Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Alderman Timothy Hailes.

The Chair welcomed new members of the Police Authority team to their first meeting of the Board.

The Chair made a declaration as a member of the Bridge House Estates Board in relation to Item 18.

To approve public note and non-public summary of previous meeting of the City of London Police Authority Board held on the 12th of December.

The Board considered the public note and non-public summary of the informal meeting of the Police Authority Board held on the 12^th of December 2022.

RESOLVED – That the public note and non-public summary of the informal meeting of the Police Authority Board held on the 12th of December be approved as an accurate record.

Joint report of the Town Clerk and Commissioner.

The Committee considered a report of the Town Clerk which set out Outstanding References from previous meetings of the Board.

The Board received an update from Officers on action 9/2022/P regarding the relative responsibilities of the City of London Corporation and the Force with regard to the Protect Duty noting that a joint report dealing with this matter would be finalised ready for the Board’s consideration at its next meeting.

Officers updated the Board on actions 16/2022/P and 18/2022/P explaining that the updated Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee terms of refence and Police Authority Board’s handbook were both due to be completed ready for the new civic year. In addition, regarding the 17/2022/P it was explained that more substantive update would be brought to the next meeting of the Board, noting that this was a long term action which had been paused during the construction of Crossrail.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Chair.

The Board received the Chair’s public update.

The Chair highlighted the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners meeting which would be held at Guildhall on the 25^th January, noting that fraud and cybercrime would be an important matter for discussion. In addition, the Chair informed the Board of the engagement work completed regarding the Online Safety Bill and confirmed that further work to engage on relevant legislation would be completed. A Member commented on the positive feedback regarding the engagement with Nickie Aiken MP.

The Chair note that the Community and Children’s Services Committee had declared the Middlesex Street Car Park as surplus to requirement for housing and thanked Members of the Portsoken ward for their support with this matter.

RESOLVED- That the update be noted.

Report of the Commissioner.

The Board received the Commissioner’s public update.

The Commissioner noted that the recent misconduct cases had negatively impacted the public’s trust in policing commenting that the City of London Police needed to remain vigilant to these issues. It was added that any allegations of misconduct or inappropriate behaviour at the City of London Police were taken seriously and expedited without undue delay. Following the Commissioner’s update on the development and implementations of the actions plans from HMICFRS inspections the Deputy Chair requested that a regular update report dealing with all of these should be provided to the Professional Standards and Integrity Committee and the Police Authority Board.

The Chair noted that the Christmas Action Fraud campaign and associated reduction in online shopping fraud displayed the impact that national campaigns can have when effective.

RESOLVED- That the update be noted. 

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Board considered a report of the Town Clerk on the Police Authority Draft High-Level Business Plan 2023/24.

The Police Authority Director informed the Board that risks relating to the Future Police Estate and the Fraud and Cyber Crime Analysis Future Service needed to be added to the key risks listed in the Business Plan.

The Deputy Chair requested that community safety, engagement and tackling violence against women and girls and the role of the Board be highlighted more in the aims of the Police Authority. Referring to the role of the Police Authority in the development of policies on community safety the Board noted that the Safer City Partnership and the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee would be important in providing oversight of this work.

A Member commented that the effective measurement of the Police Authority’s work was vital and requested that key performance measures be established to properly assess against.

RESOLVED-That: -

1. That the factors taken into consideration in compiling the Police Authority Business Plan be noted; and
2. The departmental Business Plan 2023/24 be approved.

Report of the Commissioner.

The Board received a report of the Commissioner regarding the Draft Refresh of the Policing Plan 2022-2025 (for 2023-24).

A Member requested that the violence against women and girls not be abbreviated to VAWG as the Member felt this term depersonalised this matter and, therefore, was not suitable for inclusion in the Policing Plan.

Following a query from the Deputy Chair, Officers confirmed that a report on proposals for analysis metrics for the Policing Plan would be presented to the Strategic Planning and Performance Committee. Additionally, it was requested that the Force report to the Board on quarterly basis regarding performance against the Plan.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

Report of the Commissioner.

The Board received a report of the Commissioner which provided the City of London Police Staff Survey update.

A Member highlighted the low scores in the Staff Survey on confidence in the decisions made by senior leaders and requested further information on actions planned to improve this. Officers explained that whist these responses related to the senior managers rather than chief officers these responses were a concern and explained that development plans to be integrated at all levels of management had been established to address this.

Responding to a Member’s comment Officers confirmed that year on year analysis of the Staff Survey would be completed and that options for benchmarking against other forces would be explored.

A member of the Board observed that the response rates were low compared to the Private Sector and suggested that an engagement plan was needed to improve this with the aim to reach around eighty percent.

Following a discussion relating to stress levels reported in the survey the City Wellbeing Centre was highlighted as a valuable resource for those staff members who were more comfortable seeking support outside of their work.

The Chair noted that the Staff Survey represented an improved position and direction of travel but also highlighted that further work was need particularly on response numbers.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

Joint report of the Commissioner and City and Hackney Public Health.  

The Board received a report of the Commissioner which provided an update on the partnership Mental Health Services Demand and Response.

The Board discussed the need to fund the Mental Health Street Triage  in the longer term and requested confirmation on agreed funding for these services. It was confirmed that recurrent funding for these services had been agreed.

Following a Board member’s question Officers confirmed that they worked closely with the British Transport Police and used BTP and TfL data to inform the provision of mental health services. 

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

Report of the Commissioner.

The Board received a report of the Commissioner on the City of London Police Museum.

The Board discussed the possible future options for the City of London Police Museum. Members suggested that options to reinstate the museum at the Guildhall Yard East and Salisbury Square development be considered as well as the potential for private sponsorship. It was noted that including the City of London Police Museum at the Museum of London was not a practical long-term solution. 

The Chamberlain observed that there were significant questions to be answered regarding the long-term solution for housing the Museum including value for money with regard to visitor numbers noting that the Operational Property and Projects Sub-Committee would need to consider proposals. In addition, the Board were informed that the Salisbury Square site did not have the required space for the Museum. The Chair commented that the expenditure would be modest when compared to the visitor numbers.

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.

Item No.                            Paragraph(s) in Schedule 12A

15-22                                 3

To approve non-public note of previous meeting of the City of London Police Authority Board held on the 12th of December.

The Board considered the non-public note of the informal meeting of the Police Authority Board held on the 12^th of December 2022.

RESOLVED – That the non-public note and non-public summary of the informal meeting of the Police Authority Board held on the 12th of December be approved as an accurate record.

The Chair to be heard.

There was no further update from the Chair in the non-public session.

The Commissioner & Chief Officers to be heard.

The Board received the Commissioner’s non-public update.

RESOLVED- That the update be noted.

Report of the Deputy Town Clerk.

The Board considered a report of the Deputy Town Clerk on the Findings and Recommendations from the City of London Public Protection Study.

RESOLVED- That the report be deferred.

Report of the Commissioner.

The Board received a report of the Commissioner which provided a update on progress with Revenue and Capital Budget setting 2023/24.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.

To approve confidential note of previous meeting of the City of London Police Authority Board held on the 12th of December.

To be circulated separately.

The Board considered the confidential public note of the informal meeting of the Police Authority Board held on the 12^th of December 2022.

RESOLVED – That the confidential note of the informal meeting of the Police Authority Board held on the 12th of December be approved as an accurate record.