Budget devolution

Report: 10
Date: 13 February 2003
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report gives members an overview of the current financial devolution position within the Metropolitan Police Service and the proposal for roll-out.

A. Recommendation

That Members support the continued incremental development of devolved financial management.

B. Supporting information

Devolution of police pay - revised approach to rollout

1. Members will recall that police pay was devolved to six pathfinder boroughs for September 2002. Any proposed changes to the numbers of police officers would have to be the subject of a business case which would identify the benefits in terms of more effective use of officer time. In practice only one pathfinder (Lewisham) has so far pursued this option.

2. This report builds on previous discussion on the service wide rollout of Devolution of Budgets and the Management Board decision on 18 December 2002 to delay rollout until 2004. At a subsequent Devolution Project Board meeting on 19 December 2002 the need for further consultation with external stakeholders was agreed.

3. A meeting was convened on 8 January 2003 to progress the issue. The meeting was attended by: the Deputy Commissioner, Director of Resources, DAC Strategic Development, Catherine Crawford Clerk MPA, Peter Martin Treasurer MPA and Anne McMeel Executive Director of Finance and Performance GLA.

4. As a result of this meeting a revised proposal was taken to Management Board on 28 January 2003, this proposal was accepted by Management Board.

5. The proposal was that the Police Pay Devolvement rollout continue with Lambeth, Southwark, Greenwich, Croydon and Bexley Boroughs, SO 16 Diplomatic Protection Group, SC 1 (4) Homicide South and DCC 8 Directorate of Professional Standards being included as pathfinders from April 2003.

6. The evaluation of all pathfinders will continue and the results of this will be used to help determine the progression of the programme and, crucially, the pace of the roll-out.

7. A number of issues have been flagged up as of concern. These include:

• Capability and Resilience – the need for staff at the affected sites to be properly equipped to cope with the changes. Plans are in place to address this.
• Police officer numbers – the potential for Borough Commanders and OCU Commanders to bid to reduce officer numbers and how this may be received. Local community support will be an essential pre-requisite.

Devolution of non- police pay budget

8. Devolution of non-pay budgets devolved to pathfinders during 2002 (cleaning, emergency & reactive repairs, energy, translation and Forensic Medical Examiners) will be devolved Service wide in 2003.

9. The Forensic Budget will be disaggregated service wide in 2003 and fully devolved only to the fifteen pathfinder sites. The organisation will not receive a fully devolved budget until April 2004. This will enable the MPS to address contracting and supplier issues, and establish supporting systems. This course has previously been accepted at MPA Finance Committee.

C. Equality and diversity implications

There are no equality and diversity implications resulting from this report.

D. Financial implications

The financial implications are those set out in this report.

E. Background papers

None.

F. Contact details

Report author: DAC Stephen House, MPS.

For more information contact:

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

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