Update on planning arrangements

Report: 07
Date: 13 March 2003
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report outlines the position in relation to the Strategy Plan and the Annual Policing Plan (APP) in particular, the arrangements for agreeing the outstanding targets and measures on the annual objectives.

A. Recommendations

That the Committee

1. notes the arrangements on the progress and publication of the strategy plan;
2. propose that the outstanding targets and measures in the annual plan should be agreed at the full authority; and
3. notes the next steps in the planning process.

B. Supporting information

Strategy plan

1. The MPS submitted a draft Strategy Plan entitled ‘Towards the Safest City – the Strategy’ to the Home Secretary on 28 February in accordance with the time scales laid down by the Home Office. The submission also included an analysis showing how and where all 51 imperatives in the National Policing Plan have been reflected in either the strategy or the annual plan.

2. Minor changes to the draft that were requested at the February full authority meeting were incorporated into the formal submission to the Home Secretary. A copy of the final submission has been provided to MPA officers separately to this paper, but is almost unchanged from the draft copy previously circulated to members.

3. The MPA has requested that feedback on the strategy be given by 18 March which will allow time to incorporate any changes into the final document before it is issued at the end of March. Any feedback that should be received prior to the PPRC meeting will be provided in a verbal update on the day.

4. There were some minor gaps in the draft submitted relating to the performance indicators and targets in the annual plan, some of which have still to be agreed. However, it will be possible to update the published version once these have been finalised. Work has started on producing a summary version which is more suitable for a public audience.

Annual plan

5. Members agreed the MPS ‘phase 2’ submission of the targets and measures with the proviso that a target and measure relating to public satisfaction with foot patrols should be inserted. Three other objectives relating to criminal justice and the effective use of resources were not debated. The MPS therefore intends to circulate revised templates in advance of this meeting on the following four objectives;

• Objective 1 – To increase visible police presence (to incorporate public satisfaction with patrols)
• Objective 15 – To bring more offences to justice
• Objective 16 – To improve the service to victims and witnesses
• Objective 24 – To maximise MPS resources and their most effective use

6. The MPS is seeking agreement to the revised proposals from members at this meeting so that a full set of the objectives, targets and measures can be included within the draft annual plan which will go before the March full authority meeting for approval.

7. MPS and MPA planning and performance officers will be meeting in advance of the PPRC to discuss a range of issues that will include;

• The structure and content of the annual plan and a shorter summary document
• The publication arrangements for both the strategy plan and the annual plan
• The monitoring arrangements for the performance targets in the plans; and
• The review of the 2003/04 planning process, and how this might be improved for 2004/05

Next steps in the planning process

8. The following table sets out the key dates before the publication of the respective plans at the end of March and the commencement of the 2004/05 planning process.

7 March

MPS submits revised proposal to members on outstanding targets and measures for the annual plan

13 March

PPRC agrees outstanding targets and measures and discusses any HO feedback on the strategy plan

18 March

MPS submits paper to the full authority that includes the draft annual plan. MPA due to receive feedback from the Home Secretary on the draft strategy plan

27 March

Full Authority agrees the annual plan and the strategy plan

28 March

Strategy Plan & Annual Policing Plan issued

8 May

PPRC considers a review of the 2003/04 planning process

30 June

Strategy Plan needs to be published

C. Equality and diversity implications

There are no direct implications on equalities and diversity arising from this paper.

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: John Zlotnicki and Michael Debens, MPS.

For more information contact:

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

Late additional information to agenda Item 7

PPRC Annual Plan

Outstanding Targets and Measures

In the paper already provided to members the MPS advised that the templates for the four objectives with outstanding targets and measures would be circulated in advance of the meeting.

The attached templates represent the MPS proposal for;

• Objective 1 – To increase visible police presence (incorporating a new target and measure for public satisfaction with foot patrols as requested at full authority)
• Objective 15 – To bring more offences to justice
• Objective 16 – To improve the services to victims and witnesses
• Objective 24 – To maximise MPS resources and their most effective use

The MPS also wishes to submit an additional template in relation to Objective 21 – ‘to develop a professional and effective workforce with the appropriate numbers and skills to deliver the operational priorities of the MPS’.

The targets and measures for this objective were agreed by members at the February full authority. However, following discussions between Rachel Whittaker and Martin Tiplady from HR Directorate, the MPS wishes to include an additional target and measure on the completion of Performance Development Reviews.

This issue was raised at the exceptional COP meeting on 21 February and is seen as a good indicator of the growing skills database being developed by the MPS and the move towards a more effective workforce. The relevant template sets out how this intends to be achieved (see further information)

The MPS therefore requests that members;

1) Propose that the outstanding targets and measures in the annual plan should be agreed at the full authority in March (as recommendation 2 in the paper)

2) Agree to propose the new target and measure ‘to complete 65% of Performance Development Reviews on time’

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