Minutes of the CPS Board Meeting on 18 July 2007

Present

Peter Lewis (Chair)
Ken Macdonald
Roger Daw
Ros McCool
Seamus Taylor
John Graham
Claire Hamon
Portia Ragnauth
Judith Walker
Neil Franklin
Dru Sharpling
Adele Clarke
Philip Oliver, Non Executive Director
Gerard Lemos, Non Executive Director
Rob Sykes, Non Executive Director
Jonathan Sedgwick, Chief Executive, Office for Criminal Justice Reform (Acting)

Guests

Pam Teare, Head of Communications

Apologies

Steve Przybylski

Secretariat

Matthew McGonagle
Tamara Moore

Item 1: Welcomes

1. The Director welcomed Jonathan Sedgwick, currently acting Director of OCJR.

Item 2: Previous Minutes and Actions Arising

2. The Board agreed the note from the last Board meeting held on 4 April 2007 and the update on actions arising from that meeting.

Item 3: Director's Update

3. The Director updated the Board on issues that had arisen since the last Board meeting in May.

Item 4: 2006-07 Assurance Report

4. The Board considered the Assurance report and was satisfied with the course of action outlined for any reported exceptions.

Item 5: Capability Review

5. The Board was provided with an update of the finalisation of the Capability Review and the planning for the CPS's response to it.

Item 6: The Implications of the Spending Review: Options and the Role of the Centre

6. A paper on the implications of the spending review, BD (2007) 25 was presented to the Board. It agreed the continuation of work to develop plans to ensure that the CPS is able to manage within the reduced allocation of the next spending review.

Item 7: Governance Review

7. The Board agreed to a reduction in its numbers and for the introduction of a new governance structure.

Item 8: Draft Agenda for Board Meeting in July 2007

8. The Board agreed the draft agenda, which could include, subject to other pressures:

• Recommendations for improving the Assurance Board Report
• Report on the handling of rape cases and the use of specialist rape advocates
• Quarter 1 Assurance Report
• SMC Agenda
• Routine Committee Reports
• Draft agenda for October 2007

Item 9: Any Other Business

9. The Director thanked outgoing members of the Board. He looked forward to the greater level of challenge that should come with a slim-downed Board and said he was optimistic about the revised governance arrangements.

10. The Director thanked Claire Hamon for her contribution to the CPS and wider CJS over the past five years. He wished her every success in her new position as CIO at Rok Construction.

Strategy Planning & Change Division
July 2007