Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Sir Craig Mackey, Munsur Ali, Deputy Graham Packham and Andrew Lentin.

There were no declarations.

To agree the draft public minutes and non-public summary of the Police Authority Board meeting held on the 24^th of May.

The Board considered the public minutes and non-public summary of the Police Authority Board meeting on the 24^th of May 2023.

It was noted that the apologies from Nicholas Bensted-Smith needed to be added to the minutes of the previous meeting.

Further to the Chair’s enquiry the Board was informed that the issue of Member oversight of the work on suicide prevention had been discussed by the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee noting that there needed to be clarity on this. It was confirmed that an Officer was due to be hired specifically to work on suicide prevention and that a report on these policies, including Member oversight, would be presented to the Board in September.

RESOLVED- That the public minutes and non-public summary of the Police Authority Board meeting on the 24^th of May 2023, subject to the corrections specified, were 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 Committee.

Following a request from the Chair, Officers updated the Board on the Independent Advisory and Scrutiny Group noting that the Assistant Commissioner had recently attend a meeting of the Group which had provided constructive. In addition, it was noted that the Force would be discussing with the Home Office their engagement with Independent Advisory and Scrutiny Groups nationally and that the Youth Independent Advisory and Scrutiny Group was in its genesis.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

To receive the draft public minutes of the Board’s Committees.

To receive the draft public minutes of the Economic and Cyber Crime Committee held on the 11^th of May.

The Board received the draft minutes of the Economic and Cyber Crime Committee held on the 11^th of May.

RESOLVED- That the draft minutes be noted.

To receive the draft minutes of the Resource, Risk and Estates Committee held on the 22^nd of May.

The Board received the draft minutes of the Resource, Risk and Estates Committee held on the 22^nd of May 2023.

The Chair of the Resource, Risk and Estates Committee clarified that the review into procurement across the Corporation had not yet been formally requested by the Operational Property and Projects Sub-Committee.

RESOLVED- That the draft minutes be noted.

Report of the Chair.

The Board received the Chair’s public update.

The Chair highlighted the passing out parade which he and other Members had attended requesting that the Force continue to communication these opportunities to Members.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

Report of the Commissioner.

The Board received the Commissioner's public update.

Replying to a query from the Deputy Chair Officers provided an update on the special constabulary restructure including noting that the post implementation review would be completed after the summer. The Chair requested that a report on the post implementation review of the special constabulary be provided to a future meeting of the Board to assess the impact of the reorganisation. Following a query from a Member of the Board it was confirmed that the specialist skills in cyber were specifically sought when considering the requirement of special constables.

The Deputy Chair noted that at a recent City Wide residents meeting the issue of policing the behaviour cyclist had been raised by the residents and requested further information on these matters. In response officers confirmed that a new neighbourhood engagement plan had been developed and that specific officers would be policing anti-social behaviour, including those by cyclists, with an associated communications plan. The Deputy Chair stated that Corporation communications should also be used to amplify these messages. Further to this the Board requested that Officers explore options for widening the scope of ward cluster meetings including colleagues from across the Corporation as appropriate.

The Board discussed the report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services State of Policing (HMICFRS) with the Chair informing the Board of the concerns raised by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioner that some comments by the HMICFRS were outside of their purview. Regarding the areas for improvement and recommendations from the City of London Police Inspection on Counter Corruption and Vetting the reasoning for these issues was explained including the backlog in vetting and the actions of the gold group established confirming that since the Inspectors came into Force last October, there was now

Report of the Commissioner.

The Board considered a report of the Commissioner on the City of London Police Annual Report 2022-23.

Replying to a Member’s query Officers outlined how the publication of the annual report would be communicated confirming that the Force would be working with colleagues in the Corporation to maximise the impact of this communication.

A Member noted that the Force had gone through a lot of change over the year but still delivered on its mission and commended the City of London Police for this achievement.

The Chair requested that acronyms are not used or that abbreviations are clarified in the report. 

RESOLVED- That the City of London Police Annual Report 2022-23 be approved for submission to the Court of Common Council

Report of the Commissioner.

The Board considered a report of the Commissioner on the City of London final revenue and capital outturn for 2022/23.

The Chair of the Resource, Risk and Estates Committee highlighted that the Committee had noted the continued concerns regarding the skills in change management, procurement compliance and the variances in overtime budgeting. 

Replying to a Member’s query it was confirmed that long term sickness absence was increasing and the Force is monitoring this. It also was noted that Covid is now included in normal sickness reporting.

It was noted that there would be further discussion on use of reserves as part of the Medium Term Financial Plan discussions in the autumn.

RESOLVED: - That –

1. The revenue and capital outturn for 2022-23 for CoLP and revenue outturn for the Police Authority Board Team as set out in the report be noted; and
2. That the use of £2m of the Force’s £7.1m 2022-23 revenue underspend to finance capital expenditure, thereby reducing the future MTFP borrowing risk be approved; and
3. That the transfer of the remainder of the 2022-23 underspend (£5.1m) to increment the general reserve to the target level of 5% of gross budget be approved; and
4. That a drawdown of £351,000 from the general reserve in 2023-24 to mitigate timing differences in expenditure committed from the 2022-23 budget be approved; and
5. That a transfer of £0.45m, in relation the 2022-23 Police Authority Board underspend, to an earmarked reserve to mitigate the risk of cost arising from future gross misconduct hearing be approved.

Report of the Commissioner.

The Board received a report of the Commissioner on the National Business Crime Portfolio National Business Crime Centre update.

The Chair noted that the report had been produced to ensure that the Board were fully informed of this important portfolio of work. Officers outlined the work of the National Business Crime Centre to the Board.

The Chair requested that this work was effectively promoted across both the Force and Corporation.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Board received a report of the Chamberlain on the City of London Police Pensions.

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 agree the draft non-public minutes summary of the Police Authority Board meeting held on the 24^th of May.

The Board considered the non-public minutes of the Police Authority Board meeting on the 24^th of May 2023.

RESOLVED- That the non-public minutes of the Police Authority Board meeting on the 24^th of May 2023 were approved as an accurate record.

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the Board's Committees.

The Board considered the non-public minutes of the Police Authority Board meeting on the 24^th of May 2023.

RESOLVED- That the non-public minutes of the Police Authority Board meeting on the 24^th of May 2023 were approved as an accurate record.

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the Economic and Cyber Crime Committee held on the 11^th of May.

The Board received the draft non-public minutes of the Economic and Cyber Crime Committee held on the 11th of May.

RESOLVED- That the draft minutes be noted.

To receive the draft non-public minutes of the Resource, Risk and Estates Committee held on the 22^nd of May.

The Board received the draft non-public minutes of the Resource, Risk and Estates Committee held on the 22^nd of May 2023.

RESOLVED- That the draft minutes be noted.

The Chair to be heard.

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

The Commissioner to be heard.

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

RESOLVED- That the update be noted.

There were no questions.

There were no items of urgent business.

To agree the draft confidential minutes and non-public summary of the Police Authority Board meeting held on the 24^th of May.

To be circulated separately.

The Board considered the confidential minutes of the Police Authority Board meeting on the 24^th of May 2023.

RESOLVED- That the confidential minutes of the Police Authority Board meeting on the 24^th of May 2023 were approved as an accurate record.