Minutes

Minutes of the an meeting of the Co-ordination and Policing Committee held on 10 January 2008 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Len Duvall (Chair)
• Reshard Auladin (Deputy Chair)
• Cindy Butts (Deputy Chair)
• Toby Harris
• Kirsten Hearn
• Elizabeth Howlett
• Karim Murji
• Aneeta Prem
• John Roberts
• Richard Sumray (items 1-4)
• Graham Tope
• Rachel Whittaker

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive)
• Ken Hunt (Treasurer)
• David Riddle (Deputy Chief Executive)
• Nick Baker (Head of Committee Services)

MPS officers

• Paul Stephenson (Deputy Commissioner)
• Tim Godwin (Assistant Commissioner, TP)
• Alfred Hitchcock (Acting Assistant Commissioner, Operational Services)
• Moir Stewart (Commander)
• Martin Tiplady (Director of Human Resources)
• Anne McMeel (Director, Strategic Finance)
• Alan Croney (Director of Property Services)
• Claire Hunt (Director, Business Partnership) 
• Jane Bond (Divisional Director Asset Management)

Part 1

79. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Jennette Arnold, Faith Boardman and Damian Hockney.

80. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations were made.

81. MPS response to IPCC recommendations on Forest Gate

(Agenda item 3)

Members received a report that provided an update on how the MPS were progressing the recommendations arising from the IPCC Forest Gate 2 and 3 reports.

Members asked for further details on whom the MPS were engaging with from the communities in progressing the five recommendations arising from the IPCC Forest Gate reports. In noting that the MPS were engaging with a range of IAGs, members asked that the consultation be widened to other relative community groups and that these groups’ views are presented back to the MPA.

Confirmation was given that the comprehensive review of armed police visibility and recognition, both overt and covert, was not being limited to just counter terrorism operations.

Resolved – That the report be received.

82. Provision of additional police officers on boroughs

(Agenda item 4)

A report was considered that outlined an initiative that involved local authorities making a two-year financial contribution to the cost of providing up to an additional 320 police officers within their area. This would allow support to the delivery of local area agreement targets, subject to the approval of the MPA’s budget growth proposal of £3.9m in 2008/09 and £3.3 in 2009/2010.

Whilst broadly welcoming the initiative, some members raised concerns that that the initiative could see officers being allocated to those areas that could afford the additional allocation and not on an assessment of need. Members felt that there was a need for a clear mechanism for dealing with bids for these officers. They also raised the need for the initiative, which was time based, to be supported by a clear exit strategy. In addition to these points members raised a number of other points that included:

• that officers allocated as part of this initiative should not just be allocated to only areas of deprivation;
• the need for clarification on cost, including training and overtime;
• concerns relating to cost sharing and not full cost recovery;
• a need to ensure that the additional officers are not part of the resource allocation formula;
• further details on the effects of abstractions relating to these officers;
• could ward councillors use their own allocated funds to secure officers and if so, could these officers be used to support businesses;
• members requested that the initiative needed to be equality impact assessed;
• members requested the need for a clear communication strategy to ensure staff were being made aware of the initiative and its change in philosophy.

In response the MPS acknowledged the questions raised.. Confirmation was given that the initiative would not be part of the resource allocation formula and that costs for training officers either as part of the initiative or to those who replace them was included in current estimated costs. It was noted that in relation to overtime costs, there was a need for this to be properly managed and that abstractions would be limited to only urgent operational requirements. The MPS agreed that the initiative should be equality impact assessed and the need to develop a clear communication strategy about the initiative. In response to members, clarification was given that the governance arrangement for the officers lies with Territorial Policing.

The Deputy Commissioner added that he understood members concerns relating to initiative being based on cost sharing rather than full cost recovery, but added that this was a new way of working and about getting officers onto the streets.

The Chair, in summing up, supported the need for the development of both an exit and communication strategy relating to this initiative. He asked that in relation to being clear that the initiative was not part of the resource allocation formula narrative to this effect should be added to the budget. He agreed that there was a need for all equality issues associated with the initiative to be fully addressed.

The Chair also called for an additional report back to the Committee that provided further details relating to model terms and conditions outlined in recommendation 3 and suggested that recommendations 2 and 3 be deferred. 

Resolved – That 

1. members support the initiative and agree that discussions can begin with local authorities within the proposed financial framework set out in Section D and subject to final budget decisions;
2. recommendations 2 and 3 be deferred.

83. Any other urgent business

(Agenda item 5)

No items were reported.

84. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 6)

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

• 85. Acquistion of new accommodation for Heathrow
  (Agenda item 7)
  A report was received that asked members to consider new accommodation facilities at Heathrow. 
• 86. Travel concession - review of travel benefit
  (Agenda item 8)
  Members considered a report that reviewed the travel concessions for police officers.
• 87. Request for financial assistance
  (Agenda item 9)
  Members considered a request for financial assistance
• 88. Hendon estate – update on emerging strategic inputs to asset management plan
  (Agenda item 10)
  A report was received that provided an update on the Hendon asset management plan. The Committee endorsed the strategic approach outlined in the report.

The meeting ended at 4.10 pm

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