Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Deputy Henry Pollard, Christopher Hayward, Helen Marshall, Deputy Richard Regan and Deputy James Thomson.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 22 September 2016.

The Town Clerk advised the Committee that prior to the meeting, the Chairman had requested that some amendments be made to the minutes. Therefore, the Town Clerk had circulated a revised version of the minutes around the table, with the amendments proposed by the Chairman highlighted.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2016 be approved as a correct record, subject to the following amendments:

-        Agenda Item 7.2

Addition to the end of the item of “A Member noted the reference to brothels and queried whether this was an emerging issue. The Member also queried whether work to address this issue was being co-ordinated with the Safer City Partnership.”

-        Agenda Item 7.3

Addition to the end of the first paragraph of “A Member asked for specific clarification regarding the resources which were being used to enforce the 20 miles per hour limit, as the statistics provided were insufficient in isolation to allow Members to understand the demands of enforcing the limit.”

Addition to the end of the item of “A Member requested that invitations to the Community Speedwatch Event be circulated to all Members of the Committee.”

-        Agenda Item 10

Addition to the end of the item of “The Chairman requested that he be provided with a clear definition of “overnight” to allow Members to clear information of how many children were detained overnight.”

To receive the draft public minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2016.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2016 be noted.

To receive the draft public minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2016.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2016 be noted.

Report of the Town Clerk

The Town Clerk advised the Committee that prior to the meeting, the Chairman had requested that some additions be made to the Outstanding References report, as the report circulated with the agenda did not include all of the actions from the previous meeting. Therefore, the Town Clerk had circulated a revised version of the Outstanding References report around the table, with the amendments proposed by the Chairman highlighted. The Town Clerk advised that each of the additional items included within the revised Outstanding References document was addressed within a Briefing Note, which had been circulated to Members by email earlier in the week and copies of which had been put around the table.

Barbican CCTV

A Member commented that he had been unable to attend the last meeting, but met with the Commissioner prior to the meeting to discuss the Barbican CCTV report. He explained that he had commented to the Commissioner that the crime statistics for the Barbican Estate had been calculated during a period when there had been no access to Podium level, which would have an impact on the statistics. The Member explained that he had noted that the opening of Crossrail may also have an impact on the statistics.

The Member therefore requested that the statistics be reviewed once access to the Podium had been restored and, also, when the Crossrail station had opened. The Commissioner agreed that these reviews would be undertaken.

Police Pensions Sub-Committee

The Town Clerk advised the Committee that, in addition to the Chairman, two Scheme Manager representatives to the Police Pensions Sub-Committee had been identified (Alex Deane as a Common Council representative and Helen Isaacs as an employer representative) as had two Scheme Member representatives (Davina Plummer and Kieran Sharp).

A potential third Scheme Member representative, to complete the Sub-Committee, had

Report of the Commissioner.

The Committee considered a report of the Commissioner setting out information concerning the demand for and cost of providing policing services to the five vehicular and pedestrian bridges crossing the River Thames in the City of London.

Members noted that Bridge House Estates was a charity responsible for the upkeep of the Bridges and, therefore, if funding was being sought from this source, it was vital that it was within the Charitable Objects of the charity.

Members discussed the proposals for additional funding from Bridge House Estates and agreed that the additional funding for Counter Terrorism deployments on the Bridges and for patrol and response to calls on the Bridges were likely to be within the Charitable Objects of Bridge House Estates.

However, Members agreed that the additional funding for a Marine Support Unit Constable was not likely to be considered to be within the Charitable Objects and therefore agreed that this funding should be removed from the funding request to Bridge House Estates.

Members noted that, given that the additional funding was related to staff costs, the funding should be increase in future years in line with pay increases.

RESOLVED – That:

a)    the report be noted; and

b)    that approval be given to a formal approach being made to the Bridge House Estate for annual funding of £214,000, to cover the cost of policing services on the five City Bridges, with increases in future years to account for pay increases.

Report of the Commissioner

The Committee received a report of the Commissioner which set out a draft overarching Communication Strategy, designed to facilitate a more coordinated approach to Corporate Communication.

The Commissioner explained that the Strategy was currently in draft and had not yet been fully discussed by the Force. He explained that any comments received by Members would be fed into the updated version of the Strategy which would be developed.

The Chairman commented that he would hope that the final Communications Plan would cover a period of three to five years, while the draft currently covered up to two years. He also commented that the Plan should include more information regarding efforts to receive communications, rather than focusing solely on transmission of messages.

A Member commented that it would be important to include information regarding the cost to implement the measures set out within the Plan. The Commissioner explained that the plan was still in development, and costs to implement would be considered once development of the plan had been completed.

A Member requested that an update be given to Members regarding the provision of the messaging platform. The Commissioner agreed to circulate a note to Members to provide an update regarding this.

RESOLVED – That the Committee notes the report.

Report of the Commissioner

The Committee received a report of the Commissioner providing an update on progress made in implementing recommendations made by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in the wake of a report in to the use of Stop and Search powers, published in September 2015.

The Commissioner explained that this was the first report to the Committee on the use of Stop and Search Powers and asked for guidance regarding how frequently the Committee would wish to receive these reports. The Committee agreed that six-monthly updates would be appropriate.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and its content noted.

Joint report of the Chamberlain and Commissioner.

The Committee considered a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Commissioner which provided information on the budget position for the Police to end of September 2016. The report advised of an overall increase in the latest budget position of £1.2m above that which had been budgeted for.

The Commissioner explained that one of the budget variances were a reduction in income from the Economic Crime Academy. However, he explained that the Academy was still projected to cover its costs for the year. In addition, it was anticipated that the work currently being undertaken by the Academy would result in an increased income stream, so it would be possible to account for the lost income this year with increased income over the next three years.

The Chamberlain explained that the revised budget position would require a draw down from the Police General Reserve, which would leave the balance at £2.9m as at March 2016. The Chamberlain explained that the policy adopted by the Court of Common Council was that any draw down which reduced the balance of the Reserve to less than £4m would require approval of the Court. Therefore, a report would be submitted to the Committee in December 2016 regarding the budget position.

The Chairman explained that he and the Chairman of the Finance Committee had regular meetings with the Chamberlain and Commissioner to ensure that they were kept up to date on the budget position.

A Member asked whether it was anticipated that there would be additional income from the Business Rate Premium in 2017/18, over that which had been budgeted, due to the increase in Business Rate valuations, and, if so, how much additional income was anticipated from the Premium. The Chamberlain confirmed that it was anticipated that an additional £1.5m to £2m Business Rate Premium

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee received a report of the Chamberlain concerning inadequate indemnity and insurance provisions within collaboration agreements relating to national functions for the police service.

RESOLVED – That the Committee notes the report.

To receive any updates from SIA Leads.

Vulnerability and Safeguarding

Nick Bensted-Smith provided an update concerning the Vulnerability and Safeguarding SIA. He advised the Committee that he would be attending the Vulnerability Steering Group in the week following the meeting. He also explained that the Community Scrutiny Group focusing on Stop & Search, Use of Force and Taser use was now meeting on a quarterly basis, although attendance from the community had been low so far.

He also explained that he had been attending meetings of the Independent Custody Visitor Panel and the report regarding Young Persons and Children in custody had been well received.

Public Protection

Lucy Sandford provided an update concerning the Public Protection SIA. She reminded the Committee that it was a busy time of year for Public Protection, in light of Bonfire Night and the Lord Mayor’s Show.

She explained that there were concerns regarding the number of qualified Public Order Level 2 officers to provide sufficient cover. This was a voluntary role, with no extra payment for undertaking the role. It was suggested that the Committee may wish to consider how officers can be encouraged to take up this role.

Ms Sandford explained that she had attended public order training in Gravesend the previous month and would be attending the Public Order Working Group meeting the following day.

She also informed the Committee that a Red Flag exercise, to test the overall command and asset coordination for a multi-seated Terrorist Firearms Attack in the City, would be held in December 2016. Ms Sandford explained that she would attend this event.

Other SIA updates

A Member commented that at the previous meeting it had been agreed that all Members of the Committee should be invited to the Community Speedwatch event on 7 December 2016. The Member queried how many Members were attending this event.

A Member asked whether any Officers could comment on Lord Harris’s report on improving London’s preparedness for a terror attack. The Commissioner explained that he would provide a full update on this report in the non-public part of the agenda.

There were no urgent items.

MOTION - That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED – That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Item No.                                 Paragraph(s) in Schedule 12A

14-15, 17-19                          3

16                                            4

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2016.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2016 were approved as a correct record.

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2016.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2016 were noted.

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2016.

The non-public minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2016 were noted.

Report of the Commissioner

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Commissioner concerning a trademark licence agreement with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime relating to Project Griffin.

Report of the Commissioner

The Committee received a report of the Commissioner providing an update in respect of the City Police’s Change Programme and Force restructuring.

Commissioner to be heard.

The Commissioner of Police was heard concerning on-going and successful operations undertaken by the City of London Police.

There were no questions.

There was one item of urgent business.