West Mercia Governance Board
Notes of Meeting
Wednesday 26th July 2023, 14:00-17:00
Willison Room, Hindlip
Attendance
John Campion (JC) Chair – Police and Crime Commissioner
Marc Bayliss (MB) – Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner
Gareth Boulton (GB) – Chief Executive Officer
Paul Benfield (PB) – Treasurer
Pippa Mills (PM) – Chief Constable
Alex Murray (AM) – Deputy Chief Constable
Richard Muirhead (RM) – Director of Commercial Services
Damian Barratt (DB) – T/ACC – Crime & Vulnerability
Rachel Jones (RJ) – ACC – Local Policing
Rachel Hartland-Lane (RHL) – Director of Business Services
Rachael Thorold (minutes) – Secretary
Apologies
Tony Morriss (TM) – Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Richard Cooper (RC) – Assistant Chief Constable
Minutes
Ref 01/26/07/2023
Introduction / Attendance / Apologies.
Introductions were made and apologies noted.
Ref 02/26/07/2023
Minutes and Action Log for the meeting held on 21st June 2023.
The minutes were recorded as an accurate record.
The action log was updated.
Ref 03/26/07/2023
Money Matters Q1 2023-24 – Papers – For Decision.
The Q1 2023-2024 Money Matters paper was presented and discussed.
- The PCC asked that further detail around savings plans, to highlight what
has been removed and replaced from the plan, be included in the report
going forward. - There was a discussion around pay awards for police officers and staff, and
the associated local financial impact, albeit recognising that awards are not
fully confirmed at this point.
Decision: The recommendation from the Addendum was supported. A virement is authorised to enable payment of a pay award of 7% from 1st September for all employees. This to be based on a virement of £5.127m from the calculated grant income of and virement of £1.345m utilised from the contingency funding available. Confirmation of final figures to be brought to future meeting following the announcement of actual grant funding.
Ref 04/26/07/2023
Agile Working Policy – Papers – For Information.
The agile working policy was presented, discussed, and noted.
- The CEO asked what the terms of review for the Policy are in terms of
benefits/impact on performance. RHL stated that the policy will be
reviewed and there are measurable indicators which will be monitored. - The DPCC asked how access to restricted data/information is ensured.
Ensuring data protection and information security access risks is the
responsibility of the worker, and all are to continue to adhere to the
relevant policies and procedures.
Ref 05/26/07/2023
Public release of BWV – Paper – For Information.
The public release of BWV paper was presented, discussed, and noted
Ref 06/26/07/2023
Safer West Mercia Plan Funding Initiatives – Papers – For information.
The Safer West Mercia Plan Funding initiatives papers were presented, discussed, and noted.
- The PCC highlighted that use of this funding had been delegated to the Force
and did not require reporting, however he was grateful for the transparency. - There was concern that some of the investments were being proposed to
support BAU or Force initiatives, rather than direct public priorities. WMP
will review these alongside guidance previously provided by PCC. - The spend will be reported back to this meeting via the Money Matters
report.
Ref 07/26/07/2023
Fleet Write Off July 2023 – Paper – For Decision.
The fleet write off paper was presented and discussed.
- PCC stated that in the scheme of consent the force have ability to manage
write offs and that therefore this request did not require PCC decision. - Discussion around impact on the 23/24 reserve balances and the timing of
draw down from reserve for the decision made at March 2023 WMGB. - Clarification that the Force is able to handle the matter within existing
consent parameters. The recommendation was unsupported. - The PCC queried outcomes relating to the third party responsible for
the damage.
Action: 2023/24 – RHL is to provide an update on how the Force pursues insurance, criminal or civil damages relating to incidents caused by a third party.
Ref 08/26/07/2023
Fleet Governance – Papers – For Information.
The fleet governance papers were presented, discussed, and noted.
- The PCC welcomed the paper and welcomed the information being
captured by the Telematics system as well as the progress it is enabling in
the management of the fleet. - With regards to servicing, the PCC asked for reassurance that Chief Officers
are satisfied that the servicing regime is appropriate and that it is able to
respond to changing fleet requirements, specifically for non-emergency
vehicles.
Action: 2023/25 – RHL is to provide reassurance that the Forces approach to mainlining the fleet is appropriate, flexible, innovative and provides best value.
Ref 09/26/07/2023
Change and Transformation Update – For Information.
The Change and Transformation update was presented and discussed.
- Agreement that a specific report on DST would come to WMGB, providing
detail on delivery of the programme to date and consideration of
implications for the future of the programme given the original timescales
for delivery. This would come to WMGB in late Autumn 2023.
Action: 2023/26 – The CC/DCC are to confirm the date for the DST deep dive element of the C&T programme at WMGB.
Ref 10/26/07/2023
Internal Audit 2023-2024 – Paper – For Information.
The Internal Audit paper was noted. It was agreed this (and other similar) papers did not need to be tabled at WMGB in the future.
Ref 11/26/07/2023
Quarterly A & A update – Paper – For Information.
The quarterly A & A update was presented, discussed, and noted.
- It was noted by both WMP and OPCC colleagues that papers presented at
the meeting should carry appropriate branding.
Ref 12/26/07/2023
ACC/ACO Directorate Updates – (Papers).
The papers were presented discussed and noted.
Business Services Update – RHL.
The paper was presented, discussed, and noted.
Crime & Vulnerability Update – DB.
The paper was presented, discussed, and noted.
Local Policing/OPS/Public contact/Prevention Portfolio Update – RJ.
The paper was presented, discussed, and noted.
- Discussion around heightened levels of demand reflected in 999 / 101 call
figures, and how much of this is down to genuine increases in demand vs
technical issues including Android phones and server issues. Investigations
into this continue.
Commercial Services Update – RM.
The paper was presented, discussed, and noted.
- The PCC welcomed the infrastructure resilience update.
- Confirmation from WMP that an internal launch around the Corporate
Governance Framework and Scheme of Consent is in progress.
Ref 13/26/07/2023
AOB/Forward Plan.
Clarification of April 2023 minutes.
Request from PB that the fleet decision made in April 2023, be amended. This was supported by the PCC. A revision to the decision has been included on the presented report.
Decision: – The proposed decision was accepted to clarify the funding available in relation to the FRP decision made at WMGB in April 2023.
Ref 14/26/07/2023
Next Meeting.
Wednesday 23rd August 2023, 14:00hrs, Willison Room, Hindlip
