Minutes

Minutes of the an meeting of the Co-ordination and Policing Committee held on 27 September 2007 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Cindy Butts (Deputy Chair in the Chair))
• Reshard Auladin (Deputy Chair)
• Jennette Arnold (up to agenda item 15)
• Toby Harris (up to agenda item 6)
• Elizabeth Howlett
• Karim Murji
• Aneeta Prem (up to agenda item 9)
• John Roberts
• Richard Sumray (up to agenda item 8)
• Rachel Whittaker

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive)
• Ken Hunt (Treasurer)
• Siobhan Coldwell (Interim Assistant Chief Executive)
• John Crompton (Committee Services)

MPS officers

• Paul Stephenson (Deputy Commissioner)
• Steve House (Assistant Commissioner, Specialist Crime)
• Anne McMeel Director of Strategic Finance
• Martin Tiplady (Director of HR) and
• Claire Hunt (agenda item 17)
• Jo Kaye (Commander) for agenda item 8
• Franca Oliffe Deputy Director of Legal Services and
• Guy Morgan Assistant Director of Legal Services (for agenda item 7)
• Alan Croney (Director of Property Services)
• Stephen Rimmer (Director, Strategic Management and Performance)
• Detective Superintendent Bob Murrill (for agenda item 18)
• DR. Nina Cope (for agenda item 19)

Part 1

21. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Len Duvall (Chair), Richard Barnes Faith Boardman, Kirsten Hearn, Damian Hockney and Graham Tope

22. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

23. Minutes - 5 July 2007

(Agenda item 3)

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 July 2007 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

24. Minutes of the remuneration sub-committee 22 June 2007

(Agenda item 4)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Remuneration Sub Committee (Part 1) held on 22 June 2007 be noted.

25. Appointment of remuneration sub-committee

(Agenda item 5)

A report was submitted which invited the Committee to make appointments to the Remuneration Sub-Committee.

John Roberts stated that he had submitted an expression of interest in joining the Sub-Committee.

Rachel Whittaker said that it would not be appropriate to further enlarge the membership of what was always envisaged would be a small group.

RESOLVED – That the membership of the Remuneration Sub-Committee be confirmed as Rachel Whittaker (Chair); Tony Arbour, Jennette Arnold, Reshard Auladin, Cindy Butts and Len Duvall.

26. Policing review

(Agenda item 6)

This report provided members with information required to consider and develop an MPA position on the Sir Ronnie Flanagan Review of Policing.

John Roberts reported that he had recently facilitated the Equalities Impact Assessment of the Review.

Members identified some areas which the Authority would wish to raise with Sir Ronnie Flanagan at the session he was due to have with the MPA and the MPS on 4 October. These included linkages with Criminal Justice issues and the need to be clearer about the details of local accountability arrangements and the extend to which the Review took account of other forthcoming changes in the area of partnership working etc.

Members also referred to the need to find a solution to the issue of identify suitable portable devices for recording details of stops and searches.

It was agreed that questions relating to specific areas of concern/interest be formulated and shared in advance.

RESOLVED – That the interim report published by Sir Ronnie Flanagan be noted and the responses from the Association of Police Authorities and the Commissioner be noted.

27. The role and work of the Directorate of Legal Services

(Agenda item 7)

The Committee previously resolved that it should receive twice-yearly reports on the role and work of the MPS Directorate of Legal Services (DLS). This is DLS’ end of year report to bring to the attention to the Committee issues relating to DLS performance, its working relationships and its links with the key objectives/priorities of the MPS.

Members congratulated the officers on producing a thorough and informative report.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

28. Conversion to the X26 Taser

(Agenda item 8)

This report described the deployment of the X26 Taser since its introduction to the MPS in April 2006, including: cost implications of the replacement programme, potential health implications of X26 Taser usage and how lessons are learned from tactical deployment. This report also includes the MPS proposal in response to the Home Secretary’s authority to extend the use of Taser to a broader range of dangerous and violent incidents. A record of MPS Taser usage since 2003 was also attached.

A schedule of acronyms used in the report was tabled.

Members said they did not consider that an adequate case had been made to support the proposal that the MPS should participate in the ACPO Taser trial using officers from the Territorial Support Group. To extend the use of Taser beyond just firearms officers was a step change and further information and justification was needed before a decision could be made.

RESOLVED – That the report be deferred and a report be submitted to the Authority meeting on 25 October which set out a more detailed case for participation in the ACPO Taser trial using officers from the Territorial Support Group.

29. Estates strategic plan

(Agenda item 9)

A report was submitted which contained a number of recommendations which had been included since the Plan was presented to the Authority in December 2006.

The Director of Property Services advised that the reference to Logistical Services in paragraph 5.1 of the Plan should be deleted.

In reply to a question about the possible introduction of standard signage for Safer Neighbourhood buildings possibly with a bespoke SNT logo the Director of Property Services advised that this would be looked at. It was sometimes the case that, particularly in the case of some mixed used premises, the preference n was to use a fairly low profile signage.

In reply to a question the Director of Strategic Finance advised that there was not a moratorium on the provision of new accommodation for Safer Neighbourhood Teams in non-police buildings and the second stage of procurement strategy had recently been agreed by the Finance Committee. She would caution that progress could be affected by factors outside the immediate control of the Service such as the particular town planning considerations with regard to each site.

The Chief Executive said that the establishment of the Estates Oversight Group had been very helpful.

RESOLVED – That:

1. the revised Estates Strategic Plan and the revised Consultation and Communication Strategy and Plan be agreed; and

2. the creation of the Estates Oversight Group in January 2007 be noted.

30. MPA scrutiny - Young people and the MPS

(Agenda item 10)

This report presented the proposed terms of reference of the forthcoming MPA scrutiny on young people and the MPS.

Rachel Whittaker also requested confirmation that staff resources devoted to the scrutiny would not preclude the carrying out of the other on-going scrutinies.

The Chief Executive said she could confirm that there would not be an overlap of officers supporting the scrutinies.

Members indicated that further consideration should be given to the terms of reference as currently proposed they were too wide in scope.

RESOLVED – That the report be deferred for further consideration and a further report be submitted to the Authority meeting on 25 October.

31. MPA crime date recording scrutiny

(Agenda item 11)

This report contained the proposed terms of reference for the crime data recording scrutiny.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the terms of reference for the crime data scrutiny as set out in appendix 1 to the report.

32. MPA IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME

(Agenda item 12)

The Chief Executive provided a short oral report. The Interim Head of HR and Improvement Change Manager would be leaving the Authority on 28 September to take up a new post and there would be a recruitment process for HR professionals .

RESOLVED –That the oral report be noted.

33. Lessons learnt from MPA employment tribunal case

(Agenda item 13)

A report was submitted which outlined the recommendations and progress made in relation to the lessons learned from the decision of an Employment Tribunal in a case brought against the Authority.

The Chair and other members said that the members of the Task Group were to be congratulated for their hard work in producing a well written report. Jennette Arnold said she also wished to pay tribute to the Chief Executive for the leadership she had displayed in what had been a difficult period for the Authority.

RESOLVED –

That -

1. the report be noted; and

2. the MPA Senior Management Team’s (SMT) response to the recommendations made in the action plan be endorsed.

34. Any other urgent business

(Agenda item 14)

There was none.

35. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 15)

RESOLVED - That the press and public be asked to leave the meeting during discussion of the remaining items of business because exempt information as defined in Schedule 12a to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended is likely to be made known.

Summary of decisions made on exempt items

Minute 36 agenda item 16 - exempt appendix to the role and work of the Directorate of Legal Services
The appendix was noted.

Minute 37 Agenda item 17 – exempt annexes to the estates strategic plan
Noted.

Minute 38 agenda item 18 – Witness and jury protection
Report noted.

Minute 39 agenda item 19 - update on the rollout and benefits associated with the implementation of Crimint Plus
Report noted.

Minute 40 agenda item 20 Rail travel scheme
Continuation of the concession scheme supported

Minute 41 agenda item 21 lessons learnt from MPA Employment Tribunal case
Report noted.

Minute 42 agenda item 22 Request for financial assistance
No report submitted.

Minute 43 agenda item 23 - exempt minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2007
Agreed as a correct record.

Minute 44 agenda item 24 - exempt minutes of the Remuneration Sub-Committee held on 22 June 2007
Noted.

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback