Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Simon Duckworth, Christopher Hayward, the Commissioner, Commander Baxter and Commander Gyford.

There were no declarations.

To consider the public minutes and non-public summaries of the following meetings:

The Committee noted that the confirmation of the public minutes of the Police Committee on 20 September 2018 would be deferred until agenda item 16.

On matters arising from those minutes, and in response to a question from a Member on item 11 relating to the equality and inclusion update, the Assistant Commissioner confirmed that he would update the Committee on recruitment following concern expressed by the National College of Policing on routes into policing and accessibility. The Chairman asked the Town Clerk to add this to the list of outstanding references.  

The public minutes of the Professional Standards and Integrity Sub Committee and the Police Pensions Board on 17 September and 3 October 2018 were received.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk which set out outstanding references from previous meetings of the Committee.

A Member referred to the Police reply to the Government cycling consultation and the Town Clerk undertook to circulate the details to the Committee.

RECEIVED.

Joint report of the Assistant Town Clerk and Culture Mile Director and the Commissioner.

The Committee considered the joint report of the Assistant Town Clerk and Culture Mile Director and the Commissioner on the City of London Police Museum and clarification of governance arrangements.

RESOLVED – That

(a)  the governance structure outlined in the report be approved, namely that the business strategy for the City of London Police Museum and the cost of the staffing, accommodation and business operations sit under the governance of the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee for a period of three years (until 14 November 2021); and that ownership of the Museum collection, and costs pertaining to its rotation within the Museum and its conservation, as well as the recruitment of volunteers for Museum business, fall under the governance of the Police Committee;

(b)  delegated authority be approved for the Assistant Town Clerk and Culture Mile Director for the management and staffing of the Museum, and to the Commissioner, City of London Police, for the management of the Museum collection; and

(c)   the re-establishment of the officer-led Museum Board be approved (with representation from both departments) to manage the day-to-day running of the Museum under the delegated authority approved above, noting major projects, expenditure, or changes to the running of the Museum business will be referred to the relevant committee(s) through the delegated Chief Officers, as appropriate.

Report of the Commissioner.

The Committee considered the report of the Commissioner on the annual review of fees and charges 2018/19.

The Deputy Chairman asked that the Committee receive a report back on details of what income is received from charges imposed. The Assistant Commissioner confirmed that fees and charges are levied in line with the policy, wherever it is felt appropriate to do so with full cost recovery whenever possible.

RESOLVED – That the charging policy and rates for 2018/19 be approved, with a report back to Members setting out details of a) what income is received where charges are imposed and b) where charges are not imposed, along with reasons for this.  

Joint Report of the Commissioner and the Town Clerk.

Members had before them the joint annual report by the Commissioner and the Town Clerk on custody of vulnerable persons.

A Member raised the issue of local authority transfer arrangements (paragraph 20) and the work burden arising from a child or young person living some distance from London. The Assistant Commissioner confirmed that the issue of overnight custody arrangements and limited availability of supervised care home accommodation in these circumstances was not new. In most cases, the person had to be detained in a cell due to alternatives not being available, although every effort is made to avoid this. The Assistant Commissioner undertook to provide data on these instances.   

RECEIVED.

Report of the Commissioner.

The Committee considered the Commissioner’s quarterly community engagement update.

Alderman Edhem joined the meeting at 11.20am.

The following matters were raised:-

·         In response to a question from a Member on the community engagement review and IAG consultation it was noted that an update would be provided by the Commissioner.

·         On anti-social behaviour (ASB), the Deputy Chairman said that this issue was not expressed as a priority in the Policing Plan and that the next review should include details of how ASB was being dealt with. It was noted that officers were aware of vulnerability issues relating to persons sleeping rough, with suitable help made available, and that where criminality was taking place, particularly with repeat offenders, appropriate enforcement measures were available and used. The Assistant Commissioner undertook to consider the ASB issue at the next Plan update and provide further details of action taken.  

·         Another Member also asked for details of the removal of the two established homeless encampments referred to in the paper and it was noted that this information would be circulated.

RECEIVED.

Report of the Commissioner.

The Committee considered the Commissioner’s stop and search update. The following matters were raised:-

·         The Chairman asked for an early update on the training roll-out progress. The Assistant Commissioner confirmed this would be available within the next few days.

·         A Member raised the issue of additional analysis of data, to ensure the CoLP approach was proportionate, and put forward the view that an understanding of residential addresses of people stopped would be of use. It was noted that better ‘identification’ is happening and that a dedicated team fully consider the ‘niche data’ that is captured.

·         The Assistant Commissioner confirmed that the intention of the training refresh was to eradicate any disproportionate use of stop and search and reduce the number of complaints being made.

·         A Member raised the matter of community engagement patrols, whether businesses are being reached, and whether Members could assist in the dissemination of information. The Assistant Commissioner welcomed this offer.

·         The Chairman advised the meeting that the Police would be able to provide some additional context on strip search information provided in the report. A Member asked that future details to the Committee also include comparison with other forces and suggested that graphics to highlight this would be useful. 

RECEIVED.

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Director of the Built Environment reported on congestion mitigation.

The following matters were raised:-

·         A Member asked that the department ensure that faded box junction and yellow line markings around the City be repainted where necessary. The Director of the Built Environment undertook to look into this requirement.

·         In relation to accreditation to undertake cycling offences enforcement, the Committee was informed that the authority had been ‘signed off’ by the Commissioner.

·         On vehicle loading times causing congestion, it was noted that the 40 minute period is part of a London-wide agreement and that this is being reviewed by the CoL in consultation with London Councils. 

RECEIVED. 

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Town Clerk reported on the review of the Policing authority – resourcing and governance arrangements.

The following matters were raised:-

·         The Committee noted comments received from a Member regarding concern about the additional grade I post, given the current financial pressures, and whether another two posts were required to perform a function that he considered had normally worked well. The Committee noted the Chamberlain’s response confirming his view that the proposals were appropriate.

·         The role of other committees in governance of the CoLP was noted and a Member raised the issue of the Committee altering its title to the ‘Police Authority Board’. Another Member questioned whether the Police Committee receive all relevant staffing information in view of its oversight terms of reference. The Town Clerk was asked to add the question of a future name change to the outstanding references report.

·         Noted that spending in some areas may need to be increased where there was under resourcing.

RECEIVED.

Deputy Henry Pollard reported to the Committee on the Strategic Policing Requirement Overview and confirmed that he was confident that in respect of national threats across boundaries the Policing Plan actively addressed and was compliant in all relevant areas. In the new year any necessary adjustments would be made to the Plan to ensure it remained robust.  

The Committee noted that the update from a Member on equality, diversity and human rights would be made at the January 2019 meeting.

There were no questions.

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 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 remaining items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To consider the non-public minutes of the following meetings:

RESOLVED – That the public minutes, subject to an amendment, and the non public minutes of the Police Committee meeting on 20 September 2018 be confirmed and signed as correct.

The Committee also received the non public minutes of the Professional Standards and Integrity Sub Committee and the Police Pensions Board meetings on 17 September 2018 and 3 October 2018 respectively.    

Report of the Commissioner.

The Committee considered the report of the Commissioner on Gateway 6 progress on the action and know fraud centre service contract.  

Verbal Updates from the Special Interest Area Leads.

The Committee noted that earlier discussions at the meeting had already covered the verbal non public updates.

With the agreement of the Chairman, the Committee received a confidential update on senior staffing roles.

The Commissioner to be heard.

The Committee noted the Acting Commissioner’s updates.

There were no questions.

TO BE PUT ON AGENDA FRONT SHEET UNDER TOWN CLERK NAME THEN REMOVED FROM HERE

Dates of future meetings

Future meetings of the Committee are scheduled for:

-       18 May 2017;

-       13 July 2017;

-       21 September 2017;

-       2 November 2017; and

-       15 December 2017.

There were no items of urgent business.