Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Deputy Keith Knowles.

There were none.

To agree the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 27 April 2012 (copy attached).

The public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 27 April 2012 were approved and agreed as a correct record.

MATTERS ARISING

(1) Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCCs) – The Chairman congratulated Mr Duckworth on his recent appointment as Chairman of the APCC Transition Board.

(2) Charity collections (p7) – The Chairman advised that he had asked for a report on the issue of “chugging” which would be coming to Committee in July.

(3) Integrity Inspection (p10) – Members were advised that HMIC would be conducted a second round of reviews, to ensure that the recommendations of the initial report were being implemented.

To receive the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 27 April 2012 (copy attached).

The public minutes and summary of the Professional Standards and Complains Sub Committee meeting held on 27 April 2012 were received.

The Committee received a report of the Commissioner providing an update on recent community engagement activities, community priorities and forthcoming events.

The Deputy Chairman took the opportunity to thank the City of London Crime Prevention Association and its chairman, Don Randall, for all its work in liaising and working with the business community, with another Member commenting that they were aware a wide range of general engagement with the business community took place involving several partners which could be better expressed in the report.

Reference was made to the recent Central Residents Meeting and the issue of inconsiderate cycling in the City, with a Member suggesting that a regular update report on the issue along with the number of arrests made might be helpful so as to demonstrate that action was being taken. Members expressed the view that it was important to keep a balanced perspective on the issue, encouraging more considerate by pedestrians and motorists. The suggestion was made that informal guidance could perhaps be circulated to pedestrians to make it clear that a balanced approach was being taken to the issue.

The Lead Member for Public Order & Road Safety commented that she had seen a useful report on the issue at a meeting of the Streets & Walkways Sub-Committee and suggested that better liaison between the officers of that Sub-Committee and the City of London Police should be implemented so as to better synchronise targets and engage with the issue.

The Commissioner commented that it was important to recognise the increasing numbers of cyclists in City and the corresponding need to manage flow better, and advised that he would be happy to bring a regular report to Committee on a bi-annual basis updating Members on situation, with relevant statistics including the number of arrests made and fixed penalty notices

The Lead Member advised that good progress was being made in the area, with the EDHR Manager adding that the Action Plan was currently being finalised and should be completed shortly.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Town Clerk (copy attached).

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk updating Members on the progress of the City of London’s Independent Custody Visiting (ICV) Scheme, presenting the Panel’s Annual Report and informing Members of some of the recent issues raised by the ICV Panel in relation to custody provision in the City.

The Lead Member for the ICV Scheme expressed her thanks on behalf of the Committee to the Visitors, with it agreed that it would also be appropriate to send a letter of thanks to all the volunteers, in recognition of their efforts.

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

Joint report of the Town Clerk and Comptroller & City Solicitor (To Follow).

The Committee considered a joint report of the Town Clerk and Comptroller & City Solicitor outlining the Government’s changes to the Standards regime and proposing future arrangements for a revised Standards Committee.

A Member commented that the City Corporation should not be seeking to gold-plate or over-engineer any new code.

RESOLVED: That, subject to the concurrence of the Policy & Resources Committee and Standards Committee, it be recommended to the Court of Common Council that:-

(i)      the City’s existing code of conduct set out at Appendix 1 be adopted for the time being as the code of conduct to be effective once section 27 of the Localism Act 2011 comes into force;

(ii)      the revised constitution and terms of reference for the Standards Committee set out at Appendix 2 be adopted from the point that section 28 of the Localism Act 2011 comes into force; and

(iii)     three independent persons be appointed from the point that section 28 of the Localism Act 2011 comes into force.

Report of the Commissioner (copy attached).

The Committee considered a report of the Commissioner seeking approval for the schedule of fees and charges for the financial year 2012/13. Explicit approval was also sought for the continued use of the same hourly charge rates for the private services of the Police as that calculated by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

The Director of Corporate Services provided assurance to Members that the charges set out would cover the Force’s costs.

RESOLVED: That:-

·      Appendix 1 of the report be agreed, thereby giving explicit approval to the continued use of the hourly charge rates for the private services of the Police as calculated by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS);

·      Appendix 2 to the report be agreed, thereby implementing the schedule of rates for the provision of market non-competitive activities and agreeing to follow the MPS scale of charges for 2012/13; and,

·      Appendix 3 in relation to miscellaneous Force fees and charges be agreed.

There were no questions.

There were no additional, urgent items of business for consideration.

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.

Item No.                                                                       Exempt Paragraphs

                   #                                                                                                      #

                   #                                                                                                      #

                   #                                                                                                      #

RESOLVED--That under Section 100A 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.

Item No.                                                                     Exempt Paragraphs

11a                                                                                               3

11b                                                                                        1, 2 and 5

12                                                                                                 7

13                                                                                                 7

14                                                                                                 3

15                                                                                                 7

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 27 April 2012 (copy attached).

The Committee approved the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 27 April 2012.

To receive the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 27 April 2012 (copy attached).

The Committee received the non-public minutes of the Professional Standards and Complaints Sub Committee meeting held on 27 April 2012.

Commissioner to be heard.

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

Report of the Commissioner (copy attached).

The Committee received a report of the Commissioner providing an update on preparations made to date with regards the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the various Diamond Jubilee events.

Report of the Commissioner (copy attached).

The Committee considered a report of the Commissioner concerning the renewal of a contract relative to the provision of financial consultancy services as part of the City First Change Programme.

Report of the Commissioner (copy attached).

The Committee received a report of the Commissioner setting out the threat and policing of public order within the City of London, examining the level and type of threat, risk and harm for ceremonial and public safety events, and also for pre-planned and spontaneous protests.

There were no questions.

There were no urgent items.

Joint Report of the Town Clerk and the Commissioner (copy attached).

A joint report of the Town Clerk and Commissioner was considered.