31 July 2024
Minutes of Meeting
Meeting: COT Board
Venue: HQ, Haigh Room
Date and Time: 31.07.24 @ 9:30am - 1:15pm
ITEM 1: ATTENDANCE
DCC Bisset (SB) - Chair
ACC Clarke(CC)
T/ACC Fox (WF)
ACO Lisa Stitt (LS)
CFO Louise Branford-White (LBW)
Maeve Chappell – Corporate Communications Lead (MC)
Inspector David Anderson – Staff Officer (DA)
Sarah Gardiner – GSO, Executive Support (SG)
CC Forber item 5 onwards (TF)
APOLOGIES Non required.
ITEM 2: Review of minutes
Summary of Discussion:
The minutes of the previous meeting were reviewed with one minor amendment the minutes were approved.
ITEM 3: Op Infusion
Summary of Discussion:
Supt Haywood-Noble joined the meeting and provided a detailed update.
ITEM 4: Finance Monthly Update
Summary of Discussion:
CFO Louise Branford-White presented the Q1 finance reports.
Capital Budget Report LBW presented the current financial position of the actual and forecasted expenditure position for the Police Capital Programme as at June 2024.
The revised Capital Programme at June is totalling £13.791m with a year -to-date underspend of £1.391m. The capital programme is currently forecasting a breakeven position.
The CFO requested the COT note the recommendations.
1. The Prioritisation Process undertaken in Q1 2024/25, which identified savings to the capital programme and change pipeline of £2,467k and £880k respectively.
2. The Prioritisation Process realignment of the change pipeline and note this is to ensure the Capital Programme and Change Pipeline are both fit for purpose and deliverable.
3. To approve the revised Capital Programme totalling £13.791m at Qtr. 1 2024/25 noting that despite assurances it is still likely to be challenging to deliver.
4. To approve budget Holders are required to continue to work closely with Finance to provide realistic assessment, with supporting evidence, as to what can be delivered in 2024/25.
SB sought reassurance from LS that effective governance was in place ensuring oversight of the ongoing delivery of the Capital programme. LS confirmed monthly governance meeting providing both challenge and support to functional Heads to track delivery.
SB asked any risks to delivery should be raised at the earliest opportunity.
DECISION - COT noted the recommendations.
Revenue Budget Report LBW presented the current financial position of the forecast expenditure and income versus the delegated revenue budget for 2024/25.
Balancing income with expenditure, against the delegated budget, as of June 2024 the Force is forecasting an overspend of £1.254m.
A discussion took place around vacancy analysis and the Strategic Workforce Plan to deliver the officers/staff that are needed for the force to operate.
The COT requested further clarity on the information provided and an updated report will be presented as part of the Finance Update on the 28th August 2024.
ACTION – LS to revisit the recruitment profile for 2024/25 to ensure affordability and financial alignment to the delivery of the current PUP (Police Uplift) requirements.
Police Officer recruitment profiling is overseen at the Resourcing Board and should be a standing agenda item. Update to be provided at the COT meeting, 21st August 2024 as part of the People Management item. Finance should also assure the plan prior to presentation.
Car Benefit Due to time constraints this report will be presented on the 28th August 2024.
People -v- Budget Cycle Due to time constraints this report will be presented on the 28th August 2024.
ITEM 5: People Management inc Leadership Pathway
Summary of Discussion:
Kerry West (KW) Talent and Development Manager and Kate Dennis (KD) Talent and Development Lead joined the meeting.
LS provided an overview of the paper. The purpose of the document is to provide an update to the Chief Officer Team on the Leadership courses undertaken by Chief Inspectors and equivalent Police Staff and above.
It was noted that NYP, has had no formal offer of structure and investment around Senior Leadership Training for a significant number of years. Proposals for a bespoke externally led Senior Leadership offering were taken to COT at the end of 2022 / early 2023, however the Talent and Development team were asked to prioritise the implementation and delivery of the College of Policing First Line Leaders Programme (FLLP) and Mid-Line Leaders Programme (MLLP).
This is currently still ongoing and is being achieved following the appointment of two dedicated Leadership Trainers.
TF stated a new set of values and behaviours was fundamental for the force to underpin a first- and second-line leadership programme, to get to a position every supervisor had been through that programme. Senior Leadership should be linked to the College of Policing offer and centralised in terms of budget and course allocation.
A discussion took place around internal talent management. TF would like a programme to develop Police Staff and LS was to lead on this work. The PDR and 360 process are being reviewed.
LBW to review all current training budgets, with the possibility of centralising them to support the approach. This will be reported to the Savings and Efficiency Board.
A further discussion took place regarding the 360 approach to leadership assessments.
DECISION - The procurement of a 360 product is approved and will be for the provision of psychometric profile reports as well as 360 reports. Funding to be found within the People Services departmental budget.
DECISION – Financial Year 2025-26 the organisation will thematically focus on Leadership Investment, Values and Behaviours with the funding to support the approach being established from April 2025.
ITEM 6: Review of the Action Log.
Summary of Discussion:
Action 497 – Leadership Audit. Agenda item. Closed.
Action 532 – Travel options. Linked to action 596. Closed.
Action 561 – Uniform Policy. Consultation completed and policy will be presented to COT in August. Closed.
Action 603 – Police Race Action Plan. Will be an agenda item at the DEI Gold Board. Closed.
ITEM 7: COT Forward Planner
Summary of Discussion:
The forward planner was reviewed. The Recruitment Options paper was moved to the 21st August 2024.
ITEM 8: Urgent financial decisions and updates
Summary of Discussion:
None advised for discussion.
ITEM 9: Any other portfolio updates by exception
Summary of Discussion:
None advised for discussion.
ITEM 10: Chief Officer Team Commitments
Summary of Discussion:
Due to time restraints this item was not discussed.
ITEM 11: Any other business
Summary of Discussion:
MOD Advanced Defence Senior Leaders Programme.
Information was presented to COT detailing the programme.
Decision – The COT agreed to support attendance.
Problem Solving Training.
ACC Clarke informed the meeting Durham Constabulary will peer review the training.
DECISION – COT agreed Durham Constabulary could engage with NYP Strategic Development, Performance and Corporate Services Leads.
DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
Date of next meeting:
7th August 2024 Time: 09:30am