Agenda and minutes

The Town Clerk explained that this was an informal meeting. Any views reached by the Committee today would have to be considered by the Town Clerk after the meeting in accordance with the Court of Common Council’s Covid Approval Procedure who will make a formal decision having considered all relevant matters. This process reflected the current position in respect of the holding of formal Local and Police Authority meetings and the Court of Common Council’s decision of 15^th April 2021 to continue with virtual meetings and take formal decisions through a delegation to the Town Clerk and other officers nominated by him after the informal meeting has taken place and the will of the Committee is known in open session. Details of all decisions taken under the Covid Approval Procedure will be available online via the City Corporation’s webpages.

Apologies were given by Munsur Ali, Sir Craig Mackey and it was noted that the Commissioner would be joining the meeting late due to a prior engagement.

There were no declarations.

To approve the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 19 July 2021.

RESOLVED, That the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 19 July 2021 be approved as an accurate record.

Joint report of the Town Clerk and Commissioner.

The Board received a joint report of the Town Clerk and Commissioner which set out the public Outstanding References from previous meetings of the Board.

RESOLVED, That the report be noted.

To receive the draft public minutes and non-public summary of the Strategic Planning & Performance Committee meeting held on 6 September 2021.

Members received the draft public minutes and non-public summary of the Strategic Planning & Performance Committee meeting held on 6 September 2021.

To receive the draft public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 6 September 2021.

Members received the draft public minutes and non-public summary of the Resource, Risk & Estates Committee meeting held on 6 September 2021.

To receive the draft public minutes and non-public summary of the Economic & Cyber Crime Committee meeting held on 7 September 2021.

Members received the draft public minutes and non-public summary of the Strategic Planning & Performance Committee meeting held on 7 September 2021.

The Chair to be heard.

The Chair provided the Board with a verbal update on the following areas:

·         The success of the Police Authority Dinner held on 9 September 2021.

·         The good output from the Strategic Communications and Engagement Plan, including monthly updates to PCCs.

·         The Force and Authority were both making representations on the Online Safety Bill. There had been a push from stakeholders, trade and victim bodies, to see fraud included within that.

·         Member engagement had increased through updates from the Sector Policing Teams. There was a desire to establish local panels and the Force was working with the Authority to clarify some of the details around that – but the initiative was welcomed.

·         Further Member engagement took place in the form of briefings ahead of the Extinction Rebellion (XR) protests in August-September. The Force demonstrated strong partnership working, with good communication with the business community in particular. Further work to improve communications with residents was being explored and real progress had been made.

A Member commented on the increased social media presence from the Chair of the Board, which was a positive addition to the communications piece.

RESOLVED, that the update be noted.

Commissioner & Chief Officers to be heard.

Members received a verbal update of the Commissioner and Chief Officers, including an update on National Lead Force (NLF). The following areas were covered:

·         Overall crime within the City had increased slightly as more people returned. This was to be expected as the City came back to life, which was to be welcomed. In comparison to 2019, crime was still reduced but this would continue to be monitored.

·         XR presented a substantial challenge for the Force, City of London and local communities. The extra demands on the Force from increased patrol to overtime. would be reported on in due course. Positive partnerships were established with businesses but also with communities and residents. The Assistant Commissioner thanked the local community for the support received. It was felt that communications had largely been positive throughout the protests.

·         Tendering had closed on the Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting and Analysis Service procurement (FCCRASP), with the bids going to the programme board and then FCCRASP Committee on 1 October 2021.

·         There had been an article in MyLondon based on the results of the inclusive employer survey from 2020. This highlighted behaviours that were not welcome within the organisation. The Force gave assurance that equalities, diversity and inclusion (EDI) was being actively worked on, which had been reflected in the report to the Professional Standards and Integrity Committee, with reports due at the October Board. The Assistant Commissioner was acutely aware that COLP needed to be inclusive as well as diverse. It was a disappointing article to read but the Force acknowledged it and expressed a drive to improve.

With regard to the MyLondon article, the Force confirmed that it did not highlight any issues that were previously unknown, although it was also acknowledged that the Force could do more to make BAME colleagues feel

Commissioner & Chief Officers to be heard.

The public update on NLF was provided within the Commissioner’s update (item 7).

Report of the Chief Operating Officer.

Members considered a report of the City Corporation Chief Operating Officer regarding the Digital Services Strategic Roadmap for the City of London Police.

Members sought assurances that officers were making effective use of the existing technology before investing in new provisions. Efficiency should not override effectiveness in responding to both national and local needs.

It was noted that there was little detail on resourcing costs. Officers confirmed that costs would largely need to be funded from capital and a strategy board at the COLP would manage a prioritisation process, delivering aspirations built on compelling and affordable business plans to ensure the programme was achievable.

There was an officer name included in the annex, it was requested that this be removed.

Members asked whether conversations had already taken place with existing third-party suppliers about what they were already in a position to provide. In broad terms, the proposals could be supported by existing partners but there were instances where the City would be looking to engage specialist partners. Members requested that the City engage in conversations with contractors in order to map out what services may need to be sought from new providers.

The Chair of RREC reminded Members that he had commissioned a review into the City Corporation’s IT provision for the Force. The Chief Finance and Operating Officer of the City of London Police confirmed the scope of this review had been agreed. Members requested that this be shared with the Chair and Deputy Chair of RREC (22/2021/P).

The Assistant Commissioner noted that this needed to be an integrated change programme for the COLP.

RESOLVED that Members, subject to continued discussion with third-party providers, and a correction to the annex as stipulated:

·         Approve the City of London Police’s Digital Services Strategic Roadmap accompanying this report as the

Report of the Commissioner.

Members received a report of the Commissioner regarding the Q1 Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring 2021-22.

The Chamberlain extended thanks to the Force for their constructive approach to discussing savings. With regard to revenue and the additional risks on table 4, she queried when the mitigations will be sufficiently developed for RREC to scrutinise. For capital, the £10mil cost from Action Fraud slippage may be coverable this year but it was pushing the pressure into future years. The Police Authority Treasurer agreed these were the two areas the Force needed to grip.

Members welcomed the report and suggested that in future it distinguish a value of savings that were within the gift of the Force and which were not.

There was concern that the £1.3mil of savings relating to the National Enabling Programme (NEP) would not be realised and Members sought an understanding on what could be mitigated.

Table 4 had two items listed as red, three as amber. In light of this, Members did not feel that the conclusion drawn by the Force (that it was on course to meet savings), was realistic. Members called for greater discipline for realistic projections and forecasting. This process needed to facilitate transparency and accountability of the Force. The Chief Operating and Finance Officer (COFO) noted that officers were perhaps too optimistic and she agreed to address this.

Assurances were given by the Chamberlain and Commissioner that the Government had indicated it would cover the cost of the National Insurance increases for the public sector.

Members noted that the largest cost was in people/salary, but they were not content with continued holding of staff vacancies for savings. This had been discussed at RREC was already in the process of being addressed by the Force.

The Chief Operating and Finance Officer of the Force

Report of the Remembrancer.

Members received a report of the Remembrancer regarding the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

Report of the Remembrancer.

Members received a report of the Remembrancer regarding the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

Report of the Commissioner.

Members received a report of the Commissioner regarding the City of London Police Acquisitive Crime Electronic Monitoring Project.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

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 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 approve the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2021.

RESOLVED, that the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2021, be approved as an accurate record.

Joint Report of the Town Clerk and Commissioner.

Members received a joint report of the Town Clerk and Commissioner regarding the Board’s non-public outstanding actions.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.

There was no non-public discussion at the the Strategic Planning & Performance Committee meeting held on 6 September 2021.

There were no non-public minutes of the Strategic Planning & Performance Committee meeting held on 6 September 2021.

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the Resource, Risk & Estates Committee meeting held on 6 September 2021.

Members received the draft non-public minutes of the Resource, Risk and Estates Committee meeting held on 6 September 2021.

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the Economic & Cyber Crime Committee meeting held on 7 September 2021.

Members received the draft non-public minutes of the Economic & Cyber Crime Committee meeting held on 7 September 2021.

The Chair to be heard.

There was no further update from the Chair.

The Commissioner & Chief Officers to be heard.

Members received an update of the Commissioner & Chief Officers.

The Commissioner and Members offered their thanks and appreciation to Assistant Commissioner Alistair Sutherland, who was due to leave COLP shortly to join the British Transport Police.

Commissioner & Chief Officers to be heard.

Members received an update from the Commissioner and Chief Officers on NLF.

Report of the Commissioner.

Members considered a report of the Commissioner regarding a S22a Collaboration Agreement on Out of Hours Remand Team (Niche Two Way Interface) – Leicestershire Police.

Report of the Commissioner.

Members received a report of the Commissioner regarding the MTFP and Budget Challenges Interim Update.

Report of the Commissioner.

The Chair and Board requested that item 31, Transform Programme Update: Financial Sustainability, be brought forward.

Members received a report of the Commissioner regarding the Transform Programme’s financial sustainability.

To consider the resolution of the Health & Well Being Board from 16 July 2021.

Members received a resolution from the Health and Wellbeing Board regarding suicide prevention.

Report of the Deputy Town Clerk and Chief Executive.

Members considered a report of the Town Clerk regarding Suicide Prevention in the City of London.

Joint report of the Commissioner, Chamberlain and City Surveyor.

The Chair and Board agreed to take item 33a), Police Accommodation Programme Update, ahead of the various Gateway Reports.

Members received a joint report of the Commissioner, Chamberlain and City Surveyor regarding the COLP accommodation programme.

Report of the Commissioner.

Members considered a Gateway 1-5 report of the Commissioner regarding the City of London Police Vehicle Fleet Replacement Programme 2021/22.

Report of the Commissioner.

Members considered a Gateway 2 report of the Commissioner regarding the In-vehicle audio/vehicle system.

Report of the City Surveyor.

Members considered a Gateway 6 report of the City Surveyor regarding the Police Accommodation Strategy Decant Car Parking – Middlesex Street Car Park.

Joint report of the Commissioner and Director of the Built Environment.

Members received a joint Gateway 3 report of the Commissioner and Director for Built Environment regarding the Secure City Programme – Vulnerable People Workstream.

There were no questions.

There were two items of urgent business.

The first, concerning the COLP accommodation update, was taken ahead of the gateway reports.

The second was a confidential item for which all officers departed the meeting, with the exception of the Town Clerk, Director of the Police Authority Team, Assistant Commissioner and clerk to the Board.

Joint report of the Town Clerk and Commissioner.

Members considered a joint report of the Town Clerk and Commissioner regarding Commercial Director Recruitment.