Minutes

Minutes of the Human Resources Committee meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority held in the Press Room, Romney House, Westminster on 21 December 2000.

Present:

Members:

• Rachel Whittaker (Chair)
• John Biggs (Deputy Chair)
• Anthony Arbour
• Elizabeth Howlett
• Nicholas Long
• Angela Slaven

MPA staff:

• Catherine Crawford (Clerk)
• Peter Martin (Treasurer)

MPS staff:

• Peter Clarke (DAC Personnel)
•  Brian Paddick (Commander)
• Michael Shurety (Assistant Director of Personnel)
• Linda Van Den Hende (Director Human Resource Services)

Also in attendance: Philip Cohen (Hay Management Consultants) and Jasjit Bhandal (Hay Management Consultants)

Also present 15 member of the press/media and public.

Part 1

(The Committee was inquorate for the first part of its proceedings. However, as the items at the beginning of the agenda were for information, not decision, the meeting commenced. For the final part of the meeting the Committee was quorate.)

46. Apologies

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies were received from Jennette Arnold (Member – MPA), Abdal Ullah (Member –MPA) and Patricia Woods (Director of Personnel - MPS)

47. Minutes (Part 1): 16 November 2000

(Agenda item 2)

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed as a correct record.

Resolved:
that the minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2000 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

48. Personnel management information

(Agenda item 3)

Members received a report that provided a range of personnel related management information for the period ending of October 2000, together with a summary of the key points.

It was noted that there were 137 recruits in the December 2000 intake to Hendon (the target was 150). In response to a question on how increased demand for trainers affected the rest of the service, members were told that trainers were included in the development bids required if intakes were to increase in size.

Resolved:
that the report and management information provided be noted.

49. Police ill health retirement

(Agenda item 4)

A report was received that outlined some of the anomalies within the 1987 Police Pensions Regulations, and prepared Members for any proposals arising out of the ongoing police pensions review. They were informed that the police pension review had been began by the Home Office two and half years ago, and that the MPS had made submissions via the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Receiver. The Association of Police Authorities has also made extensive representations. The outcome of the review was still awaited. A paper on the financial aspects of police pensions was expected from the Home Office early in 2001.

The Treasurer stated that a paper on future police pensions costs would be received by the Human Resources (HR) and Finance Planning and Best Value (FPBV) Committees in February.

Resolved:
that the content of the report be noted, in order to form a view on the police pensions review consultation paper when published.

50. Employee relations review update

(Agenda item 5)

A report was received which provided Members with an update of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Civil Staff Employee Relations Review, showing the progress made and planned next steps.

Resolved:
that the progress made to date and the target date for implementation be noted.

51. Metropolitan police staff survey

(Agenda item 6)

Members received a report that set out the progress made in dealing with the issues raised by the MPS staff survey. They were informed that some areas of dissatisfaction highlighted in the survey had already been addressed. Existing corporate projects were working towards addressing many of the other issues raised. Further analysis of the survey results might highlight the need for further action at a corporate level, whilst OCU commanders and Heads of Department would address the local issues raised by the focus groups that had been held to discuss the results of the survey on Boroughs, OCUs and in Departments. It had been felt that some of the focus groups were unrepresentative, so these would be held again in March and April.

The Chair commissioned a further paper in March or April.

Resolved:

1. the contents of the paper be noted; and
2. a further paper on the Metropolitan Police Survey be bought to the HR Committee in March or April.

52. MPA support staff pay, grading, terms and conditions

(Agenda item 7)

Members received a paper providing a brief summary of the findings of the consultants appointed to carry out a salaries and grading review of MPS support staff. Members also received a presentation from Philip Cohen of Hay Management Consultants. He explained the processes and comparators he had used to arrive at recommendations that would create a credible and respected police authority. With this in mind Hay Management Consultants recommended salaries linked to the upper quartile of public sector pay in London. It was felt that an elaborate grading structure was inappropriate for such a small organisation. Hay Management Consultants therefore recommended three broad grades. The upper band would include senior officers, the second band would incorporate policy officers and policy/technical support staff, and the third band would incorporate administrative and technical staff.

Resolved:

1. the findings of Hay Management Consultants be noted, and that MPA support staff posts be advertised through fair and open competition, based upon the Public Sector (London) upper quartile pay point;
2. the view of the working group be noted, and that senior posts in future be advertised as fixed term appointments;
3. the paper on potential non-contractual benefits for MPA support staff and proposals, outlined at Appendix 3 of the report, be noted (detailed policies will be developed early in 2001);
4. the decision of the Co-ordination and Urgency Committee to advertise the posts of Deputy Treasurer and best value policy officer be endorsed; and
5. the Co-ordination and Urgency Committee be asked to endorse recommendations 1-3.

53. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 8)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during agenda item 9 'Minutes (Part 2): 16 November 2000 and item 10, 'MPS/MPA Personnel Developments (oral update)' as they would be likely to disclose exempt information as described in Schedule 12(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) relating to:

Items 9 and 10 – Information relating to a particular employee, former employee or applicant to become an employee of, or a particular office-holder, former office holder or applicant to become an office-holder under the authority.

Resolved:
that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the agenda items 9 and 10 because they could disclose or would be likely to disclose exempt information as described in paragraph 1 of Schedule 12(a) of the said Act as indicated.

Summary of exempt items

54. Minutes (Part 2): 16 November 2000

(Agenda item 9)

Members received and agreed the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2000.

55. MPS/MPA personnel developments (oral update)

(Agenda item 10)

Members received on oral update on senior civil staff and officer posts within the MPS, and the current position concerning the review of civil staff pay and grading.

Exempt minutes of the Human Resources committee meeting held on 21 December 2001

Part 2

56. Minutes (Part 2): 16 November 2000

(Agenda item 9)

Members received the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2000.

Resolved:
that Part 2 of the minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2000 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

57. MPS/MPA personnel developments (oral update)

(Agenda item 10)

Members were informed that the applicant selected as the new Director of Catering had withdrawn from the post. Interim arrangements, to be reviewed in February, would be made.

Members requested an update on the review of civil staff pay and grading. They were told that Hay Management Consultants, led by Philip Cohen, had been appointed to undertake the review, which would take two months to complete.

Members were informed that civil staff would be receiving a letter from the Commissioner outlining details of the current salaries review. The Chair suggested that the proposed changes to London allowance should be addressed as soon as possible, perhaps in April. The Treasurer agreed that this could be the case, if there was no overspend and the money could be found. However, a £1.3 million overspend was projected.

The Chair sought clarification as to why the MPS wished to advertise for commanders, a selection board having only just been held. Members were told that a further selection board was intended to fill vacancies that could be expected to occur in the coming months. Although there would be no command course graduates until September, officers in other forces wishing to move laterally might apply. The Clerk stated that this recruitment exercise would continue, but there would need to be discussion on the way in which such matters were handled in the future.

Resolved:
that Members receive an oral update on MPA/MPS personnel developments.

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