Minutes of the Senior Command Team Meeting
Monday 9 February 2009

Present:-

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

 

36. Declaration(s) of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

Presentations

37. None

Standing Items

38. Minutes from SCT Meeting 26 January 2009

The minutes were approved as a true and accurate record.

39. Action Schedule and Work Programme

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

40. Portfolio Issues

DCC Dyson

• Judicial Review by Liberty is underway on behalf of football supporters who were turned away from a football match in South Yorkshire.

• Direction and control of UKHTC

DF Hiller

• Updated on accommodation issues
• Operation Silverblade - Establishment of Driver Services Project Board which will formally look at driver numbers and management

ACC Holt

• Mobile data - SYP will not be delivering devices as per the original bid. Final decision when they will be delivered will be discussed at the Project Board to be held on 6 March 2009.

• Retention of Lead Force status for Pakistan. ACC Holt to bring a paper to SCT later in the year.

ACTION: ACC Holt

• Feedback on the recent familiarisation day held for Superintendents.

• Single Non Emergency Number (101) - it was agreed that ACC Holt would retain

ACC Sahota

• Mutual Aid charging by Humberside for PSUs. DF Hiller reported that Mr Geoff Berrett, Head of Finance, was seeking clarification from Derek Smith, Director of Finance West Midlands Police on whether the new national policy he had prepared on Mutual Aid had yet been ratified by the APA and the Home Office. DF Hiller to take this issue to Regional Treasurers/ Directors of Finance meeting on 11 March 2009

ACTION: DF Hiller

• Structure and content of Prevent Meeting with the Government Office later in the day.

ACC Whyman

• Gave details of numbers who have applied for forthcoming Chief Inspector Boards

• NSPIS - Reported that the NPIA have levied a charge on Forces for the case and custody system which was previously funded centrally. The Chief Constable indicated that SYP should robustly challenge this centrally imposed new demand. If this charge was legally enforceable CJAD would have to fund this from the devolved budget for the next financial year. However it was agreed that

1. ACC Whyman would meet with NPIA to discuss the use of an alternative system
2. SYP should serve 12 months notice on NPIA to withdraw from NSPIS
3. A paper should be prepared for the Police Authority on 27 February 2009 giving details of the potential extra costs with a view to the issue being taken by the Authority to the APA

ACTION: ACC Whyman

• CPS Daytime - working well and positive feedback being received - proposed go live across Force on 2 March following the success of the Barnsley pilot. Problem with multi functional devices not being able to scan and send documents to the CPS had now been resolved, however concerns had been raised by the Audit and Data Protection concerning the security of scanned documents. DCC Dyson said he would ascertain from Professional Standards exactly what these concerns are with a view to having the problem resolved as soon as possible. CC Hughes stressed he needed endorsement of the new approach from the Federation before it goes live.

41. Force Performance

ACC Holt updated colleagues on recent Force performance.

Decision Papers

42. Forensic Medical Examiner Contract *Restricted*

This item was taken in closed session.

Discussion / Information Items

43. ISD Projects Update

DF Hiller said this report provided an update on the ISD programme of work from September 2008 to December 2008 and asked SCT to note the update on projects delivered and those continuing into the next quarters.

Report received and noted.

44. Outstanding Weekly Leave

ACC Whyman said the purpose of this report was to update SCT members on the position in relation to the liability associated with outstanding weekly leave days owed to officers. He asked that SCT note the position in relation to the contingent liability associated with outstanding weekly leave days at the end of the third quarter of 2008/09

Report received and noted.

DCC Dyson outlined that during CHC checks, it had been highlighted that non re-rostered rest days held on PROMIS had increased. This additional liability will need including in the annual report which is submitted to the Police Authority.

ACTION: ACC Whyman

45. Prevent

ACC Sahota said this report had been submitted in order to brief the Senior Command Team on the current position with regard to implementation of a ‘Prevent' strategy in South Yorkshire. He said the Prevent Delivery Manager was still working on securing future funding for his post.

On the issue of training for areas surrounding Prevent ACC Sahota asked the best way to put forward training requests. Could these be discussed and agreed at SCT? It was agreed however that the Learning and Development Board should be filter.

It was agreed that the Head of Personnel should be requested to issue clear guidance in respect of prioritisation of training requests

ACTION: ACC Whyman

Report received and noted.

46. Update to Current Interpreting Service

ACC Whyman said this report was intended to update Senior Command Team on the current position with regard to Interpreting Services. He asked that SCT receive the paper and note the information regarding the management of this budget.

Report suggested monies for travelling time should be devolved down to districts/departments. It was agreed however that this money should continue to be held centrally and a policy developed that provides clarity.

Report noted.

ACTION: ACC Whyman

47. Essential Vehicle User Allowance

DF Hiller said that South Yorkshire Police determine Essential User status for vehicle users in accordance with Force policy. In essence, this instructs District Commanders and Department Heads to allocate this status on a case by case basis. The pertinent criterion being that it is deemed essential by the District Commander/Head of Department that he/she has a car at his/her disposal at all times.

However, the policy lacks any guidance as to what essential may be. Furthermore, no guidance is supplied as to the costs and benefits for both the Force and the individual in receipt of the allowance.

DF Hiller proposed that the Senior Command Team determine to review this policy and issue more explicit guidance on the criteria for attracting Essential User allowance. This policy is owned by Personnel and should be developed and approved by the Assistant Chief Constable, Corporate Relations.

A review of the policy would benefit from the existing claims being examined to determine the potential saving to the organisation over a financial year.

After discussion it was agreed that a review should be conducted, posts identified which should be paid essential user allowance and the policy be amended accordingly.

ACTION: ACC Whyman

Audit Reports

48. None

Papers to Review

49. Police Authority - 27 February 2009

49.1 National Review of Collaboration - Subsidiarity Exercise

Approved.

49.2 Indemnity for Premises for Regional Team

It was agreed that the Chief Executive and Treasurer of the Police Authority were best placed to deal with this issue. Paper to be forwarded to the Police Authority by Mrs Hage.

49.3 Police Staff Award

ACC Whyman pointed out that a proof of the award was not yet available, and therefore deferred the paper until the proof could be presented to members. CC Hughes expressed a wish that the award should be of a suitable quality to ensure staff understood they were valued by the Service and asked for costings in order that quality differences could be examined.

49.4 Lead Force Arrangements

Paper to be amended by ACC Whyman prior to submission to the Police Authority.

Standing Items

51. Notification to the Police Authority

NSPIS - as above - Item 40

 

52. Notification to the Force

No items

53. Any Other Business

ACC Holt said he had received two invitations for 5 March (University / SY Fire & Rescue). It was agreed that ACC Holt would attend the University function and ACC Sahota would attend Fire and Rescue event.