Agenda item

Deep Dive: CR 23 Police Funding Risk

Report of the Chamberlain

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Chamberlain that highlighted funding issues relating to the City of London Police.

 

The Deputy Chamberlain explained that an underlying funding deficit of £4-5m p.a. needed to be resolved.  She explained that the Audit & Risk Management Committee had asked for this to be reassessed in the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP).  The Deputy Chamberlain explained that there were three resolutions available:

 

                                                      i.        Home Office Funding

                                                     ii.        Decision on which services to maintain

                                                    iii.        Increase in Premium Rates

 

The Deputy Chamberlain explained that this risk needed to be framed accurately in order to be resolved.  The Assistant Commissioner noted that significant work had been done to balance the budget, and £17m in funding had been supplied by the City Corporation for Capital Projects.

 

The Chairman explained that the funding challenge has now been recognised and there had been improved collaboration between the Chamberlain’s Department and the City of London Police.  He also noted that the option to raise the Premium Rate had been raised at Police Committee.

 

A Member asked how the Demand and Value for Money review had been received.  The Assistant Commissioner explained that it had been well received, but noted that some figures were perhaps overly ambitious.  He explained that the review had validated many of the findings of the STRA process, but that he did not agree with the high-end savings figures.

 

A Member noted that the Review’s total savings figure resembled that of a “Gateway Zero” inaccurate initial projection, and suggested that the sooner this headline figure was abandoned the sooner progress could be made with honesty and pragmatism.  Members illustrated their agreement with this statement.

 

A Member asked when these decisions would be made, and the Deputy Chamberlain confirmed that there would be a probe into the savings at the Resource Allocation Sub (Finance) Committee in June 2017, and the autumn would see budgets applied for 2019-20.

 

A Member stated that it was important to note that the review was not just focusing on Value for Money, but also specifically on Demand.  Members illustrated their agreement with this statement.

 

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