Update on planning and best value

Report: 4
Date: 14 September 2001
By: Clerk

Summary

This paper provides an update on issues related to the corporate strategy, policing and performance plan 2002/03 and best value reviews.

A. Recommendation

That members note the current position.

B. Supporting information

Corporate strategy

1. Following the MPA/MPS meeting on 5 July 2001 the Clerk forwarded a paper describing the views of members to AC Tarique Ghaffur. The paper was subsequently included in a pack circulated to senior managers within the MPS with a request for feedback in advance of an MPS planning seminar on 4/5 October. The MPS will then prepare a proposal for consideration by members.

Policing and performance plan 2002/03

2. The Finance, Planning and Best Value Committee agreed on 19 July 2001 that provisional priorities and objectives for 2002/03 should be presented to the committee on 4 October (in advance of consideration by the full Authority on 25 October).

3. The MPA/MPS planning panel (chaired by Graham Tope) met on 30 August 2001 to consider priorities and objectives for next year. The meeting was informed by work undertaken by MPS officers in assessing current corporate objectives against a number of criteria (eg views emerging from consultation).

4. The planning panel concluded and confirmed that:

• the plan should have a simple format and focus on issues of direct interest to the public (eg less emphasis on internal development work);
• there should be a small number of priorities, objectives and targets;
• local targets should be bespoke and realistic.

5. The planning panel agreed to meet again on 17 September to consider priorities and objectives proposed by MPS management board in advance of an MPS paper to FPBV Committee on 4 October. This will allow priorities to be reflected as appropriate in the budget proposals coming to the October Committee meeting. Decisions on priorities and objectives will need to be reviewed once Ministerial priorities for 2002/03 are published (expected in November).

6. Work is ongoing within central government departments on possible amendments to statutory guidelines related to the timing and extent of circulation of the summary best value performance plan. GLA officers are currently assessing the benefits of the approach used earlier this year.

Best value

7. The best value programme board (chaired by Reshard Auladin) next meets on 21 September. As part of the agenda the board will consider:

• a draft plan for the best value review ‘bringing offenders to justice’ before wider circulation to members;
• how best to review the programme of best value reviews (given the need to address recent requests for additional best value reviews);
• actions arising from recent recommendations made by District Audit and HMIC related to best value.

8. Any proposed amendment to the programme of reviews will be presented to members for approval in due course. There is a need to identify lead members for a number of forthcoming reviews. On behalf of the lead member for best value a letter asking for a nominee has been sent to the chair of the committee with the primary interest in the review.

C. Financial implications

There are no direct financial implications.

D. Background papers

• MPA policing and performance plan 2001/02 (on MPS website)

E. Contact details

The author of this report is Derrick Norton, MPA best value manager.

For information contact:

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

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