Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Helen Marshall, Don Randall, Commander Head and Suzanne Jones.

There were no declarations of interest.

Matters arising

Item 6 – Equality, Diversity and Human Rights (EDHR) – Verbal Update

It was explained that written reports would be provided on a quarterly basis, with oral updates to the other meetings. The first quarterly report would be submitted to the January 2015 meeting of the Committee.

Matters arising

Item 5 - HMIC Inspection Update 2014-15

A Member of the Sub-Committee noted that the deadline for submitting many of the items for the HMIC Inspection was 31^st October 2014 and asked whether there had been any issues with submitting this information. The Assistant Commissioner explained that there had been no issues with the submission and a briefing paper would be circulated to Members on the outcome of the inspection in due course.

A Member explained that she had not yet received an invitation to accompany officers on patrol to experience how Stop and Search was implemented. The Assistant Commissioner explained that it was still intended to invite Committee Members to these opportunities, but this had not yet happened.

Membership of Sub-Committee

The Chairman explained that there remained one vacancy on the Membership of the Sub-Committee and asked any Members interested in serving on the Sub-Committee to contact the Policy Officer.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The list of outstanding references was noted.

Barbican Highwalk CCTV

The Committee conducted a detailed discussion of the issue of provision of CCTV on the Barbican Highwalk. It was noted that this Committee needed to consider this issue from a public safety perspective. There were significant public safety concerns regarding the Highwalk in the wake of a number of recent incidents, and the Highwalk was a public highway and therefore the responsibility of the City as a whole to ensure that it was made safe for the public, rather than being solely the responsibility of the Barbican Centre. It was also noted that the Highwalk was the largest area of the City without significant CCTV coverage. However, it was also noted that it was vital that the City took a consistent approach to public safety at all residential estates across the City and should not be seen to be providing preferential treatment to the Barbican Estate.

Members discussed proposals to ensure that there was CCTV coverage at all entrances and exits to the Highwalk. It was also noted that there was currently a development application for the property at 21 Moorfields, which was ideally placed to provide CCTV coverage of an entrance to the Highwalk. The Committee therefore discussed and resolved that a resolution should be put to the Planning and Transportation Committee that:

“The Police Committee requests that the Planning and Transportation Committee, during their consideration of the development application in relation to 20 Moorfields, gives consideration to including a planning condition such that any planning consent which may be granted is contingent upon the development providing sufficient CCTV coverage of the nearby entrances to the Barbican Highwalk on the grounds that this would have a significant benefit to public safety.”

The Assistant Director

Report of the Commissioner of Police.

The Committee received a report of the Commissioner of Police concerning details of issues raised at Ward level and the Forces response since the last Community Engagement report.

20mph Speed Limit

The Committee noted the number of drivers that had been stopped for travelling in excess of the 20mph speed limit and a Member queried whether any buses had been stopped. The Commissioner explained that he was not aware of the number of buses that had been stopped but would work with Transport for London to ensure that buses complied with the speed limit.

The Committee asked whether there was any indication of the impact of the reduction in the speed limit. The Commissioner explained that it was too soon to assess the impact of the speed limit reduction in terms of changes to the number and type of incident and it would be difficult to assess this impact until the medium-term due to the relatively small number of incidents in the City. He also cautioned that it may not be possible to attribute any change in the number of incidents solely to the change in the speed limit as there would be a large number of contributing factors.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

There were no updates from Special Interest Areas.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee received a report of the Chamberlain which provided an update on the progress of the accommodation programme.

The Director of Corporate Services explained that the accommodation programme had developed since the initial agreement by the Committee as the accommodation programme had been used as a driver for wider transformation within the Police to ensure that it was fully equipped as a 21^st century police force.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

A Member asked whether there were any issues which the Committee should be aware of in relation to the Lord Mayor’s Show. The Commissioner explained that there were no significant issues and he would supply Members with a briefing note regarding the Police’s float at the Show.

There were no items of urgent business.

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 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Report of the Commissioner of Police.

The Committee considered and approved a report of the Commissioner of Police which provided information regarding the proposed use of 65a Bassinghall Street, which was currently vacant.

Report of the Commissioner of Police.

The Committee received a report of the Commissioner of Police which provided an update in relation to the Mobile Working Services Project.

Report of the Commissioner of Police.

This item was withdrawn.

Report of the Commissioner of Police.

The Committee considered and noted a report of the Commissioner of Police in relation to media planning and buying for Project Servator.

Commissioner to be heard.

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

There was one question in relation to European Arrest Warrants.

There were no items of urgent business.