Minutes - draft

Minutes of the meeting of the Human Resources Committee held on 19 May 2005 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Rachel Whittaker (Chair)
• Jennette Arnold (Deputy Chair) (items 1- 12)
• Anthony Arbour
• Kirsten Hearn
• Damian Hockney
• Aneeta Prem

MPA officers

• Annabel Adams (Deputy Treasurer)
• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive and Clerk)
• Ken Hunt (Treasurer) (items 1-9)
• Alan Johnson (Head of Human Resources)
• Ruth Hastings Iqball (Committee Section)

MPS officers

• Claire Appleby (Director, HR Services)
• Avril Cooper Temporary Head of MetHR
• Paul Daly (Director of Exchequer Services)
• Chris Haselden (Head of Strategic Management)
• Paul Madge (Acting Director, People Development)
• Simon Marshall (Director of Recruitment)
• Robin Merrett (Borough Commander, Bexley)
• Denise Milani (Director, Diversity)
• Steve Roberts (Deputy Director, HR)
• Martin Tiplady (Director of HR)

74. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Peter Herbert and John Roberts (members).

75. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interest were received.

76. Minutes of the Human Resources Committee – 3 March 2005 - for approval

(Agenda item 3)

The Committee considered the minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2005.

At earlier meetings, members had expressed concern about continuing disproportionality in the National Recruitment Standards selection process. The MPS had written to Home Office on the matter. The Director of HR reported that a response had now been received, containing a technical report on the variations in pass rates. The highest failure rate was amongst candidates of Bangladeshi/Pakistani origin and for candidates for whom English was a second language. The Director was formulating a response to the Home Office and would also be raising the matter with the ACPO Personnel Management Group. In answer to questions from members, he undertook to provide members with a summary of the report, and seek any geographical data from the Home Office, as the London area provided 35% of candidates. The Deputy Director added that HR Directorate had analysed failure rates at Hendon and lack of career progression by officers. It had found that the most disadvantaged were those lacking a formal education and first generation immigrants. To counter this the MPS was looking at providing ‘English as a foreign language’ training and other positive action initiatives.

Arising from consideration of agenda item 8 (Diversity Directorate Strategic Assessments) members were informed that a costed strategy and action plan would be bought to the Committee in September.

With regard to agenda item 67 (Human Resources Business Plan 2004/05 – Objective 2) it was requested that the word ‘civilianisation’ be replaced by workforce modernisation.

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2005 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

77. Minutes of the Police Pension Forfeiture Sub Committee (Part 1): 24 February 2005, 3 March 2005 and 31 March 2005

(Agenda item 4)

The Committee noted the minutes of the Police Pension Forfeiture Sub Committees (Parts 1).

Resolved - That the minutes of the Police Pension Forfeiture Sub Committees (Parts 1) held on 24 February, 3 March and 31 March 2005 be noted.

78. Minutes of the Business Interest Panel (Part 1), 7 April 2005 - to note

(Agenda item 5)

The Committee noted the minutes of the Business Appeals Panel (Part 1).

Resolved - That the minutes of the Business Appeals Panel (Part 1) held on 7 April be noted.

79. Minutes of the Remuneration Sub-Committee (Part 1), 3 March 2005 - to note

(Agenda item 6)

The Committee noted the minutes of the Remuneration Sub Committee (Part 1).

Resolved - That the minutes of the Remuneration Sub Committee (Part 1) held on 3 March be noted.

80. Chair’s, Members’, Clerk’s and MPS update (oral report)

(Agenda item 7)

The Chair welcomed Annabel Adams to her first meeting as Deputy Treasurer. She informed members that she had discussed the level of return of Performance Development Reports with the Director of HR and he had agreed to provide monthly updates by OCU and BOCU to members for April, May and June.

She also advised members of the significant number of HR-related briefing papers that had been published.

Jennette Arnold reported that she and the Head of HR would produce an ‘annual report’ on the work of the Police Advisory Board (PAB) for members. She noted that the PAB had recognised the lead the MPS had taken in caring for those of its staff who had been posted abroad as a result of the Asian tsunami. Aneeta Prem’s role in this sphere had also been recognised. Jennette Arnold had been present at the opening of the MPS patrol centre at Uplands and was pleased to note, following her report ‘Changing Habits’, the improved locker facilities at this site. Kirsten Hearn however stated that staff at Empress State Building were complaining of mixed sex locker rooms. The Director undertook to make enquires about this and report back to members outside the meeting.

Kirsten Hearn stated that she had been to Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet MPS officers seconded there. She reported that their work was highly regarded, however complaints had been made to her that such postings did not enhance career prospects. The Director stated that ‘Keep in Touch’ scheme ensured seconded officers were kept up to date and that meetings were arranged with returning officers for debriefing and discussion of new postings. However, he asked to meet Kirsten Hearn outside the meeting to discuss the issues raised further.

Aneeta Prem stated that she has been at the tsunami memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral. The relatives present had praised the work of their Family Liaison Officers and she felt their role should be recognised.

The Director of HR report that

• the ‘Benefits of Belonging Plus’ had just been launched.
• the Commissioner had just reaffirmed the new partnership agreement with the Trade Unions.
• the Occupational Health presence in Thailand following the tsunami would, as matters stood, end in June
• in the last two months the HR Directorate had received an award from the Society of Chief Personnel Officers for recruitment, an award from the British Film Industry for its health campaign, diversity campaigns had been nominated for awards from HR Magazine and for its health promotion and attendance management initiatives.
• the Administration Development Programme had started 6 months ago to fast track selected staff and 38 out of 40 staff had successfully completed the programme.
• an Intensive Development Programme had been launched for middle managers.
• the number of employment tribunals had fallen by 10% with 121 cases concluded in the last financial year. In addition, there had been a 61% reduction in particularly longstanding cases.
• sick absence had fallen to 7.5 days for police officers and 9.3 days for police staff and had led to a saving of £25 million in staff time.

The Director of Diversity reported that a draft Diversity Strategy had been circulated and the final version being published at the end of July. Kirsten Hearn, Chair of the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board, was unhappy that MPA members had not been consulted earlier. It was agreed copies of the draft would be sent to all MPA members. The Director of Diversity informed members that she had been appointed ACPO lead on gender. Since the last meeting, a ‘Dancing Partner’ event had been held for 250 men who had discussed flexible working, culture and behaviour. The next event ‘Dancing Together’ would be run with BT and look further at these issues. The Diversity Directorate had obtained 15 licences to run gender specific programmes. The Chair asked for a written note on this for members.

Resolved - That the update be received.

81. Strategic approach to MetHR and data quality

(Agenda item 8)

Members received a report outlining current and future uses for MetHR data within the Metropolitan Police Service. It described the concerns felt about the quality of the data together with work undertaken, or in hand, to address these concerns. It also indicated how development of MetHR would be aligned with the Service Review and any future Human Resource Service Centre.

The Treasurer reported that it had been agreed that an MPA officer would represent the MPA on an IT oversight group. The Treasurer undertook to keep members informed of the progress of the project.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

82. Workforce modernisation

(Agenda item 9)

Members received a report on the progress of Workforce Modernisation within the MPS, specifically in relation to the Bexley Project. The Director of HR introduced the report by stating that the MPS earlier plans for ‘civilianisation’ were well on the way to being achieved this year and DAC Steve Roberts would be ‘leading;’ on this for the HR Directorate. He would write to the Chair, Deputy Chair and MPA Head of HR informing them of progress. This report was just about the project at Bexley. Bexley was involved in 13, mostly small scale, Home Office funded projects currently being conducted across the country. The projects were looking at modernising the police’s workforce in order to improve the service provided. The Borough Commander of Bexley explained that as one of three larger projects he had been tasked to reconfigure the BOCU with the aims of driving performance, raising visibility and improving local people’s satisfaction. Officers and staff had been involved in the project from the start and an outside company was evaluating the project. The reduction in police numbers was a sensitive area within the borough, but care had been taken to engage local people and there had been no adverse reaction.

It was asked if this project could be replicated in other London boroughs and, the Director of HR acknowledged that any similar schemes would have to be tailored to local conditions and demands. There was also a need to balance workforce modernisation with resilience. A member expressed concern about the enlargement of the role of PCSOs in a way not originally envisaged. Members were informed PCSOs in London had already broken out of the original mould in performing their security function and being involved in critical encounters. Bexley PCSOs were able to provide a quality response to individuals asking for assistance that did not involve police powers, freeing police officers to deliver a better quality service to victims of crime, or instances where police powers were needed.

In response to a question about the large number of Special Constabulary officers in Bexley, the Borough Commander stated that 50% of Special Constabulary recruitment in the MPS last year had taken place in Bexley. He attributed this to local recruitment and posting.

Resolved - That the report be noted and members receive a copy of the projects evaluation in April next year.

83. Protocols for the appointment of Association of Chief Police Officer (ACPO) ranks and senior police staff

(Agenda item 10)

(This item was heard before item 9.) Members received a report making recommendations in respect of a protocol for the appointment of police officers of ACPO rank and senior police staff. It set out the process for identifying vacancies, the relationship between the MPS and MPA in such appointments and the respective roles of the MPS and MPA in the related decision-making processes. It was noted that paragraph 13 should read ‘bands above Band 3’ not ‘bands up to and above Band 3’. A number of changes were agreed including the proposal that business cases for posts should be accompanied by an evaluation of the level of the post required.

Resolved - That the principles for the appointment, progression and departure of ACPO ranks and senior police staff as set out in this report be agreed subject to amendments suggested by members.

84. Nationality rules for police staff

(Agenda item 11)

The nationality rules for police officers were different from the nationality rules for police staff. Members received a report proposing bringing the nationality rules for police staff into line with those of police officers.

Resolved – That the MPA changed the nationality restrictions for police staff to bring them into line with those for police officers.

85. Recruitment and retention

(Agenda item 12)

A report was received summarising the activities undertaken by Recruitment and People Development Directorates within the reporting period. The Director of HR informed members that numbers of officers, police staff, PCSOs and special constabulary officers were each at an all time high.

A member asked about the accessibility of induction courses for existing and potential officers and police staff who had a disability and was informed that premises used had wheelchair access and induction loops. Each event was bespoke to the attendees needs. In answer to a question about the numbers of disabled, lesbian, gay bisexual and transsexual staff members were told that although the data was being collected voluntarily at recruitment, the information was not yet available through MetHR.

Security vetting times were improving 95 days had now fallen to 39 days, with the Service Level Agreement of 35 days yet to be achieved. A Vetting Board met fortnightly to seek ways to achieve this target.

Questions were asked about workforce planning. The Director HR reported that the predictive tools available to him were improving all the time.

It was noted that there were few female and black and minority ethnic groups from the MPS on the Home Office’s High Potential Development Scheme, nor was the scheme proving particularly successful. The MPS undertook to provide a report for the next Committee on the Scheme.

Resolved - That the report be noted and that the next report contain

• some discussion of the targets for 2005/6, 2006/7, 2007/8 and 2008/9 with particular reference to likely performance against HO targets for women and black and minority ethnic (BME) candidates;
• some discussion the role of workforce planning/monitoring, e.g. when will MPS have reliable data on disability; and
• the cost of recruiting police officers, PCSOs, MSC and senior police staff differentiated by white/BME candidates and men/women, i.e. added cost of targeted recruitment.

86. Business interests

(Agenda item 13)

Following a request by the committee, a report was received detailing the process for managing additional business interests of police officers.

Resolved - That the report be noted.

87. Responding to the report of the Morris Inquiry - update

(Agenda item 14)

This report provides an update on the work of committees and the Steering Group in taking forward the recommendations of the Morris Inquiry Report

Resolved - That the report be noted.

88. Taking forward the Morris Inquiry recommendations on human resources issues

(Agenda item 15)

At the last meeting, the Committee resolved that the Chair, Deputy Chair, Chief Executive and Clerk and the Head of Human Resources agree the process for taking forward the recommendations for this Committee.

Resolved – That

1. Members note the action taken since the last meeting; and
2. receive a report to each meeting on a separate ‘theme,’ outlining the action taken against each outcome within that theme.

89. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 16)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during items 17 –19 as they were likely to disclose exempt information as described in Schedule 12(a) (1) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Resolved – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of agenda items 12.

90. Minutes of the Police Pension Forfeiture Sub Committee (Part 2) - to note: 24 February 2005, 3 March 2005 and 31 March 2005

(Agenda item 17)

The Committee noted the exempt minutes of the Police Pension Forfeiture Sub Committees (Parts 2).

Resolved - That the exempt minutes of the Police Pension Forfeiture Sub Committees (Parts 2) held on 24 February, 3 March and 31 March 2005 be noted.

91. Minutes of the Business Appeals Panel Sub Committee (Part 2), 7 April - to note

(Agenda item 18)

The Committee noted the exempt minutes of the Business Appeals Panel (Part 2).

Resolved - That the exempt minutes of the Business Appeals Panel (Part 2) held on 7 April be noted.

92. Minutes of the Remuneration Sub-Committee (Part 2), 3 March 2005 - to note

(Agenda item 19)

The Committee noted the exempt minutes of the Remuneration Sub Committee (Part 2).

Resolved - That the exempt minutes of the Remuneration Sub Committee (Part 2) held on 3 March be noted.

The meeting ended at 4.15 p.m.

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