Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Human Resources Committee held on 6 February 2003 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Rachel Whittaker (Chair)
• Anthony Arbour (items 1 to 16)
• Cindy Butts
• Kirsten Hearn
• Nicholas Long (items 7 to 13)
• Cecile Wright (Deputy Chair) (items 1 to 16)

MPA Officers

• Catherine Crawford (Clerk)
• Ken Hunt (Deputy Treasurer)
• Alan Johnson (Head of Human Resources and Professional Standards)
• Derek Norton (Head of Review)
• Ruth Hastings-Iqball (Committee Services)

MPS Officers

• Martin Chatfield (Head of Corporate Finance)
• Jenny Deere (Director, HR Selection)
• Bernard Hogan-Howe (Assistant Commissioner, HR)
• Shabir Hussain (Director, Training and Development)
• Denise Milani (Director, Development and Organisational Improvement Team)
• Mike Shurety (Director, HR Services)
• Martin Tiplady (Director, HR)
• Craig Watkins (Head of Business Support, Finance)

Part 1

177. Apologies

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Jennette Arnold and Abdal Ullah (Members).

178. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interest were received.

179. Minutes – 5 December 2002

(Agenda item 3)

The Committee considered the minutes of the meeting held on 5 December 2002. It was noted that a report was to have come to this committee on security vetting (minute 176, agenda item 14). This had been deferred to the September meeting of the Human Resources Committee, pending completion of an internal review on the subject.

Resolved - That subject to the agreed postponement of the report on security vetting to September, that the minutes of the meeting held on 5 December 2002 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

180. Chair’s, Members’, Clerk’s and Assistant Commissioner Human Resources update

(Agenda item 4)

The Chair congratulated Jenny Deere on her appointment as Director of Police Leadership for Centrex. The Clerk noted that this post had been open to both police and civil staff, and added that the MPA welcomed this development. The Chair stated that items from the Human Resources Committee reports where relevant would be summarised for the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board rather than full reports being considered in duplicate. The Clerk confirmed that she would take responsibility for ensuring that HR Committee items of relevance and interest to the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board would regularly be brought to that Board’s attention. It was noted that the Chair, with other police authorities, had attended a number of meetings with the Home Office on police recruitment and retention. The Clerk reported that David Riddle had been appointed Deputy Clerk and Solicitor to the MPA, and Tim Godwin had been appointed Assistant Commissioner, Territorial Policing. The latter appointment had been made under the new national competency framework for ACPO ranks. The new selection process had proved more exhaustive and transparent than the previous exercises.

Resolved - Chair’s, Members’, Clerk’s and Assistant Commissioner Human Resources updates be received.

181. Best value review of retention

(Agenda item 5)

Members received a report asking them to endorse the view of the project board that the best value review be concluded. This change had been prompted by a significant overlap between the review and other work aimed at implementing a retention strategy.

Resolved - That

1. the proposal to conclude the review be endorsed; subject to
2. the MPS retention strategy being re-formulated into an ‘improvement plan’ for approval and monitoring by this Committee (see minute 182, agenda item 6).

182. MPS Internal Consultancy Group (Icg) Retention Improvement Project

(Agenda item 6)

Members expressed concern about the wastage rate of police officers in their first two years of service. The MPS undertook to provide Members with a breakdown of when officers left, correlated with their performance at Hendon. The Assistant Commissioner Human Resources informed Members that a video was being produced that would prepare recruits for life at Hendon.

Members noted that a request for information on the ability profile of all recruits was already in place which would address the question of whether there is a sufficient proportion of high fliers in the current intakes for future leaders. Members discussed options in relation to the placing of visible ethnic minority recruits on courses at Hendon. They were informed that a report had been prepared for the Recruitment Task Force on this subject and would be circulated to Members.

Resolved - That

1. the report be noted;
2. Members be provided with a briefing paper on when recruits left within their first two years of service, correlated with their performance at Hendon; and
3. the report on to the placing of visible ethnic minority recruits on courses at Hendon be circulated to Members

183. Recruitment and retention

(Agenda item 7)

Members received a report informing them of the progress of police and civil staff recruitment and retention against budgeted workforce targets for 2002/2003. Exit surveys were discussed and it was agreed that the Members suggestions would be fed into the review project. Members were informed that the new post of retention intervention officer was proving a success. In answer to a question about recruitment processing times, Members had been sent a copy of a letter explaining processing times. It was noted that the average recruitment period had been 48 weeks, but by March this would be reduced to 33 weeks with the aim of reducing it eventually to the target of 25 weeks. It was requested that the next Recruitment and Retention report contain statistics on the number of graduate recruits, together with their gender and ethnic origin. Questions were also asked about the service confidence procedure. Members were advised that a report would be going to the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee on this issue.

Resolved - That

1. The report be noted;
2. the next Recruitment and Retention report contain data on the number of graduate recruits, together with their gender and ethnicity; and
3. the Professional Standards and Complaints Committee receive a report on the service confidence procedure.

184. Update on the work of the development and organisational improvement team

(Agenda item 8)

Members received a report updating them on the work of the Development and Organisational Improvement Team (DOIT). Members expressed their disappointment that some of the projects listed on a report received by the committee in March 2002 had not been implemented. They were informed that this was due to the limited resources available to the DOIT. It was also felt that more information should be provided about how the MPS would meet the new requirements of the European discrimination directives. A report would come to the Human Resources Committee on this issue. A briefing paper was requested on the borough commanders development and command team development programmes.

Resolved - That

1. Members note the current work in progress;
2. a report on how the MPS was meeting the new European discrimination directives be received by the Human Resources Committee; and
3. a briefing paper be received on the borough commanders development and command team development programmes.

185. Human Resources Plan 2003/04

(Agenda item 9)

A report was received following up earlier discussion at the Human Resources Committee on 5 December. It described progress in the development of the Human Resource plan for 2003/04 in line with the new requirements set out in the Police Reform Act 2002 and Home Office Circular 18/2002. It also took into account the framework for police authority oversight of police HR plans published by the Association of Police Authorities.

Resolved - That the emerging objectives and priorities of the Human Resource plan for 2003/04 and the continuing work on the key data be noted, and subject to the recent discussion on recruitment targets at the full Authority meeting.

186. Police reform – progress on pay and conditions

(Agenda item 10)

A report was received setting out developments in respect of threshold payments and special priority payments since the last meeting of the HR Committee and the current position regarding some other aspects of the Police Reform programme.

Resolved - That the report be noted

187. Police overtime

(Agenda item 11)

Members received a report providing background details of the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) requirements to manage overtime working to improve police officers’ work/life balance, and the issues to be addressed in setting an agreed ‘baseline’ for the overtime budget. The role of the MPA in monitoring overtime working was also described, together with the process and timetable for agreeing and setting future target reductions. It also set out details of the budget build for overtime from 2001/02 to 2003/04 and current trends in overall expenditure. The report made mention of a ‘good practice guide‘ to managing overtime that was being written. It was requested that a copy be circulated to members in due course.

Resolved - That

1. the current position in respect of ongoing work within the MPS, and the involvement of MPA officers and HMIC, to respond to the requirements of the recent PNB Circular on reducing police overtime be noted; and
2. that a further report go to the Finance Committee on 13 February 2003 to agree the 2001/02 ‘baseline’, and provisional budget target reductions for police overtime for the next three years.

188. Efficiency and effectiveness review programme

(Agenda item 12)

Accenture’s final reports on HR and Inspection were presented for Members’ attention, together with responses from the MPS on Accenture’s recommendations.

Resolved - That members receive and agree Accenture’s final reports on HR and Inspection.

189. Best value review of training

(Agenda item 13)

A report was received setting out the improvement plan as recommended by the Project Board from the final report of the Best Value Review of Training. It outlined financial implications and key actions to implement the recommendations to achieve the realisation of intended benefits.

Resolved - That

1. Members endorse the recommendations as set out in the executive summary of the full report given at Appendix 1 of the report; and
2. approve the improvement plan as set out in Appendix 2 to the report subject to the necessary resources being available.

190. Human Resources Committee workplan 2003

(Agenda item 14)

Members received a draft workplan. Members discussed the need to consider cultural change, the management of growth and committee functions. Discussion followed on consultation with MPS staff. Members were reminded that following the Human Resources Committee in October all MPS trade unions, staff associations and support organisations had been consulted about this process. The responses received would be circulated to Members.

Resolved - That

1. the workplan for 2003 be endorsed; and
2. the results of the consultation exercise with MPS trade unions, staff associations and support organisations reported to Members.

191. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 15)

Resolved that the press and public be asked to leave the meeting during discussion of the remaining items of business because exempt information as defined in paragraph 11 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 is likely to be made known.

192. Special Priority Payments (SPPS)

(Agenda item 16)

A report was received setting out developments in respect of Special Priority Payments since the last meeting of the Human Resources Committee and seeking approval of the list of posts that would qualify for payment. It was recommended that the Coordination and Policing Committee consider the report the following day, given the sensitive nature of the recommendations. It was felt appropriate to delegate under emergency procedure without a full debate at the Coordination and Policing Committee. It was noted that no decision could be taken, as the meeting had become inquorate for this item.

Recommended - That report be forwarded to the Coordination and Policing Committee

The meeting ended at 4.25 p.m.

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