPA officers

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

MPS officers

• Sir Ian Blair (Deputy Commissioner)

Part 1

14. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Richard Barnes, Cindy Butts, Elizabeth Howlett, Nicholas Long and Rachel Whittaker

15. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interest were made.

16. Minutes

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the Co-ordination and Policing Committee held on 19 September 2003 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

17. Draft MPA budget 2004/05

(Agenda item 4)

The committee considered a report by the Clerk and Treasurer setting out the proposed MPA budget for 2004/05.

Cecile Wright expressed concern, as Chair of the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board, that the equalities budget was not to be increased and commented on the impact this would have on equalities work. The Deputy Clerk commented that he believed the staffing complement to be robust enough to take forward the MPA’s equalities work. The equalities budget should not be seen in isolation as some initiatives funded from the consultation budget were also very relevant. He felt that a creative look at these two budgets should enable the priorities of both committees to be achieved.

Richard Sumray emphasised the need for the Authority to address civic renewal issues, which might require a staffing re-orientation.

The committee discussed the Authority’s membership of other bodies. It was felt that the Authority should not reduce its membership of the Association of Police Authorities. There was, however, a need to consider whether continued membership of the Association of London Government (ALG) and the Local Government Association (LGA) was of benefit to the Authority.

Resolved – That

1. The draft MPA budget 2004-05 be endorsed for reference to the Finance Committee;
2. the committee considers membership of the LGA and ALG further in the light of information about notice periods and, if possible, an assessment of the value of continued membership; and
3. the forecast outturn for 2003-04 be noted.

18. Lead Member roles 2003/04

(Agenda item 5)

The committee considered a report by the Clerk on lead member roles for the current year.

The following additions were proposed:

• faith groups – R David Muir
• forensic services – Reshard Auladin as joint lead member
• criminal justice system – Richard Sumray and Reshard Auladin
• Transport Operational Command Unit – Lynne Featherstone (unless any other member also expressed an interest in which case the appointment would be considered further by the committee)

Resolved – That

1. the committee’s lead member roles shown in Appendix 1 to the report be confirmed subject to the addition of the appointments shown above; and
2. the lead member appointments made by other committees be noted.

19. Conferences

(Agenda item 6)

The committee considered a report by the Clerk seeking approval to member attendance at three conferences.

Resolved – That

1. approval be given to the attendance of five members at the APA Annual Conference;
2. approval be given to the attendance of one member at the Policing the Police Conference;
3. approval be given to the attendance of two members at the Police Diversity Management Conference; and
4. the Clerk be authorised to agree which Members should attend.

20. London Low Emissions Zone feasibility study

(Agenda item 7)

The committee considered a report by the Clerk on a feasibility study commissioned by the Greater London Authority into establishing a Low Emissions Zone. Comments from the MPS had also been circulated.

Members broadly agreed the draft response, taking into account the MPS comments. The response should also include reference to the danger that the introduction of an LEZ could lead to an increase in abandoned vehicles. As this was already a serious problem for many local authorities, adequate arrangements would have to be put in place to prevent to situation being made worse. The Deputy Commissioner also commented that there would be resource issues as only police officers could stop moving vehicles.

Resolved – That the draft MPA response be approved subject to the above comments.

21. Community and Police Consultative Groups development and reform programme and funding process for 2004/05

(Agenda item 8 (a))

The committee considered a report by the Clerk which had been referred to the committee for decision as a result of the previous Consultation Committee being inquorate. The informal notes of that inquorate meeting were tabled.

Resolved – That

1. the proposals and recommendations contained in this report be adopted as a means of improving and strengthening the partnership framework between the MPA and CPCGs;
2. the Deputy Clerk be asked to write to all CPCGs explaining the legal advice now obtained, informing them that the MPA no longer proposes that there should be a standard constitution for CPCGs, and providing guidance to CPCGs on the clauses that they may wish to consider incorporating into their constitution to safeguard their members and officers;
3. in conjunction with the London Forum, the MPA publish a “model” constitution for CPCGs on the understanding that its adoption is a matter entirely for local choice; and
4. the approach to the funding process for 2004/05 outlined in Appendix 2 of the report be endorsed, and that further consultation be undertaken among members, and with CPCGs and Borough Commanders, before the funding application and assessment process is finalised.

22. MPA quick time consultation

(Agenda item 8 (b))

The committee considered a report by the Clerk which had been referred to the committee for decision as a result of the previous Consultation Committee being inquorate.

Resolved – That an amendment be made to the consultation strategy to reflect the process outlined in the report.

23. Urgent business

(Agenda item 9)

Independent Inquiry into the conduct by the MPS of internal investigations, grievance and conflict resolution and employment tribunal claims.

The Chair agreed to accept a report on revised terms of reference for this inquiry on the grounds of urgency, to enable the inquiry to get underway as soon as possible. A submission from the Metropolitan Black Police Association (MBPA) was also tabled.

The Deputy Clerk reported that the inquiry membership had not yet been settled – he was fairly sure of two members but the appointment of the chair was still under discussion. He hoped that this would be settled in the near future.

Members were generally satisfied with the revised terms of reference. There were some concerns, however, which were discussed in some detail to arrive at the following amendments and additions:

• timing – it was recognised that the inquiry needed to be concluded in good time before the June GLA election. Rather than state an end date, it was agreed that the emphasis should be on getting the inquiry underway as soon as possible with the intention at this stage of the inquiry being a three month piece of work
• the presumption should be that the inquiry panel would meet in public unless there was a reason to hold specific sessions in private. The panel should be given room to make judgements about their own process
• paragraph 1 should be couched more broadly than ‘consistency with the MPS Diversity Strategy’ to enable the panel to, for instance, consider not just whether the MPS adheres to its own standards, but also whether those are the right standards
• the inquiry could usefully consider a group of issues around the use of Independent Advisory Groups as sounding boards
• the position in relation to ACPO officers should not be excluded from the inquiry, but hopefully the inquiry would avoid getting bogged down with ACPO regulations
• paragraph 6 of the additional matters for consideration by the inquiry should refer to regulations for officers and staff
• a form of words to be included in the introduction to reaffirm the MPA’s belief that the integrity of the police service is non-negotiable

Resolved –

1. That the terms of reference set out in the report be approved, subject to amendments to cover the above comments; and
2. that the Chair meet with the MBPA to discuss the issues raised by them in their submission

The meeting ended at 12.40 p.m.

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