Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY held at The Castle, Winchester on Tuesday 18 February, 2003
PRESENT:
Councillor S.A. Hayes (Chairman); Mrs. R. Atkinson; Mr. M.J. Attenborough-Cox;
Mrs. C. Barratt; Councillor A. Collett; Councillor D. Gillett; Mrs. J. Griffin JP; Mr. R. Gully; Councillor P.A. Heath; Mr. G.M. King JP; Councillor D. Knowles; Councillor P. Mason;
Mr. R. Palmer; Councillor Mrs. M. Snaith.
Also present: Mr. P.C.B. Robertson (Clerk); Mr. P.R. Kernaghan (Chief Constable);
Mr. I.R. Readhead (Deputy Chief Constable); Mr. J. Pittam (Treasurer); Mr. M. Coombes (Director of Finance); Chief Supt. G. Stogdon; Mr. G. Ford; Inspector R. Rowland;
Mrs. J. Simms (Corporate Services); PC T. Winterbottom (Airwave Project); Ms. S. Jackson; Mrs. M. Boyes; Ms. C. Vagg (Clerk's office).
674 APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Mrs. L. Cawsey, JP and Councillor Mrs. J. Rayment.
675 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Authority held on 21 January 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
Matters arising:-
Minute 662 - Chairman's Report (Association of Police Authorities Subscription)
The Chairman reported that there was not much more to report on this matter since the last meeting of the Authority, although the matter had been referred to at the recent APA Awayday for Chairmen. The stance adopted by Hampshire appeared not to be replicated in other shire counties.
The Chairman agreed to keep the Authority informed as further information was received.
Minute 665 - Forward Revenue Budget 2003/04 - Proposals for Additional Expenditure
Members thanked the Deputy Chief Constable for his briefing paper on the cost of accessing communications data for police enquiries.
Minute 667 - Call Management Performance Information
The Deputy Chief Constable confirmed that the further information requested by Members at the last meeting of the Authority was ongoing and would be presented to a future meeting of the Authority.
676 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
(a) Assistant Chief Constable P. Jacobs
The Chairman reported that Mr. P. Jacobs, Assistant Chief Constable (Territorial Operations) had been offered a position with the Police Information Management Requirements Section of the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO), although no date had yet been set for him to commence his new duties. Arrangements were now being put in place for the recruitment of a new Assistant Chief Constable, and in this respect, it would be necessary for the Authority at its next meeting in March, to consider nominating a deputy member of the Chief Officers' Appointment Panel to take the place of Mrs C. Barratt who would be retiring from the Authority on 31 March 2003.
(b) Police Authority Awayday
The Chairman indicated that it was hoped to arrange the next Awayday in the middle of April, and he asked Members to respond to an e-mail issued by the office on this matter as soon as possible.
(c) Independent Members
The Chairman informed Members that Mrs C. Barratt would be standing down from the Authority following two four year terms as an Independent Member. He also indicated that Mrs R. Atkinson had applied for a second term on the Authority and had been included on the shortlist for interview by the Authority on 25 February. However, he was saddened to report that Mr. M. Attenborough-Cox, who had sought a third term of office and whose name had been included on the long list submitted by the Independent Selection Panel to the Home Office, had not been returned on the short list for interview.
The Authority noted that a letter appealing this decision had been sent on behalf of the Selection Panel to the Home Office seeking reasons for this decision and a reconsideration of that decision with reference to both Mr. Attenborough-Cox and one other person on the long list. A response from the Home Office was still awaited.
Members supported the approach taken by the Selection Panel and acknowledged the urgent need to resolve this matter prior to the interviews on 25 February. Members were particularly concerned that the Minister appeared not to have had regard to the needs of the Authority when deciding to not include Mr Attenborough-Cox on the short list, as his financial skills were not replicated by any of the other candidates or elsewhere on the Authority. Members were very conscious of the skills gap this would create on the Authority and, in this respect, agreed that a further letter, on behalf of the full Authority, should be sent to the Minister expressing the concern of Members about his failure to include the name of Mr. Attenborough-Cox on the short list.
Mr. Attenborough-Cox thanked his fellow Members for their strong support.
677 COUNCIL TAX PRECEPT 2003/04
The Authority considered a report of the Chief Constable and the Treasurer (Item 4 in the Minute Book) on the level of the council tax precept for 2003/04.
In this respect, the recommendations of the Financial Affairs Panel held on 11 February 2003 in respect of the council tax precept were also circulated for information. (Item 4(a) in the Minute Book). See also Minute 685 below.
The Director of Finance added that, since the meeting of the Panel, notification had been received of supplementary credit approvals and capital grant for 2003/04 which were higher than the figures previously estimated. He drew attention to the revised appendix attached to the Minutes of the Panel which took into account this announcement and the revisions in relation to aircraft equipment reported verbally to the Panel.
The Authority, whilst reluctant to impose such a high council tax, recognised that the alternative would be a cut in the current level of service which was unacceptable. The Chairman assured Members that every detail of the budget had been scrutinised thoroughly by Members and that, therefore, the Authority had exercised fully its responsibilities. In addition, Members had been afforded the opportunity of detailed presentations by the Treasurer on the budget settlement and its likely effect on the council tax precept in 2003/04. Members noted that, despite the increase, the Authority's precept would still be one of the lowest in England and Wales.
RESOLVED:
(a) That the Revenue Budget for 2003/04, as set out in Appendix 1, be approved.
(b) That the Police Authority's basic Council Tax for the year beginning 1 April 2003 be £97.29 at Band D.
(c) That the Police Authority's basic Council Tax for the year beginning 1 April 2003 be as follows:-
Band £
Band A 64.86
Band B 75.67
Band C 86.48
Band D 97.29
Band E 118.91
Band F 140.53
Band G 162.15
Band H 194.58
(d) That precepts be issued totalling £62,796,003.67 on the billing authorities in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight requiring payment, in such instalments and on such dates set by them and previously notified to the Police Authority, in proportion to the tax base of each billing authority's area as determined by them and as set out in Appendix 3 of the report.
[NB: The vote was unanimous]
678 THREE YEAR STRATEGY, ANNUAL POLICING PLAN AND PRECEPT NOTICE
The Authority considered a report of the Clerk, Treasurer and the Chief Constable (Item 5 in the Minute Book) which sought approval to the Authority's Three Year Strategy, Annual Policing Plan 2003/04, and Precept Notice.
Members noted that, the introduction of the National Policing Plan, had required Police Authorities to produce a Three Year Strategy (two years in the first instance), along with an Annual Plan which is informed by the Strategy. The requirement for a summary of the Plan had been removed and the Precept Notice for 2003/04 was being used as a means of communicating information about the Authority.
The Clerk indicated that, both the Strategy and the Plan, had to be issued/approved by 31 March and published by 30 June. In addition, a copy of the Strategy had to be submitted to the Home Secretary by 31 March for comment.
Members noted that final guidance on the preparation of the strategy was still awaited from the Home Office and that, therefore, some further work may be required following receipt of the Home Secretary's comments. It was, therefore, proposed that any minor amendments should be subject to the agreement of the Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman of the Authority. Any major changes required would be brought back to the full Authority meeting on 24 March 2003.
Members then commented on the documents and made various suggestions with regard to their contents which the officers undertook to amend as necessary. It was also suggested that consideration should be given to developing a more streamlined approach to the production of the Authority's statutory publications which currently was resource intensive and expensive. In addition, it would be helpful if both the Authority's documents and local crime and disorder reduction strategies contained cross references to those publications. Members also felt that there should be some comment contained in the text which referred to the Authority's new responsibilities from 1 April 2003 for the health, safety and welfare of its staff.
With regard to comments about the Best Value Review Programme, Members were informed that consideration was being given to moving towards a risk assessment approach which would enable the Authority to concentrate on a fewer number of reviews. In this respect, a new programme was being drawn up which would be presented to the next meeting of the Best Value and Performance Management Panel.
The Authority also felt that it was important to report regularly to the communities of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight on local performance and the Chief Constable assured Members that every opportunity was taken to issue positive press releases, although no guarantee could be given that they would be used by the media.
With regard to the Precept Notice, Members highlighted some wording which required simplification in order for it to be more easily understood in the public arena.
In conclusion, the Authority thanked the Members and Officers who had been involved in producing the documents now presented at the meeting and, in this respect, the Chief Constable paid particular tribute to Inspector Richard Rowland, who had been recently promoted and would shortly be taking up a new post. The Authority congratulated Inspector Rowland on his success and wished him well in the future.
RESOLVED:
(a) That the Strategy be approved.
(b) That the Annual Policing Plan be approved.
(c) That the Precept Notice be approved.
(d) That any amendments to the Plan be subject to the agreement of the Clerk in consultation with the Chairman of the Authority.
679 POLICE AND SUPPORT STAFF STRENGTH
The Authority considered a report of the Chief Constable (Item 6 in the Minute Book) showing police and support staff strength and availability against budgeted strength as at 31 January 2003.
RESOLVED:
That the report be noted.
680 POLICE AUTHORITY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - THIRD QUARTER REPORT
The Authority considered the third quarter progress report on the 2002/03 Annual Policing Plan (Item 7 in the Minute Book).
With regard to the vehicle crime detection rate by division, the Chief Constable explained that the high detection rate in the New Forest Division was because 141 of the vehicle crimes detected in that area during 2002/03 were committed by the same offender.
In addition, briefing notes were circulated as background in relation to PACE/Searches (page 18) and the high percentage of violent crimes detected in Fareham (page 11). These are set out at item 7(a) and (b) in the Minute Book respectively.
With regard to complaints received and the length of time taken to investigate cases, Members noted the differing procedures which existed for handling cases against police officers and civilian support staff and were informed that budgetary provision had been set aside for four additional staff which would help to improve the situation.
RESOLVED:
That the report be noted.
681 AIRWAVE PROJECT - COVERAGE PROGRESS UPDATE
The Authority considered a report of the Chief Constable (Item 8 in the Minute Book) which advised Members of the progress currently being made with regard to the Airwave Radio Project, specifically in relation to coverage and the subsequent implications.
PC T. Winterbottom attended the meeting and gave a presentation which provided an overview of the existing position.
The Authority reaffirmed its position that it was only prepared to accept a system which provided "100%" hand held radio cover across the whole Force area to match that which was available now. Members noted that the coverage needed to meet the Constabulary's requirements was still being planned by the Airwave service provider and consisted of identifying a sufficient number of appropriately located base station (aerial) sites to provide the Airwave Service. Members noted that, to date, no coverage plans submitted to the Constabulary had achieved the level of coverage required, but that negotiations were continuing to reach an acceptable agreement. In addition, the Authority supported the stance of the Constabulary in refusing to be in attendance at planning meetings to support the service provider when seeking planning approval for the location and installation of new base stations. Members recognised that the provision of the Airwave Service was contractually the sole responsibility of the service provider and that to give support to planning applications which, by their nature were traditionally sensitive, could compromise the policing of any public disorder that might arise from the same applications at a later date.
RESOLVED:
(a) That the Authority reaffirms its support for the Constabulary's position as outlined in the report.
(b) That the Authority does not wish to compromise on the level of coverage in the contract agreed with the service provider.
682 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000
The Authority considered a report of the Clerk (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the new duties placed on Police Authorities under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
RESOLVED:
That the approach set out in the report be endorsed.
683 MEMBERS ATTENDING CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS OF OUTSIDE BODIES
The Authority considered a report of the Clerk (Item 10 in the Minute Book) seeking approval for the attendance of Members at conferences and meetings of outside bodies.
RESOLVED:
That the attendance of Members at the events indicated in the report be approved.
684 NOTES OF THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS STEERING GROUP
RESOLVED:
That the Notes of the meeting of the Community Affairs Steering Group held on 5 December, 2002 be received (Item 11 in the Minute Book).
685 MINUTES OF THE FINANCIAL AFFAIRS PANEL
(a) Meeting held on 17 January
RESOLVED:
That the Minutes of the meeting of the Financial Affairs Panel held on 17 January 2003 be received and, where necessary, adopted (Item 12(a) in the Minute Book).
(b) Meeting held on 11 February
RESOLVED:
That the Minutes of the meeting of the Financial Affairs Panel held on 11 February 2003 be received and, where necessary, adopted (Item 12(b) in the Minute Book).
686 MINUTES OF THE PERSONNEL PANEL
RESOLVED:
That the Minutes of the meeting of the Personnel Panel held on 28 January be received (Item 13 in the Minute Book).
687 MINUTES OF THE BEST VALUE AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT PANEL
RESOLVED:
That the Minutes of the meeting of the Best Value and Performance Management Panel held on 30 January be received (Item 14 in the Minute Book).
688 MINUTES OF THE COMPLAINTS PANEL
RESOLVED:
That the Minutes of the meeting of the Complaints Panel held on 20 January be received (Item 15 in the Minute Book).
689 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
RESOLVED:
That, by virtue of Paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as set out below, the press and public be excluded from the meeting.
690 MINUTES OF THE COMPLAINTS PANEL
RESOLVED:
That the confidential Minutes of the meeting of the Complaints Panel held on 20 January 2003 be received (Item 17 in the Minute Book).
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