CPS Board meeting minutes - May 2022
Monday 30 May, 14:00-17:00
Euston, Dulwich and Farringdon Rooms / MS Teams
Members
Monica Burch (C), Max Hill QC, Mark Hammond, Caroline Wayman, Simon Jeffreys
Guests
Gregor McGill (attending all items), Heidi Stonecliffe QC (attending all items), Nicol Harlow (attending all items), Deborah Harris-Ugbomah (attending all items), Moi Ali (attending item 4), Steve Buckingham (attending item 5), Graham Dann (attending item 5), Sami Gross (attending item 5), Scott Dawes (attending item 6), Tristan Bradshaw (attending item 7), Dawn Brodrick (attending item 10)
Secretariat
Harvey Palmer, 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 noted apologies from the CEO. In the CEO’s absence, the Board welcomed Gregor McGill, Director of Legal Services.
2.1 The Board welcomed Deborah Harris-Ugbomah, Non-Executive member of the Audit and Risk Committee (ARAC), and Heidi Stonecliffe QC, Shadow Board Chair. The Board also welcomed Nicol Harlow, Shadow Board Member, as an observer of the meeting.
2.2 The Board reviewed and agreed the minutes. The Board agreed to close actions March 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7. In discussing action March 4, Non-Executive Board Members agreed to receive scorecard information on a monthly basis as soon as it’s received by the Performance and Risk Group. The Board agreed to mark action March 4 as complete.
Item 3: Update from the DPP
3. The DPP provided an update on:
a. Proceeds of Crime Strategy
b. The launch of the Serious Economic Organised Crime and International Directorate (SEOCID)
c. Attorney General Guidelines refresh
d. Pre-trial therapy launch, the Police Federation conference and DG6 compliance
e. Latest on cross CJS engagement: Rape Review Steering Committee (RSC) and Criminal Justice Action Group (CJAG)
3.1 The Board discussed how the Attorney General Guidelines Refresh would be helpful for victims. The Board also discussed the effectiveness of hybrid working principles,
Item 4: Independent Assessor of Complaints’ Annual Report
4. Moi Ali, Independent Assessor of Complaints (IAC), presented the IAC Annual Report for 21/22. Moi discussed the following key themes:
a. The implementation of recommendations from the IAC -
b. The extent to which the CPS gets involved with matters within the remit of the IAC
c. The quality and completeness of background notes –
4.1 The Board discussed the importance of a good working relationship between the CPS and the IAC, noting a change in governance arrangements for the IAC were essential to the IAC’s independence and the value the IAC provides.
4.2 The Board discussed the progress of the IAC ToR.
4.3 The Board discussed the decision, made in principle, for the IAC to sit within Private Office. The Board spoke of the need for the IAC to lead changes in the structure and reporting of the IAC office, and for the support needed by Private Office to ensure issues reported by Moi would not be repeated.
4.4 The Shadow Board Chair discussed the positive value of Moi’s presentation to the Shadow Board, noting further interaction between the IAC and staff across the CPS would be beneficial. The Board noted engagements between the IAC and CPS staff should be increased across the organisation after IAC governance arrangements are complete.
Item 5: Annual Report and Governance Statement
5. Steve Buckingham, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Graham Dann, Financial Controller, and Sami Gross, Communications Advisor, presented the draft CPS Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) for 2021/22. The CFO provided an update on the progress and next steps of the ARA, noting feedback would be needed by Board members by 31st May.
5.1 The Board discussed the intention and progress of the ARA foreword from the DPP and CEO. Steve and Sami noted the ARA foreword was framed around CPS 2025 aims and would discuss several key themes, including RASSO, scorecards and operational recovery.
5.2 The Board discussed how key information from the ARA could be used internally and externally to communicate the positive impact of the CPS over 2021/22. The Shadow Board Chair noted the Shadow Board discussed how the ARA could be communicated to make it more impactful for staff on the frontline.
5.3 The Board agreed an item on internal communications, covering the approach and material the CPS communicates to staff, would come to the Board in 2022.
Item 6: Quarterly Business Plan Highlight Report and Success Measures Data
6. Scott Dawes, Senior Strategy Advisor, provided an update of the progress of the Business Plan 2021/22 over Quarter 4 and a summary of the Business Plan over 2021/22. Scott noted the following key points:
6.1 Scott reflected on the lessons learnt over 2021/22.
6.2 The Board discussed how the Business Plan report could be formatted for challenge and assurance at Board level, noting a high-level commentary piece would be helpful to clearly draw out the 43 outputs which have been re-baselined.
Item 7: Q4 Performance Report
7. Tristan Bradshaw, Deputy Director for Operational Delivery, presented the key headlines from CPS performance in Q4 2022,
Item 8: Update from ARAC
8. Simon Jeffreys, ARAC Chair, provided a summary of the April 2022 ARAC. Simon noted:
a. ARAC agreed the CFO would provide a high-level narrative to accompany the next ARA draft
b. ARAC noted and discussed the progress of the GIAA audit plan for 22/23
c. The CFO noted the status of the Gifts and Hospitality register, and current live claims and litigations in process
d. Mark Gray provided an update on hostile cyber security from September 2021 to April 2022
e. ARAC discussed four new strategic risks and how actions to mitigate risks were being assigned
f. ARAC discussed the internal audit recommendations tracker and the CPS assurance framework
g. ARAC discussed RASSO strategic risks and the governance of the RASSO Programme Board
Item 9: Update from NLRC
9. Caroline Wayman, NLRC Chair, provided a summary of the April 2022 NLRC. Caroline noted the NLRC discussed:
a.
b. The work of the Senior Civil Servant Relationships team over 2021/22
c. Governance arrangements for senior staff on loan
d. Hybrid working principles, and the leadership requirements necessary to enhance the culture of hybrid working within the CPS
e. Senior Legal Manager allowances
f. Secondments with a District Crown Prosecutor who had been on loan with HMCPSI
Item 10: Board Review Update
10. Dawn Brodrick, Chief People Officer, provided an update on the Board Effectiveness Review. Dawn noted lots of work had been done on the review and it now needed to be discussed with the DPP, CEO and NEBMs. The intended aim was to hold these meetings by the June board, but as a workshop not as a board item, and to agree what should be implemented formally in the July board meeting.
Item 11: AOB
11. The Board sent their well wishes to Caroline Wayman, who attended her final CPS Board as a Non-Executive Board Member. The Board thanked Caroline Wayman for her service, dedication and commitment to the CPS. Board members spoke of Caroline’s invaluable contribution over four years of wide-ranging and difficult change in the CPS.
Secretariat
May 2022