Minutes

Minutes of the an meeting of the Co-ordination and Policing Committee held on 5 April 2007 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Len Duvall (Chair)
• Reshard Auladin (Deputy Chair)
• Cindy Butts (Deputy Chair)
• Jennette Arnold (item 7-13)
• Karim Murji
• Aneeta Prem
• Richard Sumray
• Graham Tope (item 5-13)
• Rachel Whittaker

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive)
• David Riddle (Deputy Chief Executive and Solicitor)
• Ken Hunt (Treasurer)
• Siobhan Coldwell (Acting Assistant Chief Executive)
• Ruth Hastings Iqball (Committee Services)

MPS officers

• Alan Croney (Director, Property Services) (item 4)
• Dick Fedorcio (Director, Public Affairs) (item 5)
• Christopher Jarratt (Borough Commander, Greenwich) (item 4)
• Paul Stephenson (Deputy Commissioner)
• Martin Tiplady (Director, Human Resources)
• David Tugwell (Finance and Resource Manager, Greenwich) (item 4)

104. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Toby Harris, Kirsten Hearn, Elizabeth Howlett and John Roberts.

105. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

The Chair, in relation to agenda item 4, stated that he lived Greenwich. He therefore had a personal, but not prejudicial interest, in the acquisition of a new patrol base for the borough of Greenwich.

106. Minutes: 1 March 2007 (Part 1)

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved - That the minutes of the Co-ordination and Policing Committee (Part 1) meeting held on 1 March 2007 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

107. Acquisition of a patrol base for Greenwich BOCU

(Agenda item 4)

Members received a report proposing the provision of a patrol base for the borough of Greenwich through the leasehold acquisition of a unit on an industrial estate. The Chair proposed an additional recommendation in relation to the possible provision of a custody suite.

Resolved – That

1. the leasehold acquisition of warehouse accommodation at Unit 9 Mellish Industrial Estate, Warspite Road, Woolwich for Greenwich BOCU to house the patrol and response officers be approved;
2. estimated capital expenditure as specified in Appendix 1 (exempt), for contract works and professional fees in connection with the required fit out be approved;
3. the potential use of the site for a custody suite be explored and additional planning approval be sought; and
4. subject to the acquisition of the patrol site and with the provision of front desk facilities through the Safer Neighbourhood Programme, the further rationalisation and modernisation of the borough estate as detailed in the report be supported.

108. MPA scrutiny of MPS media and communications

(Agenda item 5)

The Committee received a report outlining the findings and recommendations following a scrutiny by the MPA into the management of the media and communications by the MPS. The scrutiny was prompted by concerns into the media coverage of the search of a house in Forest Gate in June 2006.

Members commented on the need for police officers and staff to understand and follow press lines and for the MPS to produce timescales in relation to the adoption of the recommendations. A further report to full Authority was requested following discussion of the report by the MPS’s Management Board.

Resolved – That

1. the findings of the scrutiny be noted; and
2. the full Authority receive a further report, including timescales for the implementation of the recommendations.

109. Progress report: MPA improvement programme

(Agenda item 6)

A progress report on the MPA’s Improvement Programme was received. It commented on general progress, actions against the overall programme plan, impact on staff and internal communications. The Chair commented that it was a significant Programme for staff, and thanked Rachel Whittaker for her contribution. Members noted that the gestation of the improvement plan had been very long, and that it was important to progress with speed.

Resolved – That the report be received

110. Resource Allocation Formula update

(Agenda item 7)

This report provided an update on the application of the resource allocation formula (RAF) in 2007/08 and provided details of the application of ‘Commissioner’s Judgement’

A review of RAF had been proposed, however members suggested that the terms of reference of any review had to be clear from the outset. The Chief Executive agreed, stating that that full review of RAF was not required. She suggested that the terms of reference be discussed outside the Committee and proposals be brought back to the Coordination and Policing Committee in September. Members noted that RAF only dealt with the allocation of officers in boroughs, and there was scope to look at allocation elsewhere in the MPS. They also noted that the formula was being used to allocate resources other than officers.

Members also noted that ‘Commissioner’s Judgement’ had been applied in one borough in 2005/06. Bent had been awarded an additional 25 officers in order to recognise the disproportionate number of homicides and gun and drugs related crime that is taking place and which was not sufficiently captured by the formula.

Questions were asked about the variance columns in appendix 1. Members were informed this represented a snapshot on a particular day. The variance figure was rigorously policed to ensure boroughs remained within 15 of their target strength and that each borough had similar proportions of experienced and inexperienced officers. Safer Neighbourhood officers were included in the actual strength of boroughs although they were not part of the formula. Members suggested that variation of 15 should be a percentage of the total target strength, as a difference of 15 would have a greater effect on a smaller than larger borough. Members were informed that the size of boroughs was taken into account.

Resolved – That

1. the report be received; and
2. a report containing the terms of reference be discussed outside the Committee and proposals be brought back to the Coordination and Policing Committee in September.

111. Any other urgent business

(Agenda items 8)

There were no items of urgent business.

112. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 9)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during remaining items on the agenda as it was likely to disclose exempt information as described in Schedule 12(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Resolved - That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of the remaining items on the agenda.

Summary of exempt items

113. Greenwich Patrol Base – Exempt Appendix 1

(Agenda item 10)

There was no discussion of the exempt appendix in part 2 of the meeting.

114. Police pay negotiations

(Agenda item 11)

The MPA/MPS protocol agreed by the Co-ordination and Policing Committee in March 2007 made provision for a confidential report on the MPS’s approach to the current year’s pay negotiations for police staff including any proposals for changes to terms and conditions. Members now received this report and approved the strategy identified in the report be approved.

115. Request for funding legal representation

(Agenda item 12)

The Authority had received a request for funding in respect of two officers PCs to cover the costs of their legal representation at an inquest. The request for funding was agreed. However members noted that the officers had declined to co-operate when interviewed. Members felt the MPA should be disinclined to support legal costs in such cases. The Deputy Chief Executive undertook to inform the Police Federation and Superintendents' Association of this decision.

116. Minutes: 1 March 2007 (Part 2)

(Agenda item 13)

The minutes of the Co-ordination and Policing Committee (Part 2) meeting held on 1 March 2007 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

The meeting closed at 11.30 a.m.

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