Agenda item

A presentation by the Commissioner, City of London Police.

Members received a presentation from the Commissioner, in respect of the City of London Police’s Programme/Project Management Audit, which had been discussed by Members at the last meeting of the Committee.

During the discussion and questions, the following points were noted:

• An Information Sharing Protocol was being established, noting that some items may have to remain within the Police.  The usual commercial information, generally exempt under the Local Government Act, would not be affected and the Protocol would allow as much transparency as possible.  Members asked to see the Protocol once it had been finalised.

• Whilst Members commended a good summary on the follow-up of internal recommendations, and particularly the improved governance and financial information, some concerns were expressed about the previous lack of communication, between the COLP and the City Surveyor, which had impacted on the accommodation project.  Whilst Member accepted that the new Capital Buildings Committee would provide them with some assurance, they stressed the importance of lessons being learnt across the City Corporation.

• A Member suggested that streamlining (as depicted in the final slide) should come first, setting the context for the other 9 recommendations.  The Assistant Commissioner advised that the new procedures were not overly bureaucratic and would continue to work with the Town Clerk to streamline further.   

• Members also noted that the Projects Sub Committee was keen to develop a City Corporation Project Management Academy and the Assistant Commissioner welcomed this opportunity to work with the City Corporation on best practice.  A Member suggested that the Gateway 7 (Outcome) reports were often too late to look at ‘lessons learnt’ in detail.

• The Police’s Change Board sets governance processes internally and this allows for the appropriate levels of authority to be applied. A survey of fleet vehicles had been completed, linked to the accommodation programme.  There would be a Member of the Finance Team  on the Police Programme Board and there was now a full establishment of finance officers to dedicate to the change programmes.

The Chairman thanked the Assistant Commissioner for a helpful presentation and the improvements in hand.