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Minutes of the CPS Board Meeting on 19 July 2006

Present:

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

Apologies

Dru Sharpling
Jim England
Claire Hamon

Secretariat:

Matthew McGonagle
Nicol Harlow


    Item 1: Director's Update

    Reports

  1. At the beginning of the year the CPS faced 3 major challenges: the Overall Performance Assessments (OPAs), the NAO report and the Jubilee Line Report. The OPAs and NAO report had been handled in such a way that the outcomes for the CPS were relatively positive. The Jubilee Line case highlighted weaknesses in CPS systems. CCPs were reminded of their responsibilities in supervising and ensuring value for money in large serious cases within their Area.

    2. Carter

  2. The Carter Review was published on Thursday 13 July.

    3. Stockwell

  3. The Director confirmed the decision to prosecute under sections 3 and 33 of the Health and Safety at Work Act. The Metropolitan Police are being charged under a public safety clause that ensures that unnecessary risks to the public are avoided.

    4. Police Reform

  4. Following the recent announcement on police reform the CPS will be looking closely at the impact of the changed approach on the Service over the next few weeks.

    5. World Cup

  5. The Director praised the excellent work of the frontline lawyers during the World Cup. CPS participation increased the credibility of the Service, improved its public profile and was in the public interest.

    6. Re-appointment

  6. The Board noted the extension of the Director's contract until the end of October 2008. The Director stated that he wanted to continue because of the quality of people in the Service and their commitment and enthusiasm for reform. The Director praised all staff and thanked them for their efforts.

    7. Item 2: Financial Outturn for 2005-06 and Prosecution Cost Forecast

  7. The Board considered a paper on the financial outturn for 2005-06 and the prosecution cost forecast. Overall the CPS underspent by 1.5% in 2005-06 but had exceeded the budget for prosecution costs. Work is being undertaken by the Finance Committee to investigate ways to manage these costs in the future including ensuring prompt receipt of counsel invoices to enable more effective budget management.
  8. The CPS Resource Accounts were considered by the Audit Committee and NAO and were published together with the Annual Report on 18 July 2006. Meeting this tighter deadline was a creditable achievement.

    9. Item 3: Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 and Efficiency

  9. The paper set out the challenging environment for the next spending review. HMT had already stated to CPS that the settlement was likely to be tougher than in previous rounds. The Board noted the challenges and requested that a further paper be brought to the September meeting.

    10. Item 4: Equality and Diversity Strategy - Progress Report

  10. This item was taken next to allow the communications items to be taken together. The Board noted a second progress report on implementation of the Equality and Diversity Strategy which was agreed by the Board in May 2005.
  11. The Strategy focuses on results and outcomes. The key measures and key themes introduced in to Area performance measures have resulted in significant improvements, particularly in the area of domestic violence. Future work will concentrate on improving on the performance in the first year by disseminating good practice across Areas.
  12. The Board welcomed progress and briefly discussed the issue of ensuring that community engagement reached all parts of the communities involved.
  13. The three community engagement pilots are on schedule to complete this month. These will be evaluated by early autumn with results and good practice issued at a national conference in November.

    14. Item 5: Delivering the Communications Strategy and Results

  14. The Board noted a progress report on the communications strategy that was agreed by the Board in September 2005.
  15. Significant progress has been made, including the implementation of a joint Protocol on the Disclosure of Prosecution between the CPS, ACPO and the media. A six month review of its operation had produced a positive response from the media. The Board agreed that prosecutors should only agree to reporting restrictions when it was absolutely necessary. The presumption should always be in favour of the public having the information on cases where possible.
  16. The Board noted that people who have one-off contact with the CJS, e.g. victims, tend not to know what the CPS does. More work needs to be done in Areas to increase understanding and it was suggested that the CPS uses existing communications channels such as LCJB communications managers to assist with this. Several Board members welcomed proposals for public polling.

    17. Item 6: Making Communication Work Harder for You

  17. The Board received a presentation from Howell James, Permanent Secretary for Communications, on the changing media environment, the importance of strategic communications and the need for better targeting of messages.

    18. Item 7: Governance Review

  18. Following the initial paper to the March CPS Board a further consultation paper was issued on the future of the Board and committee structure and the administrative arrangements in place to support them. The Board considered two options:

    • leaving the existing arrangements in place and reviewing again in a year; or
    • rationalising the current structure to four committees.
  19. The Board agreed the proposal to reduce to four committees and asked that a further paper on implementation be brought to the Board in September.

    20. Item 8: Draft Agenda for the Board meeting 20 September 2006

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

    • Comprehensive Spending Review 2007
    • Efficiency
    • Prosecution Costs
    • Presentation by a Head of Casework
    • Board Assurance Report
    • Corporate Risk Register Mid-year review
    • CPS Response to the Governments Respect Agenda
    • Implications of Age legislation for CPS Pensions
    • Implementation of the Governance Review
    • Draft Agenda for Board Meeting in November 2006

    Item 9: Any Other Business

  21. None.

Strategy Planning & Change Division
July 2006