Minutes of the Senior Command Team Meeting
Monday 1 June 2009

Present:

CC Meredydd Hughes (Chair)
DF Nigel Hiller
ACC Andy Holt
ACC Max Sahota
ACC Mark Whyman
Mr Alan Wilshaw (Item 147 only)

146. Declaration(s) of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

Presentations

147. QUEST

Mr James Brady (Home Office), Mr Nicholas Fox and Ms Rosemary Scully (KPMG) gave an introduction to QUEST which is a programme of intensive support designed to improve capability and performance in front line services. It was explained that if SYP decided to join QUEST it would drive change in the Force over an initial six month period in four main stages of six weeks each stage. There were considerable cost and resource implications associated with the programme. They outlined that if SYP decided to join QUEST then lead staff needed to be identified within the next two weeks to start identifying objectives.

SCT discussed the presentation by Home Office and KPMG staff. Whilst reservations were expressed about the cost benefit ratio and the in-Force staff commitment necessary, overall SCT felt the approach merited significant further consideration and lent itself to the use of reserves to deliver improved performance and potential costs savings. It was agreed that CC Hughes would brief the Police Authority on Friday 5 June with a view to establishing the Authority's support for this proposal. SCT agreed that it was imperative that the right team was selected if the Police Authority gave approval to participation in this process. This therefore meant that the short deadline requiring staff to be allocated for this project and available to attend a one week course commencing 15 June could not be achieved. ACC Holt to relay this decision back to the Home Office team.

Mr Wilshaw is already leading on a series of visit to other forces to cross reference and establish the performance improvements that have been derived from this process.

ACTION: ACC Holt to inform Home Office of decision
CC Hughes to brief the Police Authority

Standing Items

148. Minutes from SCT Meeting 18 May 2009

The minutes were approved as a true and accurate record.

149. Action Schedule and Work Programme

The action schedule and work programme were discussed and will be updated by the SCT Corporate Support Assistant

150. Portfolio Issues

ACC Holt

• Review into Volume/Violent Crime Teams - ACC Holt pointed out there is no corporacy around the Force in relation to these Teams and suggested that a mandated set of corporate standards be created. This was agreed.

ACC Sahota

• Made reference to a debate regarding the Olympics at a recent Protective Services Committee regarding SYP preparedness and where it was outlined that Councillors are actively promoting South Yorkshire. ACC Sahota outlined that he has now set up an Olympics panel involving the relevant staff and will bring a paper to SCT and also in due course to Police Authority on the Force position.

• Gave details of a forthcoming inspection into Rape Investigation to be carried out on 15 and 16 June

• Regional working - set up a Regional Heads of Crime Group and a lead has been identified in each Force for the various strands

ACC Whyman

• Outlined that there has been media interest (BBC TV) in the Force Gala awards

• Referred to a meeting to be held 2 June to discuss issues surrounding NSPIS

DF Hiller

• Issues surrounding the sale of Force Training School

• To speak to the Chief Executive and Treasurer regarding the Force underspend. A paper to be presented to the Audit Committee on 26 June 2009.

 

151. Force Performance

ACC Holt briefed colleagues on recent Force performance. All crime down 6.9%.

Decision Papers

152. QRD Agenda

SCT discussed the draft agenda for the next Quarterly Review Day to be held on 22 June 2009 at Niagara.

It was agreed that Supply Chain Management and Vehicle Fleet Management should give a presentation along with Information Systems and Facilities Management and it was also proposed that an item could be included on the agenda regarding Regional Working/Protective Services.

Discussion / Information Items

153. Budget Holders Commentary - March 2009

DF Hiller presented the Budget Holders commentary for March 2009 which was received and noted.

ACC Holt noted that inward investment was not included on the commentaries as had been agreed. DFA Hiller said that this would happen from now on. ACC Sahota raised the issue of efficiency savings by OSS as it was understood by the Head of OSS that the department's assets were red circled for resilience purposes for the Olympics. CC Hughes outlined that this was not the case and there was room for innovation to improve efficiency as long as the service provided across the force was maintained. CC Hughes pointed out that it had been agreed in budget discussions at SCT that only Legal Services were to be exempt from efficiency savings.

Audit Reports

154. None

Papers to Review

155. Minutes of the Public Order Strategy Group meeting - 15 April 2009

Noted

Standing Items

156. Notification to Police Authority

CC Hughes will raise QUEST at the Police Authority AGM on Friday 5 June 2009.

157 Notification to Force

No issues

158. Any Other Business

No issues