Policing London Strategy and Plan update

Report: 6
Date: 8 June 2006
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report updates PPRC members on the latest position on the PPAF Local Domain, the integrated strategic financial/planning framework, the timetable for the 2006/07 planning process, and the outcome of the planning process de-brief.

A. Recommendation

That

1. members agree the proposed content of the Local Domain as the final version for submission to the Home Office for the 30 June deadline;
2. members note and agree planning timetable for 2007/08;
3. members note the developmental activity required to integrate the strategic planning and financial planning frameworks;
4. members agree to holding an additional PPRC meeting in February 2007. This will allow members to provide comments on a draft policing plan at an appropriate level of development before the final draft is submitted to the Full Authority in February.

B. Supporting information

Introduction

1. The Policing London Strategy 2006-09 and Annual Policing Plan 2006/07 was published in March. The Policing London Strategy has set the direction and strategic priorities for the MPS over the next three years. The priorities are:

• Safety in Neighbourhoods
• Counter Terrorism, Security & Protection
• Criminal Networks
• Capital City Policing
• Information Quality
• Citizen Focus
• Together

2. The Policing London strategy has been designed to be a rolling three-year document. As such, the seven priorities listed above are currently being reviewed by the MPS Management Board and will be discussed at the away day to be held in June.

3. The Annual Policing Plan 2006/07 will form part of the 1-year delivery mechanism of the 3-year Policing London Strategy. Other elements of the delivery mechanism will be included as part of the Met Modernisation Programme (MMP).

Local domain

4. The seven domains in the Policing Performance Assessment Framework (PPAF) provide a common basis of assessment for all police forces. This year, the ‘local’ domain will allow forces to set indicators in conjunction with the police authority to recognise performance in areas not covered by Statutory Performance Indicators (SPIs) or baseline assessments by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies. The local domain indicators must:

• Be an outcome measure
• Not duplicate an existing SPI or Public Service Agreement
• Cover a local priority area
• Be graded on the Poor/Fair/Good/Excellent scale. A poor grade would represent worse performance than the previous year

5. There have been a number of difficulties in identifying measures/targets that meet the criteria outlined above. It is proposed that the local domain consists of:

• The number of criminal networks disrupted - Target 100
• Reducing Disorder CADs for the 100 Safer Neighbourhood wards that suffer the highest number - develop baseline during 2006/07 due to the implementation of the National Standards for Incident Recording. A target would then be proposed for the 2007/08 local domain. This has been developed in conjunction with Territorial Policing and is hoped to be useful in helping to reduce levels of anti-social behaviour.

6. The HMIC moderation panel has advised the MPA/MPS that the measures proposed by the Metropolitan Police Authority are suitable and meet the requirements of the APA guidance. However, this is qualified by a statement that a very limited number of measures are included. Work will continue to identify further suitable measures for inclusion in the local domain for 2007/08.

7. It is proposed that PPRC members agree to the proposed content of the local domain as the final version for submission to the Home Office for the 30 June deadline.

8. For the information of members, future development of the local domain is now the responsibility of the MPS Performance Directorate.

Revised Financial/Strategic Planning Framework

9. Work continues in the MPS to align the financial and strategic planning cycles. Attached at Appendix 1 is the paper submitted to the Strategy and Policing (STRAP) Committee regarding aligning these processes.

10. This report sets out a summary of the proposals for a revised financial planning framework, (which were considered by the MPA Finance Committee on 20 April 2006). One of the key principles of the new framework is to improve the integration between the strategic planning process and the financial planning process.

11. This will represent a significantly different approach for Business Groups and Strategic Planning. As such a change management methodology is being applied involving extensive consultation with those areas in business groups responsible for planning.

2007/08 Planning Timetable

12. Key activity will be undertaken at an earlier stage this year as part of the integrated finance/strategic planning framework (paper submitted to STRAP meeting in May attached as Appendix 1). The proposed timeline is attached at Appendix 2. Consideration of the 2007/08 priorities will take place at the MPA and Management Board meetings in early June. The outcomes of these meetings will then be presented to the next PPRC meeting in September.

13. In addition, Appendix 3 provides an overview of the proposed planning products, to be delivered at MPA meetings during the forthcoming year. It is proposed that planning panel meetings take place in December, January and February to discuss key issues prior to Full Authority and to cover the months that do not have a PPRC meeting. In previous years, the Corporate Strategy and Annual Policing Plan have been submitted to the MPA Full Authority via PPRC for final approval in February.

14. It is therefore proposed that an additional PPRC is held in February 2007. This will ensure the policing plan is at a sufficient stage of maturity for members’ comments. Following from this, the draft policing plan will be finalised before submission to the Full Authority at the end of the month. If approved this will be progressed with the MPA Head of Planning and dates will be confirmed following clarification of member’s availability.

15. The MPS have also been made aware of the plans by the GLA to radically change the planning timetable for the GLA family, which would include the production of an MPS corporate business plan by the end of November. This is considerably earlier than expected, as currently the policing plan is presented to the Full Authority meeting in February. The MPS and the MPA are making representations to the GLA on this issue.

16. If the GLA do indeed maintain these deadlines the MPS planning cycle will have to be revised and an updated version will be produced for members. This would also have the potential to impact on the work to better align the strategic and financial planning cycles outlined in paragraphs 8, 9 and 10 above. The situation continues to be monitored.

Debrief of the planning process

17. The planning process de-brief for 2005/06 took place on the 4 May and a copy of this can be found at Appendix 4. The major theme raised was that of timescales. Although these were defined early in the process a number of decisions were not made which impacted on the production of the plan. Other concerns were also raised regarding the incorporation of the MPS Corporate Strategic Assessment, Risk assessment and management and the use of differing terminology.

18. A number of recommendations were made which will improve the process for this and following years. These included earlier agreement of critical performance areas, the creation of a planning glossary so that terms are commonly understood and increased use of products from the National Intelligence Model.

C. Race and equality impact

There are no issues directly impacting on race and equality in this report.

D. Financial implications

There are no specific financial implications arising from this report.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Ross Daniels/Dave Barnes, Met Modernisation Programme, MPS

For more information contact:

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

Appendix 1

Report 'Revised financial planning framework and strategic planning process' presented to the Strategy and Policing Committee on 11 May 2006

Appendix 3

Proposed planning products timeline

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback