Minutes

Minutes of the Human Resources Committee meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 21 September 2000.

Present

Members

• Rachel Whittaker (Chair)
• John Biggs (Deputy Chair)
• Anthony Arbour
• Elizabeth Howlett
• Nicholas Long
• Angela Slaven
• Abdal Ullah
• Peter Herbert (for part of the meeting)

MPA staff

• Peter Edwards (Clerk)
• Colin Balkman (Deputy Treasurer)

MPS staff

• M Shurety (Assistant Director of Personnel)
• P Woods (Director of Personnel)

Also present one member of the press/media and public.

Part 1

11. Apologies

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies were received from Elizabeth Howlett and Jeanette Arnold.

12. Minutes: 21 July 2000

(Agenda item 2)

The Chair thanked participants in the workshop referred to in item 6 of the minutes. It was noted that one of the vacancies referred to in resolution 2, item 6 was Director of Communications not a Press Officer.

Resolved:
that the revised minutes of the meeting held on 21 July 2000 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

13. Personnel management information

(Agenda item 3)

A Member noted that figures for civil staff included traffic wardens. Their sickness rate was higher than other civil staff, and it was wondered if this distorted the statistics. The Director of Personnel informed the Committee that traffic warden absences were higher than those of other civil staff. Every Borough Operation Command Unit and Management Unit would be carrying out a review of sickness absences; traffic wardens, who worked in different conditions from office staff, would be treated as a separate unit in this. In considering the wastage figures, Members asked about exit surveys. The Director of Personnel stated that Personnel Department’s monitoring of staff wastage was informed by a 3-stage process consisting of a form (the completion of which was voluntary), optional interviews, and in-depth interviews of selected leavers by an independent interviewer. She added that less than half the leavers completed the exit survey form, but the new arrangements had only been in existence since April, and returns of the form were improving.

Members asked questions about the staff strength figures, and the Director of Personnel undertook to see if the figures could be presented in a better format. The Chair requested that some further analysis of civil staff wastage grade and specialism be undertaken for discussion at the next meeting. Concern was expressed about civil staff wastage in relation to pay levels. The Director of Personnel agreed to present a paper on civil staff issues in time for recommendations to be made that could feed into the budget process.

The Chair requested examination of Personnel Management Information in further detail. The Clerk informed the Committee that the Professional Standards and Performance Monitoring Committee had agreed on the appointment of a Senior Policy Analyst who would be able to do this. Nicholas Long felt members should have involvement in this process, and agreed to take the lead in this.

Members went on to consider the grievance figures. The biggest cause of grievance was management behaviour. The Director of Personnel explained that that this centred on decisions made but not explained, and perceptions of unfairness, not bullying. To address this, senior managers would be given sessions on lessons learnt from Employment Tribunals, followed by workshops. Unresolved grievances could lead to Employment Tribunals.

Resolved:

1. that the report and latest Personnel Management Information be noted;
2. that Members (only) be provided Personnel Management Information in colour;
3. that MPS Operational Command Resilience figures be presented in a better format;
4. that MPS civil staff wastage be analysed by grade and specialism for discussion at the next meeting; and
5. that a paper on civil staff pay and conditions be presented to a future meeting in time to feed recommendations into the budget process.

14. Agenda plan and work programme

(Agenda item 4)

The Clerk presented a report, which outlined proposals for forthcoming meetings.

Members highlighted the need for an Equal Opportunities policy for MPA staff to be in place by November 2000, as it would be required in the recruitment process for permanent staff. John Biggs felt there was the need for Member involvement in this issue, and offered to assist.

The Chair requested (a) member(s) to volunteer to take an especial interest in police recruitment.

There was some discussion on the appropriate timing for reports to be brought forward to the Human Resource Committee on the MPA budget.

Resolved:

1. that proposed monthly standard items and rolling agenda, be agreed with the changes noted below;
2. that a report on MPS internal diversity issues be postponed until November so that account could be taken of the diversity workshop on 27th September;
3. that a paper on Employment Tribunals, which will set high profile cases in perspective, be presented in October;
4. thata paper on an Equal Opportunities Policy for the MPA be presented in October. The Clerk to liaise with John Biggs over preparation of the policy;
5. that Anthony Arbour and Abdal Ullah to lead on the issue of police recruitment and retention; and
6. that reports on the MPA budget be brought forward monthly for the time being.

15. Progress on HMIC personnel related recommendations

(Agenda item 5)

The Committee received a report that updated members on those recommendations related to MPS personnel contained in HMIC reports published within the last two years, including ‘Policing London: Winning Consent’. The Director of Personnel stated that Community and Race Relations (CCR) training had been given to 7,400 officers and staff, and would be provided to all Borough Operational Command Units by 2002. Training for HQ staff would begin in April 2001.

Resolved:

1. that the contents of the progress report be noted; and
2. that a report on the ‘Managing Training’ HMIC report be presented to the next Committee meeting.

16. Draft clauses for a service authority for the Central Police College

(Agenda item 6)

The report asked Members to consider a Home Office consultation document on legislative changes in relation to the management and delivery of police training, and drew attention to the draft response prepared by the Association of Police Authorities (APA) and MPS.

Members noted that on the issue of funding, the APA draft response was at variance with the line taken by the Deputy Commissioner. It was felt that the paper provided no argument in support of levy funding. Colin Balkman suggested the APA’s response, which the Treasurer supported, would minimise the levy and through a regime of direct charging would provide a necessary framework of financial discipline and promote accountability to the customer of the College / Authority.

Resolved:

1. that the MPA support the APA’s response in relation to levy funding for the Service Authority; and
2. that the MPA write to the Home Office formally requesting reserved seats for both an MPS officer of ACPO rank and a representative of the MPA.

17. MPA grievance procedure

(Agenda item 7)

The Clerk stated that a three-stage procedure based on ACAS guidance had been presented for endorsement.

Resolved:
that the grievance procedure be endorsed.

18. MPA senior staff appointments (part 1)

(Agenda item 14)

The Committee considered a report that informed Members that the full Authority had given approval to advertise the posts of Clerk, Treasurer and Director of Communications. It was noted that this Committee had also agreed that a recruitment exercise be implemented for the posts of Committee Administrator, Head of Secretariat and Press Officer. The report provided an update on these recruitment exercises.

Resolved:

1. that the position concerning the filling of vacancies be noted; and
2. that detailed discussion be deferred to Part II of the agenda.

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