Conference attendance

Report: 5
Date: 19 April 2004
By: Clerk

Summary

The Committee is asked to consider member attendance at:

• the Third Annual Assembly of Standards Committees, which takes place on 13 and 14 September in Birmingham
• the APA / ACPO conference which takes place on 11–13 May at Birmingham
• the Seventh Biennial Conference on International Perspectives on Crime, Justice and Public Order, in Bucharest, Romania on 6-10 June.

A. Recommendations

That

1. approves the attendance of Ms Stephanie Caplan at the Third Annual Assembly of Standards Committees;
2. approves the attendance of five members at the APA / ACPO Conference; and that the Clerk be authorised, in consultation with the Chair, to agree which members should attend and for how long; and
3. decides whether to send a delegate to the Seventh Biennial Conference on International Perspectives on Crime, Justice and Public Order. If the Committee decides in the affirmative it is asked to authorise the Clerk, in consultation with the Chair, to agree which member should attend.

B. Supporting information

1. The Annual Assembly of Standards Committees is an event organised by the Standards Board for England to bring together members and officers engaged in ethical governance to discuss issues relating to the operation of the Code of Member Conduct and to share experiences. As such it is very relevant to the work of the MPA’s Standards Committee. In the past the Authority has been represented at the Assembly at both officer and member level.

2. This year the MPA’s Standards Committee wishes to be represented by one if its independent members – Stephanie Caplan. The cost of the conference is £380. As the cost, including travelling (£170) and hotel accommodation, will exceed £500, Co-ordination & Policing Committee approval is required.

3. The annual ACPO Conference takes place at Birmingham on 11-13 May. In line with previous years it is proposed to book places for five members (to be decided). The conference costs £517 per delegate. Accommodation (£182 per night for possibly three nights) and travel (£170 per person) will be additional. In the past some members have chosen to attend only part of the conference. The daily rate is £188. Once it has been decided which members should attend those members will be asked to indicate whether they wish to attend all or part of the conference.

4. The Seventh Biennial Conference on International Perspectives on Crime, Justice and Public Order takes place in Bucharest, Romania on 6-10 June. It is billed as giving practitioners and academicians a forum to explore criminal justice issues with experts in their fields. Discussion topics may include immigration, transnational organized crime; political corruption, police training, terrorism, drugs and many other issues. The conference is aimed at policy makers, academicians, government and elected officials and practitioners in the areas of law enforcement.

5. The conference fee is in the region of £330 per delegate. The conference begins with a gala reception on the evening of Sunday 6 June with the formal programme starting on Monday 7 June and ending with a farewell dinner on the evening of Thursday, 10 June. A stay of five nights is therefore involved – accommodation costs would be in the region of £100 per night. The flight by British Airways economy class has been quoted at £1,017. However, were the delegate to travel on the Saturday, 5 June the cost reduces to £220 (although an additional night’s accommodation would be involved). The cost would, therefore, potentially range from just over £1,000 to about £1,800 plus food and incidentals.

C. Race and equality impact

None.

D. Financial implications

None.

E. Background papers

None.

F. Contact details

Report author: Simon Vile, MPA.

For more information contact:

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

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