Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Human Resources Committee held on 6 April 2006 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Rachel Whittaker (Chair)
• Jennette Arnold (Deputy Chair)
• Kirsten Hearn
• Aneeta Prem (item 1 –7)
• John Roberts

MPA officers

• Annabel Adams (Deputy Treasurer)
• Catherine Crawford (Chief Executive and Clerk)
• Alan Johnson (Head of Human Resources)
• Doug Lewins (Policy Development Officer, Race and Diversity)
• David Riddle (Deputy Chief Executive and Deputy Clerk)
• Ruth Hastings Iqball (Committee Section)

MPS officers

• Claire Appleby (Director, HR Services)
• Michael Harwood Grayson (Head of Training Policy, HR Training and Development)
• Paul Madge (Acting Director, People Development)
• Simon Marshall (Director, HR Recruitment)
• Martin Tiplady (Director of HR)

Also in attendance:

• Geoff Brydon (Chief Superintendent, Leadership Development Team) and Alex Felton (Senior Change Consultant, HR Strategic Management Unit) (item 7).
• Eleanor Ryan (Assistant Director, HR Services) and Liz Haddon (HR Practice Manager, HR Services) (item 8)
• Esme Crowther (Head, HR Employment Tribunal Unit) and Margaret Kelly (Performance and Learning Management) (item 9)

42. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received, Anthony Arbour and Damian Hockney (members) and Denise Milani (Deputy Director, Diversity and Citizen Focus Command).

43. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interest were received.

44. Minutes of the Human Resources Committee (Part 1) - for approval: 2 February 2006

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting (Part 1) held on 2 February 2006 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

45. Minutes of the Police Pension Forfeiture Sub Committee (Part 1) - to note: 9 January and 2 February 2006

(Agenda item 4)

It was noted that a report on outstanding cases mentioned at item 4 in the minutes of 9 January was still awaited. Members were informed that it was planned to send them a letter containing this information.

Resolved - That the minutes of the Police Pension Forfeiture Sub Committees (Parts 1) held on 9 January and 2 February 2006 be noted.

46. Minutes of the Business Interests Appeal Panel - to note: 2 February 2006

(Agenda item 5)

Resolved - That the minutes of the Business Interests Appeal Panel (Part 1) held on 2 February 2006 be noted.

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

(Agenda item 6)

The Chair stated that she had attended some difficult Police Negotiating Board meetings concerning force restructuring. On a related issue, she felt it would be useful if the MPA and MPS provided a joint response to the report on collective bargaining within the police service.

Kirsten Hearn informed members that she had attended the first meeting of the MPA’s Domestic Violence Forum. She felt there were issues concerning the support for MPS or MPA members of staff who were victims of domestic violence.

The Chief Executive and Clerk reported that six new staff would presently be joining the MPA.

The Director of HR stated that the Simon Marshall, Director of HR Recruitment and his team had received two awards from the Public Sector People Managers Association, formally the Society of Personnel Officers. The MPS was the winner of the best work for improving the intake of graduates/trainees /or apprentices to the public sector, winner of the best recruitment support material and a finalist for the best recruitment exercise in IT. An accolade had also been won by HR Services for childcare support in the MPS. In addition, Dr Eileen Cahill-Canning, Senior Occupational Physician, had won the British Association of Women Police, had won the Police Staff Achievement award for her work following the terrorist attack on 7 July and the tsunami in Asia.

The Director of HR stated that sickness rates were dropping for all officers and staff, including PCSOs and traffic wardens, and other major employers were now asking the MPS for advice in this area. At the end of the financial year, police recruitment was only 41 off the target. Sixteen per cent of recruits had been from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups and 36% had been women, increasing the overall percentages for police officer numbers to 7.5% and 20% respectively.

After reviewing the case of each officer performing recuperative duties, 772 of the original 1297 were now on full time duty. However, 605 officers who had been on sick leave or restricted duties were now performing recuperative duties. Since the last meeting, a new Careers Office had opened at Empress State Building and the MPS recruitment bus was now in operation to assist at recruitment events. A series of stress awareness training products had been produced for firearms officers and a performance matrix had been produced that would provide a more effective modules for the delivery of health and safety training. Members were informed that there had been disagreement amongst three of the four unions that formed MET-TUS (Metropolitan Police Trade Union Side), which now had no elected officers. An interim solution was being developed.

Jennette Arnold asked about the policy on beneficiaries for same sex partners within the current police pensions scheme. The Director of HR undertook to discuss this further outside the meeting.

As it was the last meeting of the Human Resources Committee, the Deputy Chair thanked the Chair, the Director of HR and the Head of MPA HR and their respective teams for their hard work and commitment over the last six years. She noted that on a recent visit to a police station in Waltham Forest, police officers and police staff had been conscious of the difference the role of the MPA had made to HR issues within the Service. The Chief Executive and Clerk noted that this was the only Committee, apart from full Authority, to remain unchanged since the inception of the Authority in July 2000. Unlike full Authority, the Chair of the Committee had not changed in that time. In that time it has played a critical role ensuring the MPA:

• drove through huge increase in police officer and police staff numbers
• drove through a huge programme of positive action initiatives to significantly increase the numbers of black and minority ethnic (BME) and women police officers
• agreed the role, terms and conditions of PCSOs
• drove through programme of introducing such posts as Dedicated Detention Officers, introduced nurses in custody suites etc.
• drove through the development of career pathways
• drove through the Crime and Leadership Academies proposals
• drove through the improvements in police officer and police staff sickness levels that are now the envy of other public and private sector organisations.
• drove through the groundbreaking Morris Inquiry HR recommendations and overseen implementation.
• shaped the MPS Recruitment Strategy and first MPS Graduate Strategy.
• shaped the MPS Retention Strategy that has seen a record fall in the number of voluntary leavers, with no discernible disproportionality between white and BME leavers

The Director of HR also thanked the Chair for her work and personal commitment. In response, the Chair thanked the Director of HR, the Chief Executive, the Head of MPA HR and the Committee Officer for their support of the HR Committee.

Resolved – That the oral report be received.

48. The MPS Leadership Academy

(Agenda item 7)

Members received a report providing an overview of the proposals for the MPS Leadership Academy, and illustrating how it would contribute towards the delivery of the strategic outcomes and performance ambitions coordinated under the Met Modernisation Programme.

Members noted that the phasing of procurement produced savings in the first year, but felt the financial implications of the report needed to be considered in more detail by Finance Committee. Members asked about disabled access to the Academy’s teaching materials. They were informed that the Internet software met the national managed learning environment criteria including a script reading facility, recorded texts and different font sizes.

The Leadership Academy would be the MPS’s key vehicle for promoting a value driven management style. Members were informed that in developing these values, external partners such as the Purple Group of IAG were consulted. Members asked for more details of this Group, and it was agreed that this information would be provided to members outside the meeting. Members were informed that at present 50 staff were involved in developing the Academy and that this number would increase by 26. Questions were asked about the staff profile and it was agreed details would be supplied to members outside the meeting, together with a copy of the Equality Impact Assessment.

Members noted that the start-up costs were very high and asked about future income generation. They were advised this would certainly be a possibility for the future and branding/accreditation would be part of that process. Members also asked about inclusion of other supervisory training, such as that in PDRs. Members were informed that the Leadership Academy would develop other training programmes over time, but the present syllabus was considered to be the priority given PDR training was already provided.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted;
2. the MPS provide more details about the IAG Purple Group;
3. the MPS provide more details on the staff profile of the Leadership Academy; and
4. the Equality Impact Assessment be provided

49. Fairness at Work Policy

(Agenda item 8)

A report was received containing management information and performance analysis in respect of the Fairness at Work Policy (FAWP) and providing statistical data and analysis in respect of matters raised through the FAWP. Members were informed that police officers, because they were subject to Police Regulations, did not have to use the procedure as a first step in any Employment Tribunal proceedings. It was suggested the Director of HR should hold informal discussions with the MPS Federation to encourage use of the FAWP.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

50. Employment Tribunals

(Agenda item 9)

Members received the six monthly report containing management information and performance analysis on Employment Tribunal (ET) claims brought against the Commissioner. The Professional Standards and Complaints Committee would receive the six monthly monitoring reports on MPS ETs in future, and the Chief Executive and Clerk would consider which Committee would monitor the MPA’s ETs.

Members noted the 32% reduction in the number of ETs due to the ET Unit’s significant role and the emphasis on effective early intervention. Members were informed that ET cases were increasingly complex, often involving claims and counter claims from individuals. There was also some concern about an increasing proportion of ET claims from white officers, although improved communication about the action the MPS was taking to become a more representative organisation may address some of the issues. The Director of HR assured members that all cases were regularly kept under review, including trend analysis.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

51. Protocol for the provision of information to the MPA on Employment Tribunal cases and the Fairness at Work process

(Agenda item 10)

A report was received setting out a revised protocol relating to the provision of information to the MPA on ET cases and FAWP. It replaced and updated an existing protocol to take into account changes in practice and the recommendations of the Morris Inquiry.

Resolved – That the protocol be adopted.

52. Minutes of the Remuneration Sub-committee - to note: 16 March 2006

(Agenda item 11)

Resolved - That the minutes of the Remuneration Sub Committee (Part 1) held on 16 March 2006 be noted.

53. Exclusion of the press and public

(Agenda item 12)

A resolution was put to exclude the press and public from the meeting during items 12 and 15 as they were likely to disclose exempt information as defined in Part 1 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 -15.

54. Employment Tribunals – Exempt Appendix

(Agenda item 13)

It was noted that the total figure paid out in 2004/5 was skewed by a particularly large payment; hence a median figure was also provided. It was noted that the figures provided did not include the cost of employing counsel and advice from the Directorate for Legal Services (DLS). This information was requested for future reports.

Resolved – That the appendix be noted and costs of counsel and DLS be included in future reports.

55. Exempt minutes of the Police Pension Forfeiture Sub Committee (Part 1) - to note: 9 January and 2 February 2006

(Agenda item 14)

Resolved - That the exempt minutes of the Police Pension Forfeiture Sub Committees (Parts 2) held on 9 January and 2 February 2006 be noted.

56. Exempt minutes of the Business Interests Appeal Panel - to note: 2 February 2006

(Agenda item 15)

Resolved - That the exempt minutes of the Business Interests Appeal Panel (Part 2) held on 2 February 2006 be noted.

57. Exempt minutes of the Remuneration Sub-committee - to note: 16 March 2006

(Agenda item 16)

Resolved - That the minutes of the Business Interests Appeal Panel (Part 2) held on 2 February 2006 be noted.

The meeting ended at 5.55 p.m.

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