Archived decisions

.AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY held at Serles House, Southgate Street, Winchester on 24 March, 2003.

PRESENT:

Councillor S.A. Hayes (Chairman); Mrs. R. Atkinson; Mr. M.J. Attenborough-Cox;

Mrs. C. Barratt; Mrs L. Cawsey, JP; Councillor A.P. Collett; Councillor J. Fazackarley; Councillor D. Gillett; Mrs. J. Griffin, JP; Mr. R.J. Gully; Mr. G.M. King, JP; 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; Mrs. J. Simms (Corporate Services); Ms. S. Jackson; Mrs. M. Boyes (Clerk's office).

694 APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from Councillors P. Heath, D. Knowles, and Mrs. J. Rayment.

695 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Authority held on 18 February 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Matters arising:-

(a) Minute 675 (Minute 662 Association of Police Authorities (APA) Subscription)

The Chairman reported that a meeting would be arranged with the Chief Executive and the Chairman of the APA to discuss the increase in the subscription prior to the Authority's away day on 17 April. He would report back to the Authority at that time.

(b) Minute 676(a) - Assistant Chief Constable P. Jacobs

The Chief Constable reported that the Senior Appointments Panel had authorised the appointment of Chief Supt. G. Wyeth as Temporary Assistant Chief Constable (TO) with effect from 1 May 2003 and he sought the approval of the Authority to this arrangement.

Members approved the appointment of Mr Wyeth on this basis.

(c) Minute 680 - Police Authority Performance Indicators - Third Quarter Report

The Deputy Chief Constable confirmed that, following comments made by Members at the last meeting, work was in hand to separate out the days taken to complete complaints that were subject to court proceedings from the other data.

696 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

There were no Chairman's reports.

697 MR M.J. ATTENBOROUGH-COX AND MRS C. BARRATT

The Chairman indicated that this would be the last meeting attended by Mr M.J. Attenborough-Cox and Mrs C. Barratt whose terms of office would expire on 31 March 2003 following 8 years as Members of the Authority. He thanked both Members on behalf of the Authority for their significant contribution to the work of the Authority over the last 8 years and he presented them both with framed certificates in recognition of their past service.

In return, Mr Attenborough-Cox presented the Chairman with a framed print for the Authority's office.

Individual Members then offered their own thanks to both Mr Attenborough-Cox and Mrs Barratt whose presence would be missed on the Authority.

698 POLICE AND SUPPORT STAFF STRENGTH

The Authority considered a report of the Chief Constable (Item 5 in the Minute Book) showing police and support staff strength and availability against budgeted strength as at 28 February 2003.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

699 BEST VALUE REVIEW OF HAMPSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY

The Authority considered a report of the Clerk (Item 6 in the Minute Book) which set out the position with regard to the Best Value Review of the Hampshire Police Authority and highlighted some of the key recommendations.

The Chairman suggested that detailed discussion on this item should take place at the Authority's away day to be held on 17 April in order that all the issues could be thoroughly considered particularly as some of the Review's recommendations required significant investment. In addition, the Clerk explained that some of the timescales contained in the recommendations required adjusting in view of the delay in presenting the Review to the Authority.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and considered in more detail at the Authority's next away day in April 2003.

700 SAFETY CAMERA PARTNERSHIP FOR HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT - UPDATE

The Authority considered a report of the Chief Constable (Item 7 in the Minute Book) which set out the current situation regarding the Safety Camera Partnership and detailed progress made since 1 April 2002.

The Authority thanked the Chief Constable for the update and supported his attempts to supply the media with positive information about the Partnership and its intentions in order to reassure the public that the primary motivation behind the project was to improve road safety and reduce casualties. Members also supported the additional mobile camera routes as their presence on the road reminded the public that speed limits applied at all locations and not only in the proximity of fixed cameras. Members noted that the Partnership website, launched in January 2003, provided information about the routes and sites and would also be published in local papers.

The Chief Constable suggested that Members might wish to visit the Central Ticket Office in order to assist their understanding of the project aims. He also referred to the camera visibility issue which, following a recent High Court Judgment following a successful campaign by Road Safety pressure groups, was now the responsibility of individual police forces. The Chief Constable informed the Authority that, in the case of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, he would seek the advice of his Head of Traffic with regard to each individual camera before deciding on the level of its visibility.

Members referred to the comprehensive quarterly returns required by the Department of Transport with a view to this information being provided to the Authority if appropriate and agreed to leave the discretion to the Chief Constable with regard to the presentation of this information to the Authority.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and that a further progress report be submitted in August 2003.

701 MEMBERS' ALLOWANCE SCHEME 2003/04

The Authority considered a report of the Clerk and the Treasurer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) which reviewed the Scheme of Allowances and proposed that Members' Annual Allowances should be increased at the rate of the Police Support Staff Council cost of living increase which was 3.4% in 2003/04. In addition, the report proposed that reference be made within the Scheme to the payment of Core Group Administrators and the reimbursement of expenses for Independent Custody Visitors.

Members expressed concern with regard to any increases to their allowances at a time when it had been necessary to increase the Council Tax by a significant percentage and in the absence of any performance management arrangements but, nonetheless, had regard to the fact that other Police Authorities were making similar increases and that, to delay a cost of living increase in the current year might have a more significant impact in the future.

Members also referred to Schedule IV to the Scheme (Appointments to Outside Bodies) and agreed that, with regard to the appointment of Members to Association of Police Authorities Panels/Groups, a Member of the Personnel Panel should be appointed to the APA Personnel and Human Resources Group. Members also noted that the APA Health and Safety Panel had been omitted from the list contained in Schedule IV together with name of Mr G.M. King, JP who was the Authority's representative on that group.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the level of allowances for 2003/04, as set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report, be approved.

(b) That the amended Scheme of Allowances for 2003/04 be approved with effect from 1 April 2003.

702 COMMUNITY CONSULTATION - CORE GROUP PROGRAMMES 2003/04

The Authority considered a report of the Clerk (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the 2003/04 Core Group Community Consultation Programmes.

Members noted that the Community Affairs Steering Group had considered the draft consultation programmes at length at its meeting on 27 February 2003 and had suggested various amendments and revisions which had been relayed to the Core Group Administrators. The report attached the individual programmes and highlighted the areas where items previously deleted from the programmes by the Community Affairs Steering Group had been subsequently reinstated following a request by the individual Core Groups concerned. Members noted that the inclusion of those additional events did not take the costs above the amount allocated to each Core Group for consultation during 2003/04.

Members asked the Chief Constable to convey their thanks to BCU Commanders for their input into the consultation programmes. Members also felt that it would be helpful to have a list of consultation events for the year in order that they could provide mutual assistance to colleagues in other areas.

RESOLVED:

That the programme of consultation for 2003/04, as approved by the Community Affairs Steering Group at its meeting on 27 February, 2003, be endorsed.

703 HAMPSHIRE INDEPENDENT CUSTODY VISITING SCHEME - JULY TO DECEMBER, 2002

The Authority considered a report of the Clerk (Item 10 in the Minute Book) which reviewed the progress of the Hampshire Independent Custody Visiting Scheme for the period July to December, 2002 and attached as Appendices the six monthly progress reports from the four Panel convenors.

Members regretted that they would no longer be able to have the opportunity to act as Independent Custody Visitors from 1 April, 2003 but welcomed the intention that link Members should be appointed to each of the Panels. In this respect, Mr. R.J. Gully and Mr. G.M. King JP were appointed to the Isle of Wight and South West Panels respectively.

With regard to the report from the South West Panel, Members had regard to paragraphs 7.2 and 7.3 which requested the Authority to give further consideration to the total ban on smoking in custody areas and drew attention to the difficulties in Southampton of interviewing detainees where English was not their first language. The Authority noted the comments made by the Panel and had regard to the comments of the Chief Constable that the police were able to offer alternatives to cigarettes and that, in addition, no litigation had yet been brought against a police force for causing distress to a detainee as a result of a smoking ban. With regard to language problems, Members noted the comments of the Chief Constable that this situation was a reflection of the society now being dealt with by the police and placed an ever increasing burden on the force and its limited resources.

Members also commented on the style and format of the Panel reports and asked that these should be of uniform appearance in the future.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the report be noted.

(b) That the following Members be appointed to each of the four Custody Visiting Panels:-

Isle of Wight Panel - Mr. R.J. Gully
North Panel - vacancy
South East Panel - vacancy
South West Panel - Mr. G.M. King JP

704 HAMPSHIRE CONSTABULARY INDEPENDENT POLICE DOG WELFARE GROUP

The Authority considered a report of the Chief Constable (Item 11 in the Minute Book) which recommended the establishment of an Independent Police Dog Welfare Group in line with advice contained in the ACPO Training and Care Manual.

Members supported the establishment of such a Scheme which was intended to maintain public confidence and secure the welfare of police dogs by ensuring that police dog training methods and the operational use of police dogs was effective, humane, ethical and transparent. Members also agreed that it was important to fund the Scheme appropriately and noted that any costs were likely to be minimal and could be contained within existing resources.

RESOLVED:

That a Hampshire Constabulary Independent Police Dog Welfare Group be set up with the co-operation of the Police Authority in order to provide credibility and ensure independence through its monitoring of the paperwork.

705 CHIEF OFFICER APPOINTMENT PANEL

That in view of the current recruitment exercise, Mrs. R. Atkinson be appointed to replace Mrs. C. Barratt as a deputy on the Chief Officer Appointment Panel following the retirement of the latter from the Authority on 31 March, 2003.

706 CRIME AND DISORDER REDUCTION PARTNERSHIPS

RESOLVED:

That the following action be taken to replace Mr. M.J. Attenborough-Cox and Mrs. C. Barratt on the Basingstoke and East Hampshire Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships respectively with effect from 1 April, 2003:-

Basingstoke - vacancy
East Hampshire - Mrs. L. Cawsey JP

707 MEMBERS ATTENDING CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS OF OUTSIDE BODIES

The Authority considered a report of the Clerk (Item 14 in the Minute Book) seeking approval for the attendance of Members at conferences and meetings of outside bodies.

The Chief Constable highlighted the importance of the recent conference on the Victoria Climbie Inquiry and indicated that the Authority would shortly be invited to visit the Constabulary's Child Protection Unit in order to demonstrate the Force's continuing commitment in this area.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the attendance of Members at the events indicated in the report be approved.

(b) That Councillor S.A. Hayes, Mr. G.M. King JP, Mrs. L. Cawsey JP and Mr. R.J. Gully be appointed to attend the ACPO 2003 Conference to be held at the NEC Birmingham on 19/21 May, 2003.

708 NOTES OF THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS STEERING GROUP

RESOLVED:

That the Notes of the meeting of the Community Affairs Steering Group held on 27 February, 2003 be received (Item 16 in the Minute Book).

709 MINUTES OF THE BEST VALUE AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT PANEL

(a) Meeting held on 28 February, 2003

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Best Value and Performance Management Panel held on 28 February, 2003 be received (Item 17(a) in the Minute Book) and, where necessary, adopted.

(b) Meeting held on 18 March, 2003

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Best Value and Performance Management Panel held on 18 March, 2003 be received (Item 17(b) in the Minute Book).

710 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED:

That, by virtue of Paragraphs 7, 8 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting.

711 POLICE HEADQUARTERS ACCOMMODATION PROJECT

The Authority considered a confidential report of the Chief Constable (Item 19 in the Minute Book) on the project to refurbish the existing Police Headquarters main building and west wing in order to meet operational space requirements on the West Hill site for the next 5 years.

Members noted the various options which had been prepared against user requirements and value for money considerations and agreed that Option 3 represented the best solution. Members also noted that the Estates Working Group had been kept informed on proposals and progress on the project and that the Financial Affairs Panel would be considering a further report containing the final project appraisal at its meeting in May, 2003.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the favoured option (Option 3) for delivery of the Police Headquarters accommodation project at a budget cost of £4.9-£5.2m be endorsed.

(b) That the timetable identified in the report be supported and further fees expenditure of £45,000 be approved in order to enable an application for outline planning permission to be submitted.

(c) That further fees expenditure of £50,000 be approved to enable further design development to be programmed in support of the Key Events Schedule.

(d) That the total fees expenditure by May, 2003, anticipated to be £145,000 on feasibility and options appraisal, application for planning permission, and design development, be noted.

(e) That it be agreed that a final project appraisal be brought to the Financial Affairs Panel in May, 2003.

(f) That the Members' Estate Working Group be authorised to agree the detail on further design and commissioning aspects of the project.

712 HMS DAEDALUS

[Councillor Mrs. M. Snaith declared a personal interest in this matter because of her knowledge of the area as a local councillor and her awareness of the public interest in the current issues surrounding the possible future use of the site].

The Authority considered a confidential report of the Chief Constable (Item 20 in the Minute Book) on matters relating to the former HMS Daedalus site.

Members had regard to the comments of the Chief Constable with regard to possible future uses of the site and the impact of such uses on existing police facilities together with associated estimated costs.

Members responded to the Chief Constable's comments and noted the advice of the Clerk with regard to future opportunities for the Authority to make representations concerning the use of the site.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

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