Senior Command Team - 20 October 2008

Minutes of the Senior Command Team Meeting

Monday 20 October 2008

Present:

CC Hughes (Chair) Mr Jack Hirst

DCC Bob Dyson Ch Supt Steve Redhall

DF Nigel Hiller Mr Mark Thompson

ACC Mark Whyman Miss Melanie Longden

 

 

There were no declarations of interest.

Presentations
  • None

    • Standing Items

    The minutes were approved as a true and accurate record.

    354. Action Schedule

     

    No updates due

    355. Portfolio Issues

    CC Hughes

    353. Minutes from SCT Meeting 6 October 2008
    •  

         

      • Special Constables Long Service Award – a suggestion had been received from Mr Mark Munnoch, Special Constabulary Chief Officer, that Specials receive their award separate to the rest of the Force i.e. at the evening Attestation Ceremony. His reasoning behind this was that it would give a positive message to new recruits, would save SCs and families taking time off from paid employment, and as there are no new regular recruits at the moment it would make the evening event more worthwhile.

        •  

     

    SCT received the proposal with some concern as they felt the Attestation ceremony is often much smaller and is led by an ACC rather than the Chief Constable and Lord Lieutenant and would therefore not have the status the Force ceremony enjoys and would also separate Specials from others in the Force. However, it was agreed that when Special Constables become eligible for the award, they will get the choice of an Attestation or a Long Service event at which to receive it.

    ACTION

    : ACC Whyman to make necessary arrangements with HQ Personnel Services

     

    DCC Dyson

       

    • Referred to an incident in Cleveland involving a BMW 1200 motorcycle in which a police officer was injured. He stated that all SYP BMW motorcycles had been checked and were safe for use and thanked staff at VRM for working extra hours to facilitate this.

      •  

       

    • IPCC are carrying out an independent investigation into SYP regarding an incident which occurred in January 2008

      •  

       

    • NCALT training system for change of discipline process – proposed to make it mandatory for managers and non-managers to do on-line training

      •  

    DF Hiller

       

    • Gave details of the amount which would be saved by the police pay award being less than budgeted for

      •  

       

    • SCT Budget - money to be put aside for documentum for SYP and PA administration. There is a degree of flexibility in the SCT budget and funding was available for some non-recurrent projects

      •  

    ACC Whyman

       

    • Agreed to a the creation Problem Orientated Partnership Award suggested by Community Safety at a cost of £1,000which will fit in with Gala award ceremony

      •  

       

    • Discussions taking place regarding South Yorkshire Police hosting a National conference on partnerships

      •  

       

    • The Sun Bravery Awards – agreed to a grant to the Federation of £500 per annum for travel accommodation – funding source yet to be identified

      •  

       

    • Implementation of Local CPS direct system - SCT colleagues expressed their concerns and supported the District Commanders in their concerns about proposals to operate a phone based service for CPS Advice pre-charge. ACC Whyman said that his proposals to the CPS was that the number of face to face meetings should considerably reduce prior to any removal of CPS personnel from police stations and that SYP acceptance of any arrangement would be based on that achievement

      •  

       

    • Referred to a letter received from Derek Mann, Regional Workforce Modernisation, which indicated that Yorkshire and Humber region will not be getting associate status for its work on Workforce Modernisation, however, support would continue to be provided to the programme by the field officer.

      •  

     

    356. Force Performance

     

     

     

    DCC Dyson briefed SCT on current Force performance.

     

    Decision Papers

    357. Communications Strategy

    ACC Whyman outlined that this report presented a draft Communications Strategy to support the delivery of the Local Policing Plan and in particular the delivery of a citizen-focused service. It was intended to provide the strategic framework for all SYP communications at all levels

     

    The report recommended that SCT:-

    1. Approve the strategy and endorses it as South Yorkshire Police’s Communications Strategy 2008-11, each priority to be supported by a specific action plan.

     

    2 Approve the strategy as the framework for communications at all levels of the Force.

     

    3 Endorse the objectives of the strategy and that these inform all local communications objectives.

     

    4 Endorse the campaign planning template for all SYP communications at all levels.

     

    Mr Mark Thompson and Miss Melanie Longden talked SCT through the Strategy and stressed that this was not theCorporate Communication Department’s strategy but the Strategy of the Force. SCT endorsement was now sought to allow engagements with districts and departments to move the strategy forward. The next steps were to allocate action plans.

     

    Miss Longden gave an example of how the strategy would work in practice by giving details of how public awareness of SNTs would be raised.

     

    Mr Thompson said that extra staff may be needed but a separate paper would be submitted regarding this.

     

    SCT endorsed the strategy but pointed out that if extra resources were required the deadline date for growth bids for next year was 31 October 2008

    358 Management of USB Devices

    DCC Dyson introduced this report the purpose of which was to highlight the impact on the Force’s information assets from a relatively minor virus infection. It was also intended to identify a solution to minimise the potential impact on the Force of any possible data loss, such as the recent high profile cases in the media.

     

    The report put forward the following recommendations:-

    1.  

         

      1. SCT approve the provision of a technical solution to mitigate against virus infection or the leakage of information from South Yorkshire Police information assets via removable media

        2.  

         

         

      2. SCT agree the principles outlined for the restriction on the use of removable media, especially to store personal data

        3.  

     

    DF Hiller suggested that he would prefer a system which monitored activity, including specifically data taken off force systems to such as USB sticks, rather than one which simply restricted activity to ensure staff were not frustrated by the security and looking for ways to evade it.

     

    After discussion it was agreed that a further paper should be submitted covering the wider security aspects of this issue and putting forward an all embracing policy. DF Hiller’s suggestion should also be taken into consideration.

     

    ACTION: DCC Dyson

     

    Discussion / Information Items

    360. Budget Holders Commentary - September 2008

    DF Hiller presented the Budget Holders Commentary for September 2008. This was received and noted and will be forwarded to the Police Authority for their information.

     

    DF Hiller said some areas of the report had caused him unease and he had e-mailed the appropriate management with his concerns.

     

    Report received and noted.

    361. Outstanding Weekly Leave

    ACC Whyman updated SCT on the position in relation to the liability associated with outstanding weekly leave days owed to officers and asked them to note the continued reduction in the contingent liability at the end of the second quarter of 2008/089.

     

    Report noted, however DCC Dyson expressed concerns that some of the data was inaccurate.

     

    DF Hiller pointed out that in order to comply with regulations associated with International Reporting Standards which were to be introduced in two years time, cash would have to be put aside for this.

    362. ISD Projects Update

     

    DF Hiller outlined that this report provided an update on the ISD programme of work from July 2008 to September 2008. He asked SCT to note the update on projects that have been delivered and those continuing into the next quarter.

     

    Report noted.

    Papers to Review

    363. None

    Standing Items

    No issues.

    365. Notification to the Force

    No issues.

     

    366. Any Other Business

    No items

     

     

     

    364. Notification to the Police Authority