Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Human Resources Committee held on 6 May 2004 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Rachel Whittaker (Chair)
• Diana Johnson (Deputy Chair)
• Anthony Arbour
• Jennette Arnold
• Cindy Butts
• Kirsten Hearn

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Clerk)
• Ken Hunt (Deputy Treasurer)
• Alan Johnson (Head of Human Resources and Professional Standards)
• Ruth Hastings Iqball (Committee Section)

MPS officers

• Gordon Davison, (Director, People Development)
• Chris Haselden (Head of HR Strategic Management)
• Bernard Hogan-Howe (Assistant Commissioner, HR)
• Shabir Hussain (Commander, Training and Development)
• Simon Marshall (Director, HR Recruitment)
• Denise Milani (Director, Development and Organisational Improvement Team)
• Amanda Murphy (Senior Business Accountant)
• Mike Shurety (Director, Pay and Benefits)
• Martin Tiplady (Director of HR)

Part 1

68. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from and Cecile Wright (member) and Craig Watkins (Head of Business Support, Finance Directorate).

69. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interest were received.

70. Minutes of the Human Resources Committee – 4 March 2004

(Agenda item 3)

The Committee considered the minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2004. The Chair requested that agenda item 9 ‘consultation on the new police pension scheme’, issue 11, survivor benefits for unmarried partners be amended from ‘It was felt that consideration should be given to single officers having their contributions reimbursed.’ to ‘It was felt consideration should be given to single officers having some options in respect of their benefits as an alternative to a survivor’s pension.’

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 March be confirmed and signed as a correct record, subject to the amendment detailed above.

71. Minutes of the Remuneration Sub-Committee –19 April 2004

(Agenda item 4)

The Committee noted the minutes of the meeting held on 19 April 2004.

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 April 2004 be noted.

72. Chair’s, members’, Clerk’s and Assistant Commissioner human resources update (oral report)

(Agenda item 5)

The Assistant Commissioner HR provided an update on matters of interest in the MPS’s HR Directorate.

A v Chief Constable of the West Yorkshire Police [2003)

He reported ion a recent ruling in respect of postoperative transsexuals and its implications for the MPS.

PCSOs

The Assistant Commissioner HR informed members that the MPS’s HR Directorate had achieved 32 of its 39 top-level targets in 2003/4. Members asked about press comments that the quality of Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) recruits had been poor and the job had not met applicants’ expectations. The Assistant Commissioner HR stated that the vetting of PCSOs was the same as for all other MPS employees, but acknowledged that when the first PCSO were recruited, the job specification was in its formative stage. Lessons had been learnt and supervising officers now received better training. The Chair informed members that two reports by Linda Bellos and Portsmouth University were available for members.

Police officer recruitment ‘pause’

Members were informed that a review of the police officer recruitment ‘pause’ had been conducted and it had been decided that members of the Volunteer Cadet Corps, volunteer workers and those previously in MPS employment whose roles have been outsourced could now apply to be police officers. MPS police staff and PCSOs were already able to apply.

30+ Retention Scheme

Assistant Commissioner HR explained that ministerial approval has now been obtained for the 30+ Retention Scheme to be extended to a third phase (April 2004 – March 2005). The MPS were now drawing up proposals to manage phase III. Eight officers had been employed on the first phase and 30 in the second. This time they might be looking at 75 officers. Managers had been asked to nominate those who fitted the skills gap.

Keyworker housing scheme

600 MPS employees had applied for the existing keyworker housing scheme. The MPS had now been accepted into Phase 2 of the scheme. Once again, places would be limited and so tight eligibility criteria would apply.

Inspectors' 1994 pay adjustment

Members were informed of the impact of the Inspectors' 1994 pay adjustment ion MPS finances. The Home Office has accepted that there was an anomaly in respect of the pay on promotion arrangements in relation to Sergeants promoted to Inspector from 1 September 1996. The costs were expected to be around £3 million. The Deputy Treasurer would follow up this point.

These provide that if an officer had been a PS for four years up to 31 August 1994 and was promoted to Inspector on or after 1 September 1996, he or she should have gone to the second point in the Inspectors' pay scale. The MPS had ascertained that there are around 750 officers affected by this, about 100 of who have already retired or left the MPS.

Health and Safety issues

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) had undertaken ‘health check’ inspections of fast roads policing and the health and safety management of PCSOs in March. The HR Directorate had just received the formal HSE reports, which appeared broadly supportive and would be working with (B)OCUs to ensure full compliance. Jennette Arnold asked about a health notice served on the Assistant Commissioner HR by the Police Federation following the death of an officer undergoing a fitness test. She was informed that the notice had no legal status, but the HR directorate was liaising with the Police Federation over the incident. Jennette Arnold expressed concern that, as Chair of the Health and Safety Sub Committee, she had not been personally informed of the incident. Both Martin Tiplady and the Clerk apologised for this oversight.

The Chair, Clerk and members gave no oral updates.

Resolved – That

1. the Assistant Commissioner HR’s oral update be received; and
2. a report be submitted to the next meeting in respect of the implementation of the Police Negotiating Board agreement for Superintending ranks.

73. Civilianisation

(Agenda item 6)

Members received a report providing an update on the complexities facing the MPS concerning civilianisation and the civilianisation plan. Members were informed that following recommendations by the MPS’s Efficiency Committee, its Management Board had been actively considering civilianisation. However, increased impetus had come from the Step Change and Safer Neighbourhoods Programmes, which were in part funded by increased civilianisation. The report summed up what had been done and it was suggested that a further report follow in September 2004.

Members again raised the problem of lack of definition of operational roles, and questioned whether maintaining posts that could be civilianised for police officers on recuperative duties was an appropriate approach. It was also noted that similar posts were also being kept for part-time officers. The MPS undertook to inform Kirsten Hearn of the number of posts held by part-time officers.

The Chair considered that there was a need for a joint working party to review progress on the interrelated matters of civilianisation, the reform agenda, the Safer Neighbourhood Programme and budget setting The Clerk agreed to follow up this suggestion.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. the Clerk consider joint working party to review progress on the interrelated matters of civilianisation, the reform agenda, the Safer Neighbourhood Programme and budget setting.

74. HR Business and Performance Plan 2004/05

(Agenda item 7)

A report was received requesting approval of the MPS’s HR Business and Performance Plan. Members felt that the plan should have included further reference to training. They were informed that training was the subject of separate business plan and was a continuing commitment. This plan highlighted new work. Members also felt the plan should have been prioritised. It was agreed that that MPA officers and the MPS should discuss this further. A further update was requested in six months time.

Resolved - That

1. the proposed HR Business and Performance Plan for 2004/05 and proposed change control process be approved; and
2. a further report be received in November 2004.

75. Substance misuse testing

(Agenda item 8)

The Police Advisory Board for England and Wales was considering the introduction of a national Substance Misuse Policy, incorporating compulsory powers for testing. As it could take two or more years to complete this work, the MPS was developing its own policy and proposed to adopt an incremental approach to its introduction beginning with well publicised pre-employment testing of new police recruits. It was hoped this would set a clear example for MPS staff and provide reassurance to the population they served.

Members asked what would happen to recruits and officers found to have positive results. The MPS acknowledged that this part of the procedure remained to be developed, if the MPS’s Management Board accepted the policy. Members were informed that lessons were being learnt from London Transport, which operated its own substance misuses testing scheme. Assurance was given that police officers and police staff who accepted they had a drug problem were treated sympathetically.

Resolved – that members note the report.

76. Recruitment and retention - April 2003 to March 2004

(Agenda item 9)

Members received their regular update report on recruitment and retention in the MPS. Further information was requested on the effectiveness of flexible working for PCSOs. The HR Directorate was praised for the strides that it had made in the VEM and female recruitment of police officers during the life of the Authority, but was asked for an update at the next meeting setting out how the targets for 2004/5 would be met.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. the next report include the Directorate’s proposals for meeting the 2004/5 targets and data on the use of flexible and part-time working by PCSOs.

77. 0–5 Support & Development Programme – costs & effectiveness

(Agenda item 10)

A report was received providing a summary of the background, findings and action taken to date with regard to the evaluation of the 0 – 5+ Support & Development Programme carried out by the MPS’s Internal Consultancy Group. In answer to a question, members were informed that the evaluation cost £11,000 for 24 days work, but as it was an internal report, it was a notional cost. The next stage would be to evaluate the impact of the programme. Members asked for details of the number of mentors and suggested the scheme was enlarged to include the mentoring of PCSOs.

Resolved – that

1. members note the update on the 0 - 5 Support and Development Programme and the findings of Internal Consultancy Group; and
2. the Development and Organisational Improvement Team be asked to provide a draft of their flexible working hours programme for the November 2004 meeting.

78. Human Resources Committee Annual Report 2003/4

(Agenda item 11)

Members received a report providing a brief resume of the work of the Human Resources Committee during 2003/4. The Committee Chair thanked Alan Johnson and Ken Hunt for their work during the year, and asked that their contribution to the work of the committee be included in the annual report, and that the work of HR Directorate of the MPS acknowledged. Assistant Commissioner HR also asked that his appreciation of the work of the Committee be recorded in the minutes.

Resolved – That the contents of the report be endorsed, and amended as agreed.

79. Monitoring of MPA activities 2003/4

(Agenda item 12)

The report ‘Monitoring of Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) staffing and recruitment’ was considered by the HR Committee last year. A report was received providing data and analysis on the HR activities within the Authority for the period 2003/4. .

Resolved – That the monitoring and analysis of data for 2003/4 be noted.

80. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 13)

Resolved - That agenda item 14 be agreed without the exclusion of the press and public from the meeting.

81. Exempt minutes of the Remuneration Sub-Committee –19 April 2004

(Agenda item 14)

The Committee noted the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 19 April 2004.

Resolved - That the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 19 April 2004 be noted.

The meeting ended at 4.05 p.m.

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