Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Human Resources Committee held on 16 Sep 04 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Rachel Whittaker (Chair)
• Jennette Arnold (Deputy Chair)
• Anthony Arbour (items 1- 5)
• John Roberts
• Abdal Ullah

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Clerk)
• Judith Christie (External Solicitor) (item 11)
• Ken Hunt (Deputy Treasurer)
• Alan Johnson (Head of Human Resources and Professional Standards)
• Ruth Hastings Iqball (Committee Section)

MPS officers

• Neil Bayne (Interim Director, Pay and Benefits)
• Paul Daly, Director of Exchequer Services
• Chris Haselden (Head of Strategic Management)
• Shabir Hussain (Commander, Training and Development)
• Paul Madge (Acting Director, HR Services)
• Simon Marshall (Director, HR Recruitment)
• Denise Milani (Director, Development and Organisational Improvement Team)
• Chief Inspector Simon Prince (TP HQ) (item 5 only)
• Martin Tiplady (Director of HR)

Part 1

21. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Kirsten Hearn, Damian Hockney and Aneeta Prem (members). Bernard Hogan Howe (Assistant Commissioner HR), Gordon Davison (Director, HR People Development) and Craig Watkins (Director of Business Support, Finance Directorate).

22. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interest were received.

23. Minutes of the Human Resources Committee – 22 July 2004

(Agenda item 3)

The Committee considered the minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2004. The Chair suggested the addition of a penultimate sentence ‘Members were concerned that an incremental scheme rewarded average and outstanding performance equally’ to agenda item 15 ‘Review of Pay Progression Arrangements in the MPA’, and amending the last sentence to ‘The Committee nevertheless requested a …’. With this amendment, the minutes were agreed.

A note had been circulated to members concerning the workplan. It was planned to hold themed committee meetings, followed by informal discussions between members and HR management on policies. Members endorsed this approach.

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2004 be confirmed and signed as a correct record, subject to the amendment detailed above.

24. Chair’s, Members’, Clerk’s and MPS update

(Agenda item 4)

Martin Tiplady reported that it was planned that MPS HR Directorate, with the exception of staff at Hendon, would move into Empress State Building in December. Claire Appleby had been selected Director of HR Services. The MPS was embarking on its fourth health promotion campaign, with a focus on mental health and cancer awareness. Press coverage had been given to a police officer who had been found to have a criminal record. Processes had been reviewed to avoid a reoccurrence of such incidents. On 9 December, the HR Directorate were holding a conference at Earls Court for HR managers to help develop the next People Strategy. All MPA members were invited to attend.

A member asked about planning for the accelerated growth in PCSO numbers. Members were informed that the Step Change Programme was managing planning for aspects of this growth, such as accommodation. The Clerk expressed concern that that the MPA had no mechanism for oversight of such programmes of work.

Resolved - That the oral report be received.

25. The HR Directorate’s strategic assessment

(Agenda item 5)

A report was received summarising the strategic assessment process and describing the HR contribution. Members praised the report, but were concerned about the amount of PCSO sickness mentioned. Members were informed that although it was the responsibility of central HR to monitor the position and have effective policies in place to deal with sickness absences, the actual day-to-day responsibility for dealing with individual absentees rested with the relevant line manager.

Denise Milani stated that she would be happy to bring the Development and Organisational Improvement Team’s strategic assessment to this committee. Questions were asked about the Leadership Academy. It was noted that the Authority had not yet agreed this should proceed, but a report would come to the MPA if such a proposal was formalised.

Following a question about Centrex funding, members were informed that Centrex was planning to charge for it’s training. This would have a significant effect on the MPS.

Chief Inspector Simon Prince was invited to talk to the committee about PCSO sickness levels, which were a particular problem to transport and security PCSOs. Members were assured the situation was being addressed.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

26. HR communication with local HR managers and staff

(Agenda item 6)

From this point on the meeting was inquorate.

This report, requested by this Committee at its meeting in July 2004, outlined the HR Forum and the regular HR Managers’ meetings used by central HR Directorate to provide advice and support to MPS staff in general and to BOCU and OCU HR managers. Members were invited to attend one of the Forum events.

Recommended - That the report be noted.

27. Recruitment & retention, 1 April 2004 - 31 July 2004

(Agenda item 7)

Members received a report summarising the activities undertaken by the Recruitment and People Development Directorates within the reporting period. With regard to paragraph 21, concerning the development programme for superintending ranks, the Chair asked for further information on the selection process. Members were informed that the committee would receive a report on outsourcing of exit interviews in January 2005.

Recommended - That the report be noted.

28. Flexible working in the MPS

(Agenda item 8)

A report was received summarising the history of flexible working in the MPS, the types of flexible working and a strategy for implementing a flexible working culture across the organisation. It also covered the relationship with Police Negotiating Board arrangements, monitoring arrangements and the milestones in implementing the strategy.

The report stated that flexible working had not led to police officers having and reporting more business interests. The Chair noted that there had only been three appeals from police officers whose requests for a business interests had been rejected. She asked for a briefing paper on the subject, outlining what sort of business interests were permitted and what were refused.

Recommended – that

• that a further report on progress with this project come back to the committee in January 2005; and
• members receive a briefing paper on business interests.

Lead member roles

(Agenda item 9)

A report was received asking the HR committee to review and appoint its lead member positions, subject to confirmation by the full Authority at its 28 October meeting. Abdul Ullah expressed an interest in being lead member for faith groups and youth issues, which were the remit of the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board. John Roberts expressed an interest in being lead member for training, training and development and the Special Constabulary. The MPA Head of Human Resources and Professional Standards was asked to write to committee members asking if they wanted to take on lead members roles.

Recommended – that all committee members asked if they wanted to take on particular lead members roles.

Senior officer selection processes: commissioner and commanders

(Agenda item 10)

This report updated members on the selection process for Commissioner and the separate process for Commanders. The Clerk gave an update on the selection process.

Recommended – That the report be received.

Police pensions forfeiture

(Agenda item 11)

A report was received proposing a revised procedure for dealing with police pension forfeitures, with the aim of complying with human rights legislation and taking into account the recommendations made by the Crown Court in recent appeal cases. A revised version of the appendix to the circulated report was agreed.

Recommended – That the procedure outlined in the revised appendix to the report be agreed.

The meeting ended at 16:00 p.m.

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