Minutes of the Senior Command Team Meeting

Monday 7 September  2009

 

 

Present:

 

CC Meredydd Hughes (Chair)

DCC Bob Dyson

DFA Nigel Hiller

ACC Andy Holt

ACC Max Sahota

ACC Mark Whyman

 

228.     Declaration(s) of Interest

 

There were no declarations of interest. 

 

Presentations

 

229.     None

 

Standing Items

 

230.     Minutes from SCT Meeting 24 August 2009

           

            The minutes were approved as a true and accurate record.

 

231.     Action Schedule and Work Programme

 

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

 

232.     Portfolio Issues

     

            DCC Dyson

 

·            Referred to a meeting held with Information Systems (ISD), Facilities Management (FM) and Business Change Directorate (BCD) to discuss the situation with regard to provision of generators and uninterrupted power supply within SYP and to identify potential risks in terms of our ability to provide critical functions.  It had been agreed that there will be a schedule of work for ISD and FM to address identified issues and business continuity issues will be picked up and fed back to districts and departments.

 

 

            DF Hiller

 

·            New Head of Facilities Management will be taking up post on 21 September, subject to successful vetting

·            Corporate Finance will be asking all staff involved in the Force’s finance function to complete timesheets for a one month period commencing 28 September 2009. He explained that the Force has been taking part in a national annual CIPFA benchmarking exercise which has shown the cost of finance to be above average.   For this reason all staff who have allocated time to the finance function will be time- sheeted as part of the 08/09 benchmarking

·            Disposal of West Bar and accommodation of staff.  Options paper to be brought to SCT in the next few weeks.

 

            ACC Holt

 

·            There has been Workforce Modernisation agreement regarding Volume Crime Teams

·            Update on Personnel Manager post at Sheffield

 

DF Hiller asked SCT members to reinforce to District Commanders and Departmental Heads that all restructure proposals involving Chief Inspectors and above or Band F and above must come to SCT.

 

            ACC Whyman

 

·            Neighbourhood Policing promotion – messages being circulated in various ways to the public e.g. posters on public transport

·            Swine Flu – declining infection rates, but with schools returning after summer break, this may change.  There are eight confirmed cases involving SYP staff  at the present time

·            Outlined that it would be useful if the agendas for the Regional Programme Board could be included on the SCT agenda to give members the opportunity to highlight any issues to the Chief Constable prior to him attending the Board

 

            ACC Sahota

 

·            Economic Crime Unit Security - ACC Sahota presented revised costings for upgrading security at Commerce House.  These were £51,941, but did not include civil engineering costs relating to cabling for the CCTV system.  DF Hiller said he thought the costs would probably be nearer £100,000.  SCT agreed that prior to consideration a fully costed estimate should be provided which would then be considered along with other projects.  The cost of preparing these estimates would be met from the SCS devolved budget

·            Updated colleagues on the IPCC report following a siege situation in the Gleadless area of Sheffield in January 2009

·            Outlined that the HMIC report on Critical Incident Management  was very positive and the Force scored green in all areas

 

            CC Hughes said that the Force receive a number of mentions for good practice, but for those areas where the Force could still improve further he wished to see action plans at SCT.

 

233.     Force Performance

 

            ACC Holt briefed colleagues on recent Force performance and outlined that overall  crime was down by 11.2% to 31 August 2009 and crimes involving violence were showing marked reductions.

 

Decision Papers

           

234.     Restructuring of ECU

 

ACC Sahota presented this paper, the purpose of which was to seek SCT approval to disestablish the post of Detective Chief Inspector, Economic Crime, as part of the ongoing restructure of the Unit.  SCT asked to see the full SCS re-structure report, to allow them to see how this post fits in with the wider picture. 

 

ACTION:         ACC Sahota

 

            CC Hughes outlined that there have been several cases where a post had been civilianised and the Police Officer previously carrying out the role had been appointed following retirement.  He said care should be taken to ensure other staff were given development opportunities when such cases arise.

 

235.     FSG Move

 

ACC Sahota said this paper was to reaffirm Senior Command Team support of the proposal to relocate the Firearms Support Group from Manvers to the Ops Complex; to outline how OSS will achieve the re-location at a considerably reduced cost compared with previous proposals and to seek financial support from SCT to facilitate the re-location within the 2009/10 financial year to assist OSS with the costs of a new armoury and mezzanine floor at a known total of £65k or  the total estimated cost of £150k

 

DF Hiller said he felt the savings outlined in the paper were overstated and some costings were double counted.  SCT, whilst welcoming OSS make savings through transferring its fleet to diesel, these would have been achieved independent of this paper    

 

SCT supported the proposal to relocate to the Ops Complex, but they asked to see detailed plans, following consultation with Corporate Finance and HR, before financial support could be agreed.

 

            ACTION:         ACC Sahota

 

236.   Operation Diamond

 

DCC Dyson said this paper sought formal approval by the Senior Command Team, for Business Change Directorate to commence and implement the Strategic Programme - Operation Diamond.

 

The paper put forward the following recommendations:-

 

a.         Formal approval be given to the adoption and implementation of Operation Diamond; and,

 

b.         Consideration be given to the funding options available for the Citizen Focus element of Operation Diamond from either a Special BCD Carry Forward associated with the CSE Award provision or from within continued SCT contingency.

 

Paper approved, however SCT stressed that clear governance should be in place and DCC Dyson said he would bring back thoughts of what should go through Diamond to a future SCT.

               

237.       CATS (Case Administration and Tracking System)

 

ACC Sahota outlined that this report was submitted to brief the Senior Command Team in relation to problems with the accuracy of nominal data on the Case Administration and Tracking System (CATS) and the potential implications of this for data-sharing with the Impact Nominal Index (INI) and the Criminal Records Bureau.

 

The proposed interim solution to these problems may be in contravention of Data Protection Act principles. An SCT decision was therefore sought on the recommendation put forward which was that the Senior Command Team agree that South Yorkshire Police send all nominal data from the CATS system (suspect, victim and relevant other) to the Impact Nominal Index and the Criminal Records Bureau via the PLX system.

 

Paper approved. 

 

238.     Revised Medium Term Financial Strategy

 

In light of the economic uncertainty, DF Hiller presented his assessment of probable financial scenarios for South Yorkshire Police, in order that the Force could be prepared for a revised financial regime in the next comprehensive spending review which would occur following the next general election.  SCT welcomed the savings proposals presented by the Force’s Accountants and Business Managers.

 

It was clear that in the coming months the Force and the Police Authority would need to have in depth discussions on future strategies and performance targets.

 

This was to be discussed at both QRD and Police Authority meetings in the next month.  In advance of these meetings it was agreed that:-

 

1.    The budget assumptions put forward by the Director of Finance were the best estimates for the Force

2.    A temporary freeze on non invest to save capital schemes funded by prudential borrowing, such as the central custody suite and District accommodation strategy, would be implemented immediately

3.    Districts and Departments be advised that they should not be developing new  budget developments which require recurrent revenue funding for 2010/11 and subsequent years.  Any new scheme which is unavoidable must be discussed with  the appropriate member of SCT prior to work commencing on developing a bid.

4.    District and Department Management Teams be encouraged to discuss strategies for future savings to inform the debate at QRD

5.    The ACC (CR) would develop the HR strategy to ensure the potential financial liabilities caused by a reduction in external funding to SYP or those bodies staff are presently seconded to are minimised

 

239.     Equal Pay Claim

 

            ACC Whyman said this paper was intended to inform SCT members of the potential Equal Pay claim from cleaning and catering staff and agree the action required, which is that the Equal Pay Claims is agreed as valid and that the involved staff are put onto the appropriate spinal point commensurate with their length of service.  Back pay to be calculated and paid at the appropriate rate.

 

            SCT noted the potential claim and will consider further when full costs are known.

 

Discussion / Information Items

           

240.     National Fraud Reporting Centre (NFRC) and National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB)

 

ACC Sahota said this report was submitted to brief the Senior Command Team in relation to the implications for South Yorkshire Police when the NFRC and NFIB go live in April 2010.  He asked that Senior Command Team note the content of the report and the actions being taken within Specialist Crime Services in preparation for implementation.  Paper noted.

 

241.     Outcomes from Policing Seminar 13.7.09

 

            CC Hughes briefed colleagues on key points and outcomes from the Policing Seminar which was held on 13 July 2009.  He said he wanted to inform SCT of outcomes to ensure they were aware of any issues under their portfolio.  It was agreed that any work generated would be included in day to day business.  Paper noted.

 

242      CHC Agenda - BCUs October 2009

 

            DCC Dyson presented the CHC agenda for BCUs for October 2009 and invited colleagues to add any items.  No further items were put forward.

 

243.     Time Owed

 

            DCC Dyson outlined that the Corporate Health Check (CHC) process has routinely monitored officers’ time owed. The information produced for the CHCs has been reviewed as part of a personal objective in an effort to enhance the information fed into the CHCs for this category of information.  Based on the report for this objective, DCC Dyson asked that the results should provide the basis of an SCT discussion paper.   He said the appendix to the paper provided the Force position in terms of Accumulated Time Owed (ATO) and Non Re-rostered Rest Days (NRRDs), assessing the financial liability incurred for time owed to Police Officers including identification of officer eligible for retirement before 31^st December 2011.  

 

DCC Dyson asked that SCT members be aware of any problems under their portfolio and continue the drive to get time-owed down, ensure staff re-roster rest days to prevent further increase, and also to ensure staff coming to the end of their service make efforts to bring their time down prior to retirement.  Paper noted.

 

Audit Reports

 

244.     None

 

Papers to Review

                       

245.     Police Authority Papers

 

            Police Authority - 18 September 2009

 

            245.1   Contact Management within South Yorkshire Police

 

                        Approved. 

 

            Audit Committee - 25 September 2009

 

            245.2   Risk Management

 

                        Approved

 

            245.3   SCM Procurement Activity  Report

 

                        Approved

 

Standing Items

 

246.     Notification to Police Authority

 

                        CC Hughes to discuss Medium Term Financial Strategy with the Chair of Police Authority when they meet later in the day.

 

247.     Notification to Force

 

            No issues

 

248.     Any Other Business   

 

            No items