1
AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY held at The
Castle, Winchester on 20 April, 1999.
PRESENT:
Councillor M.J. Clark (Chairman); Mr. M.J. Attenborough-Cox;
Mrs. C. Barratt; Councillor Capt. M.P.R. Boyle DL; Dr. A.C. Chitnis;
Councillor R.A. Culver; Mrs. J. Griffin JP; Councillor S.A. Hayes;
Mr. G.M. King BEM JP; Mr. M.B. Knott JP; Councillor Mrs. J. Rayment;
Councillor Mrs. L.E. Rogerson; Councillor T.K. Thornber CBE;
Councillor W.H. Wheeler.
Also present: P.C.B. Robertson (Clerk); Sir John Hoddinott CBE
QPM MA (Chief Constable); Mr. J.C. Pittam (Treasurer); Mr. I.R.
Readhead (Assistant Chief Constable, Territorial); Mr. M. Coombes
(Director of Finance); Chief Supt. J. Edwards (Corporate Services);
Mr. N. Howell (Director of IT Services); Chief Inspector M. Greening
(Equality Assurance Unit); Inspector J. Kenna (Equality Assurance
Unit); Mrs. L. Jones (Police Headquarters); Miss S.L. Jackson
(Clerk's Office).
231 MINUTES
(a) Councillors and Magistrates Only
The Minutes of the meeting of the Councillor and
Magistrate Members of the Authority held on 19 March,
1999 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by
the Chairman.
(b) Full Authority
The Minutes of the meeting of the Authority held on 19
March, 1999 were confirmed as a correct record and
signed by the Chairman.
232 MINUTES OF THE CRIME PREVENTION PANEL
RESOLVED:
That the Minutes of the meeting of the Crime Prevention
Panel held on 18 February, 1999 be received (Item 2 in the
Minute Book).
233 MINUTES OF THE FINANCIAL AFFAIRS PANEL
(a) 2 March, 1999
RESOLVED:
That the Minutes of the meeting of the Financial Affairs
Panel held on 2 March, 1999 be received and, where
necessary, adopted (Item 3(a) in the Minute Book).
(b) 7 April, 1999
RESOLVED:
2
That the Minutes of the meeting of the Financial Affairs
Panel held on 7 April, 1999 be received (Item 3(b) in
the Minute Book).
234 THE FORCE EFFICIENCY PLAN 1999/00
The Authority considered the Efficiency Plan for 1999/00
(Item 4 in the Minute Book) which had been prepared in
response to the Home Secretary's requirement for the Police
Service to demonstrate that in 1999/00 it would achieve
efficiency gains equivalent to 2% of annual expenditure. In
addition, the Plan covered preparations that were being made
for the introduction of the statutory Best Value regime from 1
April, 2000.
Members noted that the draft Efficiency Plan had been
considered and approved for submission to the Authority at the
last meeting of the Financial Affairs Panel and that the Panel
would develop and monitor the Plan on behalf of the Authority
and make recommendations on options for re-investing in
policing the cash savings that were achieved.
Members also noted that the Efficiency Plan would be
presented to Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary in June
when an opportunity would be taken to press the case for an
allowance to be made for police forces, such as Hampshire,
which had already made significant efficiency gains and which
were already performing well against measures of performance.
Members referred to the initiatives that the
Constabulary would progress during 1999/00 in order to
demonstrate 2% efficiency gains and in respect of the review
of rural beat houses, the Authority re-emphasised its
commitment to rural policing through the effective allocation
of resources.
RESOLVED:
That the Force Efficiency Plan for 1999/00 be approved.
235 THE STEPHEN LAWRENCE INQUIRY
(a) Equality in the context of the MacPherson report
The Authority considered a report of the Clerk and the
Chief Constable (Item 5(a) in the Minute Book) which
examined the Police Authority's role in the context of
the action being taken and the issues arising from the
MacPherson Report on the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry.
Members noted that the Constabulary was currently
pursuing an overall strategy to tackle issues of
equality, both internally and externally, building on
existing policies and bringing the total approach fully
up to date with current requirements. An Equality
Assurance Unit had been established as part of this
strategy tasked with developing a meaningful and
3
resilient strategy to tackle issues of equality in the
Force.
In respect of their own role, Members noted that the
Authority had a strategic role to play in ensuring good
race relations between the Force and the public and in
monitoring the Force's strategy for policing minority
communities, and its handling of complaints. The
Authority effectively acted as the bridge between the
Force and the community, under the principles of
policing by consent, and its responsibility for
consulting with the community, gave it a particular role
to play in assessing and monitoring levels of confidence
in the Force and ensuring that action was taken to
address public concerns where those existed.
Chief Inspector Matthew Greening, Head of the Equality
Assurance Unit, then made a presentation on the key
areas to be addressed with particular reference to the
MacPherson recommendations as they related to the
Authority.
Members acknowledged that the issues arising from the
MacPherson Report deserved to be considered in-depth at
a seminar specifically arranged for this purpose and it
was agreed that discussion on how the Authority wished
to be involved in the development of the Constabulary's
responses to the MacPherson recommendations and its own
role in monitoring and assuring progress should be dealt
with at the seminar. In addition, Members asked to be
involved in the programme of equality training as it was
arranged.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the comprehensive action being taken in
relation to issues of equality, which pre-date the
Lawrence Inquiry, be noted and endorsed.
(ii) That the Authority continues to take and further
develop an active involvement in strategy
development and in the implementation of proposals
emerging from the work of the Equality Assurance
Unit.
(iii) That the conclusions and recommendations arising
from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry be noted with
particular reference to those matters requiring a
consistent response nationally, such as the
proposed new Ministerial Priority for the Police
Service to increase trust and confidence in
policing amongst ethnic communities, and the need
to recruit and retain police staff from minority
communities.
(vi) That these issues be considered further, in more
depth, at an away day or part day, to be arranged
as soon as practicable, with a view to developing
4
a Police Authority Action Plan with particular
emphasis on:-
-1 developing more opportunities for involving
minority communities in policing issues,
-2 ensuring that any changes introduced lead to
real improvements that serve the community
better and result in practical support for
police officers in enforcing the law in a
multi-cultural and multi-ethnic community.
(b) "Dismantling the Barriers to Reflect the Community we
Serve" - National Conference, Southampton - 13-14 April,
1999
The Authority considered a report of the Chief Constable
(Item 5(b)(i) in the Minute Book) on a National
Conference being held in Southampton on 13 and 14 April,
1999 which aimed to identify barriers within the
recruitment, retention and progression processes which
adversely impacted on ethnic minorities; produce a plan
to ensure equality of treatment to serving ethnic
minority officers; and produce a strategy to ensure that
the diversity of the community was reflected in the
police service.
A copy of the Home Office proposed targets circulated
for discussion at the conference was attached to the
report and a further report on the outcomes of the
conference is set out as Item 5(b)(ii) in the Minute
Book).
RESOLVED:
(i) That the report be noted.
(ii) That the attendance of the Chairman, Councillor
M.J. Clark, at the above conference, be approved.
(c) "Dismantling the Barriers to Reflect the Community we
Serve" - Conference Report
The Authority considered a report of the Chief Constable
(Item 5(b)(ii) in the Minute Book) which referred
briefly to matters arising from the above conference.
RESOLVED:
That the report be noted.
(d) Equality of Service Delivery and Opportunity
The Authority considered a report of the Chief Constable
(Item 5(c) in the Minute Book) on the Force Equality
Assurance Unit which had been established to look at all
issues of equality and, significantly, the development
and co-ordination of the Constabulary's response to the
5
MacPherson Report.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the establishment and future direction of the
Equality Assurance Unit be supported.
(ii) That the Authority gives further consideration to
its role in the future development of the issues
of the quality of service delivery and opportunity
at a seminar to be arranged in the near future.
236 GOVERNMENT DISCUSSION PAPER : LOCAL LEADERSHIP, LOCAL CHOICE
The Authority considered a report of the Clerk (Item 6
in the Minute Book) on the discussion paper issued by the
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
entitled "Local Leadership, Local Choice", together with a
draft Local Government (Organisation and Standards) Bill.
These proposals reflected those contained in the Government
White Paper issued in the summer of 1998 entitled "Modern
Local Government - In Touch with the People".
Members noted that the majority of the proposals related
to suggested new political structures for local authorities
and were not, therefore, directly applicable to Police
Authorities. However, the proposals and the draft Bill also
suggested the introduction of a new ethical framework to raise
the standard of conduct and these proposals were of direct
relevance to police authorities.
The Authority emphasised its commitment to the highest
possible standards in public service and, as such, welcomed
the proposals regarding high ethical standards for Police
Authorities. It was noted, however, that the drafting of the
Bill required some further attention in order to avoid
confusions and inconsistencies occurring when those
provisions, which were substantially drafted with Local
Government in mind, were then applied to Police Authorities.
RESOLVED:
(a) That the proposals contained in the discussion paper
"Local Leadership, Local Choice" and the draft "Local
Government (Organisation and Standards) Bill, so far as
they relate to standards of conduct for Police
Authorities, be welcomed.
(b) That a copy of this report be forwarded to the
Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions as
a formal response of the Authority.
237 AUTOMATIC FINGERPRINT RECOGNITION (AFR) CONSORTIUM - PROVISION
OF SERVICES
The Authority considered a report of the Clerk (Item 7
in the Minute Book) which recommended that the Authority
should provide employer, personnel, payroll and PAYE services
6
to the AFR Consortium, and that Hampshire County Council be
requested to admit Consortium staff to the Hampshire Local
Government Pension Fund.
RESOLVED:
(a) That, subject to being fully indemnified by the AFR
Consortium in respect thereof, the Authority provide
employer, personnel, payroll, PAYE services to the
Consortium on terms to be agreed by the Chief Constable.
(b) That Hampshire County Council be requested to admit
those staff of the Consortium who wish to do so to the
Hampshire Local Government Pension Fund.
238 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT - RESOURCING
The Authority considered a report of the Chief Constable
(Item 8 in the Minute Book) which outlined the case for re-
directing resources, both financial and staffing, to ensure
the success of the detailed plan for system and project
delivery in the next financial year as contained in the
Information Management Strategy.
RESOLVED:
(a) That £240,000 be vired from the Supplies and Services
budget to the Employees budget in 1999/00 to allow the
establishment of 9 additional posts in the IT Services
Department.
(b) That the recommendation of the Financial Affairs Panel
at its meeting on 7 April, 1999, to carry forward the
sum of £500,000 surplus in the IT and Communications
budget to fund project work as outlined in this report,
be approved.
239 WINCHESTER POLICE STATION
The Authority considered a report of the Chief Constable
(Item 9 in the Minute Book) which set out a combined
feasibility and design project appraisal for the improvement
of Winchester Police Station.
RESOLVED:
(a) That the combined feasibility and design project
appraisal for the improvement of Winchester Police
Station be approved.
(b) That approval be given to the acceptance of the lowest
tender within budget and that, in the unlikely event
that the tender evaluation leads to the project
exceeding budget provision and being outside of the
provisions of Financial Regulation 10.5, a further
report be submitted to the Authority's next meeting.
(c) That approval be given to the allocation of £50,000 to
7
be drawn from the 1999/00 Revenue budget for estate
maintenance in respect of works to the car park
associated with the project.
240 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
RESOLVED:
That, by virtue of Paragraphs 9 and 11 of Part I of
Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and
public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of
the following item.
241 REPLACEMENT OF POLICE AIRCRAFT
The Authority considered a confidential report of the
Chief Constable (Item 11 in the Minute Book) on proposals to
replace the Authority's existing Islander aircraft with a new
Defender 4000.
The report set out the advantages of this proposal
together with budgetary considerations.
RESOLVED:
That a new Defender 4000 be purchased from Britten-
Norman at a cost not exceeding that set out in the report, on
terms to be agreed by the Chief Constable in consultation with
the Treasurer.
4fM28499
Top of this page
Hantsweb Homepage