Minutes of the Senior Command Team Meeting
Monday 2 November 2009

 

Present:

CC Meredydd Hughes (Chair)
DF Nigel Hiller
ACC Andy Holt
ACC Max Sahota
ACC Mark Whyman

 

281. Declaration(s) of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

Presentations

282. None

Standing Items

283. Minutes of meeting held on 19 October 2009 *Restricted*

The minutes were approved as a true and accurate record.

DF Hiller said that he has reissued written guidance to Business Managers regarding the correct process to be followed when submitting papers to SCT.

284. Action Schedule and Work Programme

The action schedule and work programme were discussed and will be updated by the SCT Corporate Support Assistant.

CC Hughes requested that dates be provided for the items on the work programme.

ACC Whyman - CYP - the work is being done but it has to fit with the national strategy which is expected to be published around Spring 2010.

ACC Holt - Central Planning Unit - discussed at Ops Commanders Meeting and a paper
will be coming to the next SCT Meeting on 16th November.

ACC Sahota - Collaborative Aircraft Procurement - It is unclear as to whether the National Consortium will still go ahead, therefore now looking at regional options.

ACC Whyman - Future of the Learning & Development Board - will report back to SCT mid December.

DF Hiller - Disposal of West Bar Police Station. Will provide a detailed report of the plans and proposals in due course.

ACC Sahota - ECU - now keeping the building.

ACC Sahota - FSG Move - awaiting the costings.

285. Portfolio Issues

CC Hughes

• CC Hughes advised that there were significant increases in the number of people in the higher income bands showing on the Police Authority Force Accounts and asked if the bands had been adjusted to account for inflation. DF Hiller to determine. It is the impact of nationally agreed pay rises taking people from one band to another.

DF Hiller

• DF Hiller advised that the Force had been approved last week to be registered members of the Prompt Payment Code.

ACC Holt

• Discussed the request from NPIA to have one of our officers on a 6 month secondment. The back-filling of this role to be resolved, but agreed that the secondment can take place.

ACC Sahota

• The helicopter should be operational again by mid-day 3 November.

• Following the Gleadless Siege the recommendations have been received as a result of the IPCC investigation. There are no major issues and the recommendations are being responded to. A letter will be sent out from DCC Dyson.

• Sikh Headwear Project is ongoing and Inspector Butterworth is liaising with the NPIA.

• OSC Inspection has taken place and an Action Plan has been prepared as a result of the recommendations.

ACC Whyman

• Roll of Honour Commemorative Plaque - showed a proof of the new Roll of Honour plaque and asked colleagues if they approved of the design. This is to replace the plaque currently in the Reception Area.

• Staffing Moves - Holding Chief Inspector Boards to be held in May.

• The BPA want to hold their national conference in Sheffield and PC Bill Thomas has asked if the Force will host it. CC Hughes suggested that Yorkshire Ambassadors be contacted. They organise and provide best value rooms and facilities and 1st class return rail fares. If CC Hughes diary permits, he will open the event.

• Force Double Crewing - ACC Whyman will take this to the Ops Commanders Meeting. It provides a common model for determining hours etc, and provides single crewing unless the data suggests otherwise.

• Body Armour - the national contract has been delayed until perhaps April 2010. Tasked Supply Chain Management with replacing 1000 units before the end of this year. ACC Whyman has requested a matrix of contracts that can be taken to a regional meeting with the uniform leads to co-ordinate and engage in a joined up approach for the region.

• A review of the promotion board process has now been discussed with Commanders. Sticking rigidly to the timings of the various selection processes have caused shortages of some ranks. Looking at this as part of the development of the HR Plan.

286. Force Performance

ACC Holt updated SCT on recent Force performance, reporting that overall crime was down by 12.3%

Decision Papers

287. Fixed Penalty Notices for Drunk and Disorderly

ACC Holt outlined that the purpose of this report was to brief the Senior Command Team on the potential operational and business benefits of utilising ‘street issue' Fixed Penalty Notices for Disorder (FPND) when dealing with appropriate incidents of drunk and disorderly behaviour in a public place.

The paper recommended that

1. SCT agree to implement a six month pilot programme within the Sheffield District's ‘more serious violence' hotspot Sectors - Sheffield West and Sheffield North.

2. SCT agree the pilot programme should be fully evaluated as per the suggested evaluation criteria.

ACC Holt advised that he is aware that DCC Dyson has concerns regarding the issue of Fixed Penalty Notices for being drunk and disorderly but that the reason for the proposal is that there is good evidence to support that early intervention deters more serious offences. This paper is simply for a pilot in Sheffield alone to identify the benefits and disadvantages the scheme would bring to the Force before making a decision at a later date. Following discussion it was agreed that the pilot could go ahead.

288. Foil Exchange Programmes - South Yorkshire Police Approach

ACC Whyman said this report was to update SCT on the foil exchange pilot undertaken by the main static needle exchange at Turning Point, Sheffield. (Drug Treatment service provider) and to inform SCT of further requests for South Yorkshire Police support of similar projects across South Yorkshire needle exchange services.

The paper put forward the recommendation that South Yorkshire Police adopt a corporate approach to support new requests for foil exchange schemes, by the provision of a standard letter of support.

It was agreed that a standard response letter will be produced and issued informing the provider that the purpose of the police service is ultimately the Protection of Life and Property, as long as we are assured by the providers that we are helping them to protect the lives of addicts. This has precedence over the prosecution of offenders.

Discussion Information/Items

289. Budget Monitoring Report - September 2009

DF Hiller presented the Budget Monitoring Report for September 2009 which was received and noted.

ACC Whyman asked if showing the internal workings as part of the monthly HR report was too much detail. DF Hiller said that it had been useful to have it in this format this time.

Audit Reports

290. Management Summary - Data Protection Policy Compliance

Noted.

DF Hiller advised that the overall Data Protection Policy could be improved as currently the four Joint Authorities share the same policy and it would be better, in the future, as we move more towards regional working, to have a police unique information management system. DF Hiller to discuss with DCC Dyson.

291. Management Summary - VFM Stock Discrepancy

Noted.

DF Hiller has issued written advice to the Head of VFM requesting that he provides written advice to the individuals involved.

Papers to Review

292. None

Standing Items

293. Notification to Police Authority

Foil exchange - ACC Holt to take to Community Affairs Committee on 6th November as a restricted verbal item.

294. Notification to Force

No Issues

295. Any Other Business

No Items