West Mercia Governance Board
Notes of Meeting
Date: 19th December 2024
Attendance:
John Campion (JPC) Chair Police and Crime Commissioner
Paul Benfield (PB) Treasurer
Gareth Boulton (GB) Chief Executive Officer
Rachel Hartland-Lane (RHL) Director of Business Services
Rachel Jones (RJ) T/Deputy Chief Constable
Caroline Marsh (CM) T/Assistant Chief Constable
Anthony Morriss (TM) Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Richard Muirhead (RM) Director of Commercial Services
Edd Williams (EW) Chief Superintendent
Lisa Blakeman (LB) Secretary
Beth Willetts (BW) Head of Business Support, OPCC
Apologies:
Marc Bayliss (MB) Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner
Richard Cooper (RC) T/Chief Constable
Grant Wills (GW) Assistant Chief Constable, Local Policing & Operations
Minutes
Ref/01/19/12/2024
Introduction / Attendance / Apologies The PCC welcomed everyone to the meeting, apologies noted and introductions made.
Ref/02/19/12/2024
Review of Minutes & Action Log for the previous meeting held on 21 November 2024.
The minutes were agreed to be a true and accurate record. The action log was updated accordingly.
Ref/03/19/12/2024
Local Policing Community Charter – For Decision The paper was presented by EW and discussed.
EW set out some of the features of the Charter, including the specific offer to Parish Councils with attendance based on need and building relationships Council Chairs. RJ explained that some formatting was required around the principles to make them more visible and the charter very much focussed on the how.
The PCC asked if quarterly engagement with Parish Councils was reasonable and how the force would gain support in areas where there was less engagement. RJ clarified that there was a need to avoid a promise to smaller parishes but accepted more regular contact with larger parishes was required. The PCC asked that the position is considered.
RJ confirmed the Charter would be signed off at Chief Officer level. The PCC hoped it would be signed off before the next Police & Crime Panel on 5 February 2025.
The PCC requested the Charter to be part of the Local Policing update once a quarter and to be added to the forward plan.
Action Ref 2024/88: Local Policing Community Charter – Add to forward plan as part of the Local Policing quarterly report.
The Board NOTED the report.
Ref/04/19/12/2024
Victims Hub Update – For Information The paper was presented by TM and discussed.
The tender was current in the standstill period and would then move into phase 1, transferring to the new provider. TM outlined the implications explaining that the change offered benefits, but some services would transition back to the force and a working group had been set up to take forward. Staff had been briefed about the changes.
The PCC was grateful to CM and Nigel Webster for their input and force engagement. CM confirmed that staff changes were captured as a risk.
RJ confirmed that the pensions passthrough agreement was yet to be finalised and the PCC clarified his office would cover appropriate costs if required.
The Board NOTED the report.
Ref/05/19/12/2024
HMICFRS Peel & Transformation Update – For Information RJ confirmed the inspectors had now left and had not raised any immediate causes for concern. The key points raised by HMICFRS appeared to be things that WMP was already aware of.
The Board NOTED the report.
Ref/06/19/12/2024
Change & Transformation Update – For Information The paper was presented and discussed.
RJ confirmed that Athena additional functionality phase 2 would come back to the next meeting with recommendations. The Citrix exit was on track for the end of March 2025.
PB asked about Government aspirations for system collaboration. RJ confirmed it was too early to say how this would affect Athena, but it could drive better more coherent systems going forward. There is the possibility for one nationwide system.
The Board NOTED the report.
Ref/07/19/12/2024
Money Matters PO8 – For Information The paper was presented and discussed.
RM presented commenting that it represented a continued positive management of the projected overspend. Digital Services pressures continued as did recruitment challenges, with 53% of recruitment requests not coming to Chief officers.
The PCC asked for reassurance on overtime being effectively managed. RJ assured the PCC that specific jobs were coded, there were parameters on overtime and was comfortable on local policing overtime spend. A breakdown of overtime by local policing area will be used to inform planning, this will be provided to the PCC.
Action Ref 2024/89: Overtime – RJ and RM to provide a breakdown of overtime to the PCC, which will be used by the force to inform planning.
The Board NOTED the report.
Ref/08/19/12/2024
Portfolio Updates – For Information The portfolio reports were presented, discussed and noted.
Business Services
The PCC asked if there was a backlog in Digital Services regarding issuing radios. RHL confirmed there was no significant backlog. The PCC asked if a West Mercia ROCU vehicle was damaged by West Midlands Police who pays for the damage. RHL agreed to find out.
Action Ref 2024/90: Ascertain who pays for the damage if a force issued ROCU vehicle is damaged by officers from a partner force.
The PCC set out that there will be scrutiny from the Government regarding numbers of PCSO’s and Specials. RHL reported a larger number of applications following paid for advertising and confirmed the next PCSO course would take place in April 2025. RHL gave assurance on the focus of recruitment of PCSO’s and Specials. The PCC requested reporting on recruitment into WMGB during 2025 with a discussion as to how and what that looked like.
Action Ref 2024/91: Recruitment Deep Dive – GB to engage with RHL regarding reporting of recruitment into WMGB during 2025.
Criminal Justice The PCC asked if the body worn videos for use in custody had been well received. It was confirmed that they had and were showing cost benefits and efficiencies. Battey life was being evaluated and further updates will be provided to the WMGB.
Commercial Services RM reported that the Force has been commended at the Green Fleet Awards for the salary sacrifice scheme.
Local Policing RJ praised Inspector Steph Arrowsmith for her work at the recent learning event.
Ref/09/19/12/2024
AOB/ Forward Plan There was no other business raised.
