Meetings with Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) trade unions, staff associations and support organisations

Report: 18
Date: 3 October 2002
By: Clerk

Summary

At their meeting in September 2001, the Human Resources Committee (HRC) discussed the arrangements for meetings with the trade unions, staff associations and support organisations. This paper aims to summarise the outcome of these discussions, notes of which were circulated after each meeting, and to provide a number of options for the way forward.

A. Recommendations

That

Members consider which of the following four options they wish to agree:

1. a programme of meetings with the MPS Trade Union Side, staff associations and support organisations;
2. a programme of workshops with the MPS Trade Union Side, staff associations and support organisations;
3. Members recommend that the full Authority should regularly meet the trade unions, staff associations and support organisations;
4. Members provide an opportunity at the start of each HRC meeting for trade unions, staff associations or support organisations to raise any current issues or concerns.

B. Supporting information

1. At its meeting on 6 September 2001, HRC resolved that:

• the HR Committee hold meetings of up to two hours with those staff representative and support organisations outlined in the report, ahead of any future workshops;
• the HR Committee hold one-hour meetings with other support organisations ahead of HR Committee meetings;
• all staff representative groups and support organisations be informed of the likely workshop topics in sufficient time to provide written comments or observations on the issues in order to inform the discussions;
• all staff representative groups and support organisations be invited to raise any issues or concerns in correspondence with the MPA (these matters could then be addressed by the MPA either directly or in consultation with the MPS);
• Cindy Butts be a link member with the Black Police Association, Abdal Ullah with MPS faith groups and Cecile Wright with traffic wardens and civil staff; and
• the Clerk would consider how MPA Members could engage with staff associations, trade unions and support organisations, and present a report to the Authority.

Initial MPA arrangements

2. Members of the Human Resources Committee (HRC) have met the following trade unions, staff associations and support organisations as part of a series of meetings:

• Police Federation
• Superintendents’ Association
• Trade Union Sides
• Association of Muslim Police
• Lesbian and Gay Police Association
• Association of Senior Women Officers
• Metropolitan Police Greek Staff Association
• Christian Police Association
• Metropolitan Police Sikh Association
• Black Police Association

3. Arrangements have still to be made to meet the Jewish Police Association, the Anglo Italian Police Staff Association and the Chief Police Officers’ Association.

MPS arrangements

4. The trade unions and staff associations have regular meetings with Management Board and/or Management Board members, which enables them to have significant levels of influence. Meetings between HRC and the trade unions and staff associations tended to discuss ‘policy’ issues such as Police Reform, ‘Changing Habits’, health and safety, civil staff pay and conditions, outsourcing and budgets reductions. The trade unions and staff associations both wish to see more regular contact between themselves and the MPA.

5. The support organisations, who now collectively have meetings with Assistant Commissioner Human Resources, reported:

• Increasing demands upon their organisations or, more importantly, one or two individuals within their organisations
• Lack of reciprocal support from the MPS in terms of facility time, training and office support
• Insufficient attention paid to the views and opinions of support organisations, particularly in relation to HR policies and awareness of cultural sensitivities
• Lack of engagement with the issues the support organisations wished to see addressed

6. Although the HR Directorate have provided £500 to cover start up costs for all support organisations, and has agreed to consider specific training needs, to provide up to 16 hours facility time and to ‘develop’ the provision of further facilities, there is clearly a perception that these arrangements do not have the support of local managers.

Current MPA arrangements

7. Because of the time demands on Members, it has proved increasingly difficult to arrange discussions before HRC meetings or to arrange workshops (which would normally be preceded by a meeting with a trade union or staff association). As a result, there are ‘gaps’ appearing between meetings with the Trade Union Side, staff associations and support organisations.

The way forward

8. There needs to be a means for the trade unions, staff associations and support organisations to raise issues of legitimate concern or interest with the Authority through meetings with the HRC. The current arrangements whereby the meetings are effectively held at lunchtime mean that over-running morning meetings or commitments can significantly restrict the numbers of members who are able to attend and participate. There are a number of options which members may wish to consider, namely:

• Members agree a programme of meetings with the MPS Trade Union Side, staff associations and support organisations for the forthcoming year; or
• Members agree a programme of workshops with the MPS Trade Union Side, staff associations and support organisations to which the HR Directorate may be invited; or
• Members recommend that the full Authority should regularly meet the trade unions, staff associations and support organisations.

9. Given the bi-monthly arrangements for HRC, it should be possible to arrange separate meetings or workshops between public HRC meetings. The advantage of workshops is that they might provide an opportunity to collectively invite, for example, the faith groups. The aim should be to meet all of the groups listed at paragraph 2 at least once during any twelve-month period.

10. Insofar as the third option is concerned, it must be stressed that it is normal practice to invite all members of the Authority to these meetings and not to restrict them simply to HRC members. Members may, therefore, consider that all Authority members already have the opportunity to participate in these meetings.

11. Turning to the final option, this would need to be carefully managed given the already heavy workload of HRC. It is also not clear if such an arrangement would be in keeping with the spirit, if not the letter, of the Local Government Acts or Standing Orders. Standing Order 15 states “Any member of the public may ask questions of the Police Authority which are relevant to its business. However, to allow an opportunity to obtain any information sought in order that a meaningful response may be given, written notice should be given to the Clerk to the Police Authority not less than 14 days before a meeting of the Authority.”

12. The opportunity to raise questions in this fashion is already available to trade unions, staff associations and support organisations.

13. At present there is an informal protocol for meetings with the trade unions, staff associations and support organisations whereby they are asked to provide substantive items for discussion at least 14 days before the meeting. If members subsequently wish to raise with the MPS issues that have been discussed, it is normal practice for the item be placed on the agenda for the next meeting of the most appropriate committee.

C. Equality and diversity implications

Diversity issues figured largely in the concerns of all the parties so far involved in meetings with Members. Whatever format is agreed for subsequent meetings must allow for continued consideration of such issues. 

D. Financial implications

There are no financial implications, other than members will be entitled to claim expenses for working group meetings.

E. Background papers

• Meetings with MPS staff representatives (6 September 2001)

F. Contact details

Report author: Alan Johnson, MPA.

For more information contact:

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

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback