Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Resources Sub-committee held on 8 October 2009 at 10 Dean Farrar Street SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Deborah Regal (Vice Chairman, in the Chair)
• Reshard Auladin
• John Biggs
• Valerie Brasse
• Graham Speed

MPA officers

• Annabel Adams (Acting Treasurer)
• Julie Norgrove (Director of Audit, Risk and Assurance)
• John Crompton (Committee Services)

MPS officers

• Ailsa Beaton (Director of Information)
• Jane Bond,(Acting Director of Property Services)
• Anthony Doyle (Director of Procurement)
• Peter Greig (Director of Core Finance)
• Nick Jupp (Superintendent, Safer Neighbourhoods)
• Anne McMeel (Director of Resources)
• Peter Ross ( Programme Delivery Director Property Services)
• Neil Webster(Director Asset Management, PSD)

24. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of the Chairman, Faith Boardman. Pursuant to Standing Orders, the Vice Chairman, Deborah Regal was in the Chair.

25. Declarations of interests

(Agenda item 2)

-

26. Minutes of the meeting held on 3 September 2009

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved That the minutes of the Resources Sub-Committee held on 3 September 2009 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

27. Police officer overtime

(Agenda item 4)

A report was submitted which sought to enable members to gain a better understanding of the use of overtime in the MPS, how the MPS use of overtime resources compares to that of other police forces and the actions taken by the MPS to manage levels of expenditure.

Reshard Auladin reminded members that the former Budget and Police Overtime Group had given very detailed consideration to all aspects of police overtime over a period of many years and he could confirm that during this period of scrutiny there had been a marked improvement in the management and reporting of overtime. A particular long term concern had been the adequacy or otherwise of the grants received for the dedicated security posts which provided diplomatic protection as some of these post holders were required to work very long hours of overtime. The Vice-Chairman of the Authority was currently pursuing this point with Ministers.

Graham Speed said that aside from the financial control aspect, the question remained as to whether working excessive hours of overtime was desirable for officers in terms of the life:work balance or indeed operational efficiency.

Valerie Brasse referred to the Audit Commission recommendations shown at Appendix 4 and stated if members were to be advised of progress against the recommendations then an updated time line should be provided.

In reply to a question from Valerie Brasse concerning the initiatives to control overtime listed in paragraph 17 , the Director of Resources undertook to provide details of any occasions on which financial penalties which had been imposed for an over spend on overtime.

Following further discussion it was agreed that the Sub-Committee would receive a quarterly monitoring report which gave more information on budget variations in specific areas. Valerie Brasse said she would liaise with the Deputy Treasurer in compiling the commissioning brief for the first monitoring report. Exempt high level information on the hours of overtime worked by police officers was also requested.

Resolved – That

1. the report be noted; and
2. Quarterly monitoring reports on police overtime be submitted.

28. Update on the safer neighbourhoods property programme

(Agenda item 5)

A report was submitted which informed members of the delivery of the Property Services’ Safer Neighbourhood Programme.

The Director, Programme Delivery PSD, gave a presentation which covered the following points:

• Scale and Scope of Programme
• Base Locations
• Design Concept
• Branding
• Front Counters
• Programme Management
• Lessons Learnt

Graham Speed advised that he had raised concerns about some of the new front counters which he had seen during a site visit to Havering where what was being provided was more like a kiosk.

The Programme Delivery Director advised that work was being undertaken with the Directorate of Information to identify ways of improving the service provided to the public such as a kiosk to allow the public to report crime.

Superintendent Nick Jupp, Safer Neighbourhoods, attended for consideration of this item and answered questions from members.

Resolved-. That the progress that has been made to date in the delivery of the Safer Neighbourhood Programme and the future challenges expected in the delivery of the remaining elements be noted.

29. Exclusion of press and public

(Agenda item 6)

Resolved - That under section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved disclosure of exempt information as detailed in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.

Summary of decisions made on exempt items

30. Exempt appendix to Safer Neighbourhoods Property Programme

(Agenda item 7)

Information noted.

31. Scope of corporate landlord and delivery of Property Services Service Improvement Plan

(Agenda item 8 )

The report was noted.

32. Routine Contracts Programme

(Agenda item 9)

Referred to the Finance and Resources Committee for decision.

33. Exempt minutes of the meeting held on 3 September 2009

(Agenda item 12)

Agreed and signed.

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