CPS Board meeting minutes - February 2022
Friday 25 February, 14:00-17:00
Room: Euston, Dulwich and Farringdon Rooms / MS Teams
Members
Monica Burch (C), Max Hill QC, Rebecca Lawrence, Mark Hammond, Caroline Wayman, Simon Jeffreys
Guests
Grace Ononiwu, Ali Coles, Matthew Outterside, Rachel Zaltzman, Jan Lamping, Scott Dawes, Baljit Ubhey, Steve Buckingham, Dawn Brodrick, Marie Southgate, Mark Gray, Heidi Stonecliffe QC – Attending all items as Shadow Board Chair
Secretariat
Harvey Palmer, Max Looker, Harry Spooner
Item 1: Declaration of any conflicts
1. Board members had no new conflicts of interest to declare.
Item 2: Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising
2. The Chair welcomed Max Looker, Corporate Governance Manager, to his first Board meeting with the CPS. The Chair also welcomed Heidi Stonecliffe QC in her capacity as Shadow Board Chair.
2.1 Board members reviewed and agreed the minutes of the last meeting.
2.2 Progress was noted against outstanding actions. The secretariat raised action January 5, noting dates of the Shadow Board had been aligned with dates of the Board, with work being progressed on the Shadow Board Terms of Reference and induction pack. The secretariat also raised action November 1, noting a paper on scorecard implementation had been commissioned for March.
2.3 The Board agreed the following action could be closed: action January 3, January 4, November 2, November 3, November 4, October 1 and September 3.
Item 3: Update from the DPP
3. The DPP provided an update on the following items:
a. RASSO strategy Update
b. Media appearances relating to RASSO strategy update
c. HMCPSI report into London South
d. Meeting with the Lord Chief Justice
e. Chief Crown Prosecutor Succession planning
f. Government-commissioned legal aid review
3.1 The Board discussed the reception of communications regarding the RASSO strategy update. The Board also discussed the HMPCSI report into London South, and their recommendations regarding victims, casework file quality and the wellbeing of frontline staff.
3.2 The Board agreed an item on RASSO communications would be brought to the March Board. An update on improvements to RASSO casework would follow the discussion.
Item 4: Quarterly Performance Report
4. Grace Ononiwu, Alastair Coles and Matthew Outterside presented an overview of the Quarterly Performance Report to the Board.
4.1 The Board commended the performance team for the clarity of the information within the report.
Item 5: Business Plan and Budget 2022-2023 Sign Off
5. The Board welcomed Rachel Zaltzman, Scott Dawes, Steve Buckingham, Baljit Ubhey and Dawn Brodrick.
5.1 Steve Buckingham presented the budget allocations for 2022/23, noting Executive Group had reviewed the budget allocations and agreed a split that satisfied a balance of ambition across each CPS priority area.
5.2 Dawn Brodrick presented the supply strategy for 2022 / 23, noting the plan addressed the challenges of recruiting Senior Crown Prosecutors in a competitive market.
5.3 Scott Dawes outlined the business plan for 2022/23, noting Executive Group agreed a ‘fewer, bigger, better’ approach to ensure clear and tangible outputs.
5.4 Rachel Zaltzman spoke of engagement with the Attorney General’s Office and the development of a communications plan to launch the Business Plan internally and externally.
5.5 The Board discussed how flexible the Business Plan would be in response to transformational projects, such as victim and witness work.
5.6 The Board discussed how staff development and culture change had been embedded in the business plan. Dawn noted the learning and development infrastructure was being evaluated.
5.7 The Board signed off the Business Plan for 2022-23. The Board praised the business plan team for their high-level report and presentation.
Item 6: Health, Safety and Security Assessment
6. Steve Buckingham and Mark Gray presented two reports to the Board, outlining CPS health, safety and security measures. The Board took the reports as read. The key points were:
a. The CPS has an individualised threat-based assessment approach
b. There are robust, well established security principles in place
c. The Government Security Centre are conducting a review of the security arrangements in 102 Petty France, along with high-risk areas of the CPS
d. The CPS Health and Safety Committee review the number of incidences on staff on a quarterly basis
e. A steering group meets quarterly with the HMCTS to address personal injury claims in courts.
6.1 The Board agreed a standing item would be brought to the Board on an annual basis, covering any personal injury claims and broader safety and security updates.
Item 7: IAC Governance
7. Ali coles presented a paper to the Board, covering a review of the governance of the Independent Assessor of Complaint’s.
Item 8: Victims Needs Assessment Update
8. The Board welcomed Baljit Ubhey, Marie Southgate and Jan Lamping to the meeting.
8.1 Baljit provided an update on the recent activity undertaken to understand victims needs and the next steps for redesigning the CPS service to victims.
8.2 Following a summary of the findings from the victims needs assessment, and the chosen option for victim service redesign, Marie went through the four key areas for action. These were:
a. Improving the level of overall support the CPS gives to all victims
b. Enhancing the service the CPS and its partners provide to victims with the greatest need
c. Innovating and piloting new ways to strengthen CPS engagement with victims
d. Building an organisational and leadership culture around better engagement with victims
8.3 The Board endorsed a proposal from Executive Group to draft a strategic aim for victim and witness work.
Item 9: Shadow Board
9. The Chair presented a paper summarising her interaction with the Shadow Board since January 2022. The Chair noted the relationship between the Board and the Shadow Board had not worked as well as it could and should.
9.1 The Chair would assume full responsibility for the Board/Shadow Board relationship, and asked the Board to endorse several steps which would ensure a better working relationship between the two boards.
9.2 The Board endorsed the Chairs recommendations, noting a greater dialogue between the boards would enable Board members to draw on the richness of experience of Shadow Board members.
9.3 The Shadow Board Chair noted the Shadow Board’s positive reception of the Chairs proposals. The Shadow Board Chair suggested a Board member should attend a Shadow Board each time the Board convenes without a Shadow Board member present. The Board agreed and welcomed the suggestion.
Item 10: AOB
10. Board members had no other business to declare.
Secretariat
February 2022