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Home » Professionals » Publications » Minutes of Meetings » Minutes of the CPS Board Meeting on 15 November 2006

Minutes of the CPS Board Meeting on 15 November 2006

Present:

Ken Macdonald (Chair)
Richard Foster
Neil Franklin
Philip Geering
Deborah King
Angela O'Connor
John Graham
Peter Lewis
Claire Hamon
Portia Ragnauth
Seamus Taylor
Philip Oliver
Rob Sykes
Gerard Lemos
Ursula Brennan
Carmen Dowd

Apologies

Dru Sharpling

Secretariat:

Matthew McGonagle
Nicol Harlow


    Item 1: Previous Minutes and Actions Arising

  1. The Board agreed the note from the last Board meeting held on 20 September 2006 and the update on actions arising from that meeting.

    2. Item 2: Director's Update

    Conferences

  2. The Director praised the success of the October Senior Managers' Conference (SMC) but felt that now was a good time to refresh the format, particularly looking at the tablework sessions. The Director also attended the National Black Crown Prosecutors Association (NBCPA) conference which he praised as an outstanding success with good speakers and panel discussion. He found the conference professional, focussed and very constructive. The Director congratulated the organisers of the NBCPA conference and felt that it made a real contribution to the CPS.

    3. Cash For Honours

  3. The Director was a founding member of the Matrix Chambers with Cherie Blair and, due to this, he has decided to remove himself from the decision making process for this case. Chris Newell (Principle Legal Advisor) will oversee the process and decisions made by Carmen Dowd. The final decision rests with the CPS.

    4. Item 3: Mid Year Budget Position and Forecast Outturn

  4. The Board considered a paper on the CPS resourcing position at the end of September 2006 and the forecasts of year end expenditure outturn compared to available budgets. Following discussions at the Finance Committee, the prosecution costs budget for 2006-07 had been increased, including additional resources for increased deployment of HCAs. The Finance Committee looks at the forecast and expenditure on a regular basis and reports to the Board. The overall forecast for the budget for 2006/7 is for a small underspend. The Board noted the position.

    5. Item 4: Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 and Efficiency

  5. The Board noted a paper which provided an update on the recent developments relating to the Spending Review. A first draft of the CSR submission has to be submitted to HM Treasury by mid December with the overall process being completed by March 2007.

    6. Item 5: Vision & PSA Targets

  6. The Board considered a paper on the CPS Vision and PSA targets for 2008-11. The draft CJS PSA targets for 2008-11 have to be submitted to HM Treasury by 15 December 2006, and then presented to ministers in January 2007. Discussion at Strategy Policy (SPDC) and Diversity Committee agreed that the changes to the CPS vision should be evolutionary and within the bounds of an unchanged overall aim of becoming a world class prosecution authority. Proposals for the overall vision for the CSR period will be presented to the January Board meeting.
  7. The Home Office, who have agreed their Spending Review settlement, have identified 3 possible CJS PSA targets; Safer Communities, Counter Terrorism, and Justice for All (including OBTJ and Confidence). CPS are continuing to discuss the final format of these targets with CJS colleagues.

    8. Item 6: Business Planning 2007-08

  8. The Board considered a paper on the draft CPS priorities for 2007-08. The priorities for the next year were discussed at the October SMC and a steer given through tablework. The paper, using the SMC feedback and comments from SPDC discussions as part of overall thinking, suggests priorities to guide 2007-08 planning. The Board suggested a reference to counter terrorism as an additional priority for next year. The Board also suggested that the priority referring to benefits realisation should be revised to highlight that benefits should be considered when planning an initiative and not just at the delivery stage.
  9. The Board agreed the priorities subject to adding a further priority around counter terrorism and a slight change in wording on benefits realisation.

    10. Item 7: Single Equality Scheme 2006-10

  10. The Board considered a paper on the draft CPS Single Equality Scheme 2006-10. The CPS has had a Race Equality Scheme since 2002. The Service is under a statutory duty to produce a Disability Equality Scheme by December 2006 and Gender Equality Scheme by April 2007. In light of this the CPS has produced a Single Equality Scheme which incorporates all of these statutory obligations into one document. This approach was agreed with the relevant equalities commissions and has gone beyond the statutory requirement to also address age, religion or belief, sexuality and gender identity. The Scheme was consulted on by partners and overseen by a cross directorate project board. Public consultation is currently being undertaken via the CPS website. The Scheme will be delivered through existing budgets. The structure of the report is dictated by statutory requirements.
  11. The Board noted that the Scheme not only provides compliance with the legislation but also contains an outcomes based approach and this will be emphasised when the Scheme is communicated more widely. The Board commended the Scheme and agreed to its publication.

    12. Additional Item: Update on work of Casework Divisions

  12. Carmen Dowd provided the Board with a verbal update on the work of the Casework Divisions. The Board noted the exceptional work of the Casework Divisions; with strong leadership the Divisions have built a good reputation. This has been noted by Gus O'Donnell and in the media. It was suggested that this good work should be further publicised during Inside Justice Week.

    13. Item 8: Corporate Risks 2006-07

  13. The Board considered a paper on corporate risks for 2006-07. Delivery and Change Committee monitors risk on a regular basis and reports to the Board bi-annually. Since the last update in July Police Reform has been removed from the risk register.
  14. The Board agreed that DCC should discuss risk at their next meeting and report any significant issues to the January Board.

    15. Item 9: Capability Review

  15. The Board considered a paper on the Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOE) within the Capability Review Self Assessment and the proposal to begin action planning against the issues raised. The Board agreed the KLOE and that an action plan should be developed to address the issues raised.

    16. Item 10: Area Restructuring

  16. The Board considered a paper on the development of CPS proposals to address structural issues. During the Police Reform process the CPS looked at its own capabilities and identified issues that were not being addressed successfully under the current structures. When the Home Office plans for Police Reform moved away from changing from the 43 force structure in July 2006 the CPS continued work on these and potential future challenges. The CPS wanted to preserve the benefits of co-terminosity with the police whilst increasing resilience and flexibility. A number of proposals were produced and discussed with Areas. The result of this work is the model of retaining the 42 CPS Areas but in 15 Area groupings.
  17. The Board noted the significant work undertaken. It was also noted that a communications strategy is needed to effectively communicate the changes to all staff explaining why these changes are being made and the benefits that will arise.
  18. The Board agreed to recommend to the Director that there should be 15 Area Groups. It is envisaged that the Area group structure will be operational from 1 April 2007. The Board noted their appreciation for the work and thanked Peter Lewis and Roger Daw for their continuing efforts.

    19. Item 11: Reports from Committees

  19. Three committees had met prior to this meeting, Strategy Planning & Delivery, Audit and People Equality and Resources. The Board noted the work so far.

    20. Item 12: Draft Agenda for the Board meeting 17 January 2007

  20. The Board agreed that the agenda for the next meeting be drawn from:

    • Budgets, Planning & Targets for 2007-08
    • CPS Vision
    • Report back on risk
    • Equality & Diversity 3rd Progress Report
    • Capability Review update
    • Structural Reform update
    • Second quarter 2006-07 Assurance Report
    • CSR 2007 (update)
    • Communications strategy 2nd Progress Report
    • Draft Spring Conference Agenda
    • Routine Committee Reports
    • Draft agenda for April 2007

    Item 13: Any Other Business

  21. The Director expressed his thanks to both Richard Foster and Angela O'Connor who are both leaving the CPS. Richard has played a key role in delivering reform in the CPS over the last 5 years and provided both professional and personal support to the Director. Angela had provided enthusiasm and drive that had helped transform HR and the public image of the CPS through the innovative recruitment advertisements that had been used.

 

Strategy Planning & Change Division
November 2006