Link member appointments

Report: 10
Date: 7 December 2006
By: Chief Executive and Clerk

Summary

This report asks the Committee to approve the description of the link member role attached as an appendix to this report and to make link member appointments.

A. Recommendation

That the Committee

1. approves the description of the link member role attached as Appendix 1 to this report; and
2. agrees the link member proposals and appointments recommended in paragraphs 5 to 7 of this report.

B. Supporting information

1. At the Authority’s Annual Meeting in June, with regard to ‘link’ and ‘lead members’ it was agreed:

• To rename ‘lead’ members as ‘link’ members
• That a description of the link member role be developed, taking account of the borough and non-borough role; and
• That all members be invited to propose link member roles. At the same time the MPS to be asked what areas of MPS service it feels would benefit from the appointment of a link member;
• That the Co-ordination & Policing Committee be authorised to consider and appoint to the non-borough link roles once this exercise has been completed, taking into account the demands and expectations placed on members as a result of these appointments to ensure that they are realistic.

2. A proposed description of the link member role is attached as Appendix 1.

3. The present position with regard to borough link member appointments is attached as Appendix 2 for information.

4. Proposals on non-borough link member appointments were put to the October meeting of the Co-ordination & Policing Committee but members had reservations about these and it was agreed that the Chair would discuss them further with other members and the officers. This discussion has now taken place, resulting in the following proposals. All members have been consulted on these proposals and any responses taken into account.

5. These proposals recognise that there are a number of competing demands on members’ time and there is, therefore, a need to focus link member appointments on those issues that are not addressed in other ways. It is further recognised that it is not possible, or necessary, to provide links for non-borough Operational Command Units. It is therefore proposed that the following principles should be adopted in deciding on link member appointments:

1. Link member roles should be thematic or issue-based.
2. Where a subject matter falls clearly within a committee’s terms of reference, the Chair of that Committee should be assumed to lead on that subject unless that committee arranges otherwise.
3. The same should apply where members chair other MPA bodies or scrutinies, such as on domestic violence, hate crime, gun crime or drugs.
4. If a member represents the MPA on an outside body or an MPS group then by definition they lead on that issue for the MPA.

6. The following link roles and appointments are proposed as not being covered by 1 – 4 above:

1. Scientific Services & Information Technology (which would include, for instance, Forensic Services and Bichard) – Reshard Auladin.
2. Road Safety – Jenny Jones.
3. Public Order Policing – Rachel Whittaker.
4. Policing of Sporting Events, including 2012 Olympics – Richard Sumray.
5. Royal Parks – Tony Arbour and Rachel Whittaker (as appropriate to their borough link roles)
6. Safer Neighbourhoods and Police Visibility – Len Duvall.
7. Activity Based Costing – Karim Murji.
8. Drugs and Alcohol Policy (depending on the outcome of the drugs scrutiny) – Richard Sumray.
9. Heathrow Operational Command Unit – Richard Barnes (as part of the Hillingdon Borough link role).

7. It is suggested that in future link member appointments should be reviewed at the first meeting of the Co-ordination & Policing Committee after the Authority’s Annual Meeting.

C. Race and equality impact

Link member roles can be a means by which the MPA focuses on specific equalities or diversity issues. MPA committees are required to “have due regard, in exercising the committee’s responsibilities, to equal opportunities generally, the general duty of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 and the requirements of any other equalities legislation”. This requirement should also apply to formal MPA appointments such as link members, and this has therefore been included in the link member role description.

D. Financial implications

None

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Simon Vile, MPA.

For information contact:

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

Appendix 1

MPA link members

Introduction

1. The range and complexity of the MPS places significant demands on the MPA in terms of its oversight role. To this is added the MPA’s own responsibilities, such as ensuring that London’s communities are consulted on policing issues and performance.

2. Much of the MPA’s work is conducted through full Authority and Committee meetings. However, committees are not always the most appropriate or efficient means of carrying out business. For this reason the MPA appoints individual members to act as “link members” for:

• the 32 London Boroughs
• policing activities or issues that it is felt will benefit from the association with a link member, particularly where cross-cutting issues are involved

3. These are formal appointments made and reviewed annually by the Co-ordination & Policing Committee at its July or September meeting. A description of the link member role is set out below.

The link member role

4. The MPA has agreed the following as the minimum expectations of borough link members:

1. that they participate in their Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership(s), with MPA officer support as necessary;
2. maintaining regular contact with the borough commander. This should include: oversight of the Safer Neighbourhoods programme at borough level; and being consulted by the borough commander on the allocation of the £50,000 partnership funding supplied by the MPA;
3. that every six months they contribute to a report to the full Authority on the MPA’s work on CDRPs and issues/common themes that have been identified as part of this and borough link membership generally; and
4. that over and above this, the extent to which a member engages with local partners, CPCGs, safer neighbourhood forums, community groups etc should remain at their discretion. As a minimum, a member should be prepared to listen to local concerns (even if not actively seeking them out) and to represent them to the Authority in the most appropriate way.

5. The minimum expectations of non-borough link members are suggested as follows:

• to develop a detailed understanding of the issues relating to that particular area or service, including networking with the Association of Police Authorities, other police authorities and government departments as appropriate
• to act as a two way link: listening to views expressed by others and representing these to the MPA in the most appropriate way; and representing to others the work and policies of the MPA
• to be an initial point of contact for the MPS or others wishing to discuss issues (relevant to their link role) informally with an MPA member
• to act as a conduit between the MPA and others for that subject area
• on behalf of the MPA, to scrutinise and question, for instance in relation to policy and performance and to raise any issues or concerns with the MPA/MPS in the most appropriate way
• to contribute to policy development locally and nationally as appropriate, by representing the MPA on other bodies etc
• link members are expected to liaise on a regular basis with their MPA support officer to ensure that the Authority, and specifically the lead committee for that subject area, is kept informed in the most appropriate way of the member’s work on its behalf

Link member rights and responsibilities

6. No individual MPA member can take executive decisions (for instance committing the Authority to expenditure or the adoption of a policy).

7. If they are speaking publicly in their capacity as a link member they should represent any views or policies agreed by the MPA. If they feel unable to do this they must make it clear that they are speaking in an individual capacity.

8. In carrying out their duties link members should have due regard to equal opportunities generally, the general duty of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 and the requirements of any other equalities legislation.

9. Link members have a responsibility to keep other members and officers informed of their work in the most appropriate way, in particular Committee Chairs and the designated MPA Support Officer

10. Link members have a right to expect MPS and MPA officers to recognise that they have been formally appointed to their role and to support them by:

• keeping them informed of developments or issues
• meeting with them on as regular basis as is required
• providing written briefings on request (within reason in terms of the resources required to produce a briefing)

The Chief Executive to the MPA will designate an MPA officer to provide a link with an support to each non-borough link member

11. MPS officers should be aware that consultation with link members does not constitute formal consultation with the MPA.

12. A link member cannot commission reports for a committee.

13. The link member role does not attract a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Appendix 2

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