MPS – financial devolution – position paper

Report: 06
Date: 29 May 2002
By: Commissioner

Summary

The below paper sets out the current position with regard to the devolution of a number of MPS budgets.

A. Recommendations

That the Committee notes the contents of this report.

B. Supporting information

1. The Financial Devolution Project Board met on 24 April 2002 to review the current position and identify the way forward.

2. The majority of the budgets, originally identified by Accenture as suitable for devolution have now either been devolved or alternative measures introduced. These have been discussed in previous papers to the Committee. The focus is therefore on the outstanding budget lines i.e. police pay, minor building works budgets and FMEs and Interpreters.

3. The MPS Management Board have discussed the issues and reiterated their firm commitment to devolve financial and human resource functions to Operational Command Units (OCUs) as soon, as is practicable. The six pathfinder sites remain the key focus for devolution and will be joined by one Special Operations (SO) site. The management consultants, have completed a draft budget devolution report. This has been submitted to the Budget Devolution Project Board. Assistant Commissioner Ghaffur will work with them to develop a clear project plan which will include milestones, a communications strategy and a decision making process. In order to support the devolution process Management Board have agreed the following: -

• Police pay will be devolved to all 6 pathfinder sites
• Lewisham will be given flexibility to alter their workforce profile subject to their business case and this will be discussed at the next Project Board meeting on 16.5.02.)
• Ringfencing of Lewisham's Computer Aided Despatch (CAD) staff will be lifted
• Other pathfinders will be able to keep the money for any vacant police posts.
• The moratorium on civil staff recruitment will be lifted at pathfinder sites
• Human Resources (HR) will not post officers to pathfinder sites without prior agreement
• Policy Review and Standards (PRS) will work with HR, Directorate of Information (DoI) etc. to ensure that that pathfinders have the requisite skills and technology
• Work on the computer aided resources management (CARM) database will include all Directorates
• Assistant Commissioner TP will ensure that any budgets centralised by Territorial Policing (TP) will be disaggregated to pathfinders
• Devolution of functions will ultimately result in reductions in the number of staff at the centre.

4. In support of the above, work is underway to finalise the scheme for devolved budget management and it is anticipated that by the middle of May it should be possible to measure operational and non-operational policing hours on pathfinder sites. Full details are shown in agenda item 7 for this meeting – 'Operational Policing Measure'

5. With regard to the Property Services Department (PSD) minor works budget, initial devolvement to pathfinder sites occurred on 1 May 2002. There is some concern amongst pathfinders at the extent to which they can impact in this area and discussions are ongoing with PSD to ensure that all the correct procedures are in place to ensure that devolution of this budget line is as full and meaningful as possible.

6. Central Finance agrees with the principle of devolving the Interpreters' budget at the earliest opportunity. There is a need to develop existing systems to ensure full and accurate audits trails of payments. This particular piece of work is being undertaken as part of the Accenture review process and once it is complete devolution will take place.

An assessment is underway into the advantages and risks of devolving the Forensic Medical Examiners (FMEs) budget. Once this is complete, the Project Board will be in a position to make an informed decision as to whether to proceed with devolvement.

C. Financial implications

There are no specific financial implications in relation to this paper.

D. Background papers

None.

E. Contact details

Report author: Superintendent Channer, MPS.

For information contact:

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

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