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Minutes of the Senior Command Team Meeting
Monday 10 August 2009

Present:

DCC Robert Dyson (Chair)
ACC Andy Holt

194. Declaration(s) of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

195. Minutes from SCT Meeting 29 June 2009

The minutes were approved as a true and accurate record.

196. Work Programme and Action Schedule

These were discussed and will be updated by the SCT Corporate Support Assistant.

197. Portfolio Issues

ACC Holt

• Centralised Football Intelligence Unit will be in place in time for the start of the football season. In addition to this ACC Holt is proposing the creation of a central Operational Planning function.

• Business Change Directorate are to visits districts to agree common minimum standards for Volume Crime Teams (VCTs)

• Hillsborough - Following the Home Secretary's meeting with Hillsborough families, ACC Holt attended at a meeting at the Home Office to clarify some of the issues that had been discussed. The Home Office explained that they had agreed to Professor Phil Scraton taking part in the process. After representations from ACC Holt it was agreed that the Home Office would consider appointing other lay persons to any panel to ensure a balanced and objective approach. It was accepted by the Home Office that the documents held by South Yorkshire Police are under the control of the Chief Constable, but ACC Holt in turn accepted that a joint approach on the release of any papers would be best. The Home Office agreed to consider a bid for funding for the remainder of the financial year to enable cataloguing of papers to be started. It was also agreed that David Bohannon would attend the next meeting of the Hillsborough Steering Group in South Yorkshire.

• Mobile Date - if funds are made available from devolved budget underspends, intends to put forward a bid to accelerate the mobile data project. If more training can be bought the roll-out could be brought forward. However, this will also depend on ISD (Information Systems Department) work load.

ACC Dyson

• Outlined that he had arranged a meeting with ISD, Facilities Management and Business Change Directorate to determine the present situation with regard to the provision of Generators and Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) within SYP. Also to identify potential risks in terms of our ability to provide Critical Functions, both on a daily basis and as part of our Business Continuity planning, during any period where main source power is lost and to identify any subsequent impact upon the VOIP telephone system

198. Force Performance

Overall crime down by 10.6%. ACC Holt said there was an issue with more serious violent crime, whilst this is reducing, target will be difficult to meet.

Decision Papers

199. Grant Funding Management Fee

In the absence of DF Hiller, DCC Dyson presented the paper, the purpose of which was to highlight concerns regarding the management fee being charged on grant funding, particularly heightened following the Senior Command Team decision to abolish the Inward Investment Management Board. The report provided information on how the management fee is current managed and gave various scenarious about how the fee could be charged in the future.

It was agreed that the management fee should be abolished and replaced with a mechanism to ensure all central costs are recovered from the relevant Districts and Departments. SCT to reserve the right to re-instate the management fee if it causes difficulty to districts and departments.

200. Attendance Management Policy

Deferred until 24 August when more members would be present.

201. Professional Development Day for Women Officers

DCC Dyson outlined that this paper was to give information on a proposed Professional Development Day for Women Officers, to give a proposed format for the day and to obtain decision on attendance, funding and senior management support.

The paper listed the following recommendations:-

1. That SCT agree to provide a budget of £6,000 to the Women's Network to fund this event
2. To consider Chief Constable or Deputy Chief Constable attendance and sponsorship of the event
3. To decide on attendance in duty time
4. To decide on Police Authority attendance

It was agreed that the £6,000 required would be provided from the SCT Budget.
Due to prior commitments neither the Chief Constable or the Deputy Chief Constable would be able to attend the event

DCC Dyson said he would resolve detail around attendance in duty time, Police Authority attendance and involvement of Police Staff with Superintendent Widdowson.

ACTION DCC Dyson

Discussion / Information Items

202. Lead Force for Pakistan

ACC Holt outlined that South Yorkshire Police, has since February 2004 been recognised by ACPO and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, as the ‘Lead Force' in respect of the 43 Forces in England and Wales regarding ‘relations with Pakistan'. The said the report showed the present status and sought guidance upon the future direction for South Yorkshire Police.

After discussion it was agreed that ACC Holt should ascertain who was the ACPO Lead on International Affairs and determine what is the current status of Lead Force, whether it still exists and if so what does it produce.

ACTION ACC Holt

203. Outstanding Weekly Leave

This paper was to update SCT members on the position in relation to the liability associated with outstanding weekly leave days owed to officers. SCT were asked to note the position in relation to the contingent liability associated with outstanding weekly leave days at the end of the first quarter of 2009/10

The report was received and noted

Audit Reports

204. Management Summary - Barnsley and Doncaster

Barnsley - pleasing to see no significant weaknesses. Recommendations to be monitored through Corporate Health Checks.

Doncaster - again pleasing to see no significant weaknesses. The two remaining actions to be monitored through Corporate Health Checks.

205. Management Summary - Establishment Check

SCT noted the report and that the single recommendation had been completed.

206. Management Summary

Noted.

Standing Items

207. Notification to Police Authority

No issues

208.. Notification to Force

No issues

209. Any Other Business

No items.