Update on planning arrangements

Report: 04
Date: 09 January 2003
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report summarises the latest position in respect of the preparation of the Strategic Plan (SP) and the Annual Policing Plan (APP) and, in particular, the arrangements for agreeing the objectives targets and measures.

A. Recommendations

That

1. Members note the work undertaken so far on the Strategic Plan and its links with the National Policing Plan (NPP) and the annual plan
2. Members note the arrangements for establishing appropriate objectives, targets and measures for consideration at the Full Authority meeting in January
3. Members note the key milestones in the preparation of the SP and APP

B. Supporting information

Strategic plan

1. The MPS is currently preparing a draft 3 year Strategic Plan which is intended to go before the Full Authority for consideration on 30 January. Members will need to agree the final plan at the following meeting on 27 February since the Authority is statutorily required to pass the plan for approval by the Home Secretary by 28 February.

2. The Home Office has issued very minimal guidance on the structure and format to be adopted within a force’s strategic plan. Consequently, the MPS proposes to use ‘Towards the Safest City’ (Ttsc) as the outline for the MPA’s strategic plan with modifications based on the National Policing Plan and issues emerging during consultation and discussion in the preparation of the annual plan.

3. The MPS has undertaken analysis to establish where the proposed MPS objectives for 2003/04 do not mirror the direction set out in ‘Towards the Safest City’, and potentially therefore that of the framework of the Strategic Plan. These include:

• murder
• road casualties and
• child protection

4. Planning Panel will be meeting on 13 January to discuss how the Strategic Plan might be shaped before it is considered by the Full Authority.

Annual objectives, targets and measures

5. At the November meeting of the Full Authority members requested that the Planning Panel look again at the proposed objectives in the light of the discussions. The objectives for the annual plan have not yet been formally agreed but senior MPS planning staff have met with selected members of the Planning Panel to address members’ concerns. There are additional objectives supporting the priorities for excellence that have also been examined by this group e.g. communication. As a result we have attached at Appendix 1 a commentary against the set of proposed objectives that details areas where we are still seeking resolution. An oral update on progress will be provided at the meeting.

6. The informal panel meeting held in December also discussed those issues which had not been explicit in the earlier MPS proposal, including:

• The approach to anti social behaviour and autocrime which are explicit issues in the NPP
• Means of measuring public and victim satisfaction
• The scope of ‘managing the demands upon the MPS’, and
• The definition of vulnerable victim groups

7. These issues have now been incorporated into the commentary at Appendix 1. Members may wish to raise any issues still outstanding for consideration at the Planning Panel on 13 January.

8. The MPS will be presenting a set of objectives for the annual plan, revised if appropriate, (supporting the priorities for Londoners and priorities for Excellence) with proposed associated targets and measures at the Full Authority meeting in January. In view of the tight timescales involved for consultation, particularly around bespoke target setting, an oral update on targets and measures collated so far will be presented to the Planning Panel.

9. In view of the new national planning framework, and the changing focus of the annual plan, the MPS intends to set out a proposed format for the 2003/04 plan for the Planning Panel to consider. This will summarise the significant differences from those published in previous years.

Current timetable

C. Equality and diversity implications

There are no direct implications on equalities and diversity arising from this paper. Development of the underpinning objectives, however, is likely to include more detail as to how these issues will be addressed in the coming year

D. Financial implications

There are no specific financial implications arising from these proposals, although the development of the objectives and targets, and local plans, will determine in broad terms how the MPS proposes to use its resources in the coming year.

E. Background papers

None.

F. Contact details

Report author: Michael Debens and John Zlotnicki, MPS.

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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