Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Simon Duckworth, Sheriff Chris Hayward and Alderman Alison Gowman.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 22 January 2020.

RESOLVED, that the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 22 January 2020 be approved as a correct record.

Joint report of the Town Clerk and Commissioner.

Members considered a joint report of the Town Clerk and Commissioner regarding outstanding references and the following points were made.

·         The Town Clerk noted that 5/2020/P (Community Scrutiny Group inclusion in Special Interest Area Scheme) had been absorbed into 34/2019/P (review of Community Scrutiny), and 6/2020/P should be amended to 5/2020/P.

·         A Member noted that it was his understanding that the feasibility of an exercise yard at Bishopsgate was due imminently and requested an update in advance of the April 2020 meeting (37/2019/P).

·         The Commissioner noted that a report on Ethical Economic Partnerships (41/2019/P) would be submitted to the September 2020 meeting.

·         A Member requested that a new reference for a Board away day in May 2020 be created.

RESOLVED, that the report be received.

To receive the draft public minutes and non-public summary of the Performance and Resource Management Committee meeting held on 7 February 2020.

RESOLVED, that the draft public minutes and non-public summary of the Performance and Resource Management Committee meeting held on 7 February 2020 be received.

To receive the draft public minutes and non-public summary of the Police Pensions Board meeting held on 3 February 2020.

RESOLVED, that the draft public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 3 February 2020 be received.

To receive the draft public minutes and non-public summary of the Economic Crime Committee meeting held on 27 January 2020.

RESOLVED, that the draft public minutes and non-public summary of the Economic Crime Committee meeting held on 27 January 2020 be received.

Report of the Commissioner.

Members considered a report of the Commissioner regarding Budget Monitoring Quarter 3 2019/20 and the following points were made.

·         In response to a query, the Chief Operating and Finance Officer noted that a deep dive on non-pay items had been conducted and a summary could be provided outside of the meeting.

·         A Member noted that the Performance and Resource Management Committee had not been able to scrutinise the pay items in the budget to an appropriate degree – the Committee would at its future meetings conduct a similar exercise on non-pay items.

·         The Commissioner noted that the Chief Operating and Finance Officer, who was relatively new in post, had rebuilt the budget for 2020/21 which would provide Members with greater oversight of pay and non-pay items. He asked Members to bear in mind that the Force had at points over the past financial year been carrying up to 100 vacancies.

·         A Member welcomed the spending rate analysis set out within the report.

·         A Member expressed concern that the vacancy rate was highest in crime and uniform policing – key areas in the City of London Policing Plan.

·         In response to a question, the Commissioner replied that it was unlikely that the Force would be reimbursed by the Home Office for any cost items above 1% of the Force’s budget. He agreed to clarify outside of the meeting whether this was per policing event, or an aggregate figure for the financial year.

·         A Member commented that an issue such as this – Home Office reimbursement – was one to be factored into the Force and Authority’s emerging corporate engagement.

RESOLVED, that the report be received.

Report of the Treasurer.

Members considered a report of the Treasurer regarding the Police Funding Settlement 2020/21 and impact on Medium-Term Financial Plan.

RESOLVED, that the report be received.

Report of the Commissioner.

Members considered a report of the Commissioner regarding the City of London Police Provisional Revenue and Capital Budget 2020/21 and the following points were made.

·         A Member noted that the budget should refer to the National Lead Force function.

·         In response to a question, the Chief Operating and Financial Officer noted that the savings tracker was subject to monthly review by an officer-level working party, with a quarterly update provided to Members.

·         A Member suggested that savings should be phased on a monthly basis to assist in identifying what saving lines were at risk in a timely fashion.

·         The Commissioner assured Members that the bottom line of savings would be achieved by the Force.

·         Members discussed to what extent they should direct what savings should be made by the Force to achieve its bottom line. The Deputy Chief Executive noted that, ultimately, the budget was approved by both the Finance Committee and the Court of Common Council. The Treasurer added that the City of London Corporation was seeking to integrate its business plans and budgets more effectively, which would have implications for the Force and the Board.

RESOLVED, that subject to comment made the provisional 2020/21 revenue budget be approved.

Report of the Commissioner.

Members considered a request for delegated authority regarding the City of London Police Policing Plan 2020-23. The Commissioner reassured Members that the whole Board would have an opportunity to see the final version of the Plan offline well in advance of 1 April 2020 prior to it being approved by the Town Clerk for publication.

RESOLVED, that Members,

·         delegate authority to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Police Authority Board, to approve the final City of London Policing Plan 2020-23.

·         Note that the Policing Plan will be published on 1 April 2020.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

Members considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment regarding the Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order.

RESOLVED, that the report be received.

The Chairman to be heard.

The Chairman was heard regarding the City of London Corporation Governance Review, noting that whilst the deadline for individual submissions was 2 March 2020, it would be a useful exercise for the Board to review its own governance at an informal meeting, to be convened by the Town Clerk.

Electric Scooters

In response to a question from a Member regarding education and enforcement activity against electric scooters, the Commander (Operations and Security) acknowledged the growing popularity of electric scooters. Since July 2019 the City of London Police had taken part in a pan-London approach to the issue. In summary, a warning would be issued to an electric scooter user on the first occasion (of which 119 had been issued in the City). By the time of a third offence, the scooter would be seized.

Additional Funding for Police Forces

In response to a question regarding how the Force would be held accountable for reduction in crime, particularly in light of the fact that economic crime constituted 50% of all crime but attracted only 1% of funding, the Commissioner replied that it was likely issues such as violent crime would be high on the government’s agenda. Nevertheless, it was his impression in the wake of the Mackey/Savill Review that there was a growing awareness that combating fraud was a responsibility of all 43 Forces in England and Wales.

Business Continuity and COVID-19

In response to a question regarding the Force’s planning ahead of a possible COVID-19 epidemic, the Commander (Operations and Security) noted that he was chairing the Force’s response. He noted that the Force was putting measures in place both as a responder, and an employer. Moreover the Force was making enquiries among its sub-contractors to establish what measures they were putting in place to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

There were no items of other 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 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.

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2020.

RESOLVED, that the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2020 be approved as a correct record.

Joint Report of the Town Clerk and Commissioner.

Members considered a joint report of the Town Clerk and Commissioner regarding non-public outstanding references.

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the Police Accommodation Working Party meeting held on 13 February 2020.

RESOLVED, that the draft non-public minutes of the Police Accommodation Working Party meeting held on 13 February 2020 be received.

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the Performance and Resource Management Committee meeting held on 7 February 2020.

RESOLVED, that the draft non-public minutes of the Performance and Resource Management Committee meeting held on 7 February 2020 be received

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the Economic Crime Committee meeting held on 27 January 2020.

RESOLVED, that the draft non-public minutes of the Economic Crime Committee meeting held on 27 January 2020 be received

The Commissioner & Chief Officers to be heard.

The Commissioner was heard regarding current issues facing the Force.

Report of the Commissioner. TO FOLLOW.

The Commissioner provided a verbal update regarding shared services.

Report of the Commissioner. TO FOLLOW.

Members considered a report of the Commissioner regarding the National Enabling Programme (NEP) – Novation and Extension of Contract.

Report of the Commissioner. TO FOLLOW.

Members considered a report of the Commissioner regarding the National Enabling Programme (NEP) – Accountable Body – Novation of Contracts.

At this point of the meeting, two hours having almost elapsed, Members agreed to extend the meeting until all items of business had been considered in line with Standing Order 40 of the Court of Common Council.

Report of the Commissioner.

N.B. the report appendices will be circulated as late papers.

Members considered a report of the Commissioner regarding the Transform Programme: update on the development of City of London Police’s Target Operating Model (TOM) and aligned efficiencies.

Report of the Commissioner.

Members considered a report of the Commissioner regarding a Non-Compliant Procurement Waiver.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members considered a report of the Town Clerk regarding a summary of City of London Police Business at City of London Corporation Committees.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members considered a report of the Town Clerk regarding action taken since the last meeting.

There were no questions.

There was no other business.

To agree the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2020.

RESOLVED, that the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2020 be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Head of Community Safety.

Members considered a report of the Head of Community Safety regarding a City of London Community Trigger Case Review.