CPS Board meeting minutes - November 2024

04 November 2024, 14:00-17:00, Petty France and via MS Teams

Members

Monica Burch (Chair) (Lead Non-Executive Board Member), Stephen Parkinson (DPP), Simon Jeffreys (NEBM), Subo Shanmuganathan (NEBM), Kathryn Stone (NEBM), Steve Buckingham (CFO)

Guests

Rachel Zaltzman (Deputy Director of Strategy & Policy), Baljit Ubhey (Director of Strategy & Policy), Martin Goldman (Chief Crown Prosecutor), Scott Dawes (Senior Strategy Advisor), Graham Ritchie (Deputy Director of Strategy & Policy), Lisa Benbow (Director of Communications)

Secretariat

Max Looker, Stephanie Bradshaw

Apologies

N/A

Item 1: Declaration of any conflicts

1.1          No additional conflicts of interest were raised.

Item 2: Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising

2.1     The Board reviewed and agreed the minutes.

2.2     The Board noted actions have been closed since the last meeting and were on track for completion.

Item 3: Update from the DPP

3.1     The DPP provided an update on the following key points:

• Spending Review
• International Visits
• Southport

3.2     The DPP confirmed that Julie Lennard will be joining as the Chief Operating Officer on Monday 25 November with Private Office leading a full organisational induction.

Item 4: Mid-year Finance Report & Spending Review Update

4.1     Rachel Zaltzman joined the meeting and Steve provided an update:

• The SR provides over 11% growth on our current projections. A huge amount of work from across the CPS had gone into the case.
• Key priorities are front line resources, building in house Crown Advocates, victims and witnesses, and disproportionality.

4.2     The Board thanked the CPS for the collaborative work across departments which resulted in the successful outcome.

4.3     Steve commended the briefing detail that was used when meeting with the AG and DPP, which enabled the CPS to achieve the successful outcome.

Item 5: Crown Advocacy Strategy Update

5.1        Martin Goldman joined the meeting and presented the following key updates.

• Retention rate of pupils is at 92% this year
• Guidelines for managers have been launched and landed very well, with the route for promotions to CA2 in place and the creation of our first pipeline of home-grown Advocates to Crown courts
• The financial business case to support the phase 2 migration of high court advocates migrating to CA2 is in development.  The next step will be a formal announcement to the business, to include a survey to source interest in what roles are preferred.

5.2     The Board queried where this sits within the workforce plan. Martin confirmed the business and recruitment plan are aligned to deliver the project whilst work is underway on the equality impact assessment and how we grow our own over the course of the next two to three years.

5.3     The DPP confirmed that the Bar Council are very encouraging and supportive of our approach and that it was intended that, within the first year, there would be mentoring provided before being ready to be in front of a jury.

5.4     The Chair commented on the importance of the delivery of the branding to ensure it impact on the audience we are hoping to reach.

Item 6: CPS Comms Strategy

6.1     Lisa Benbow joined the meeting and presented the following highlights:

• There are changing public and workforce expectations of how we communicate
• Recent coverage of the CPS has built trust with our key stakeholders in how the CPS deals with certain crimes
• Progress is being made in building capacity and capability with digital channels, and this is being mapped against the overarching 2030 priorities.

6.2     The Chair queried the Executive contribution and engagement in the strategy and Lisa confirmed that working with SPD has developed a more advanced strategy, with the next stage being on broader engagement to align with other strategies and to feed into implementation next year.

6.3     Lisa gave assurance on the data and insights being used to improve our digital platforms internally and externally with a focus on the user experience.

6.4     The Board commended the proactive approach and looked forward to a more balanced style of comms that promotes the good work the organisation does.

6.5     The DPP commended Lisa and her team and noted that since joining she has raised the CPS’ profile across Government and has actively pushed us to be less risk adverse, more direct and more accessible in our language.

Item 7: 2030 Strategy

7.1     Rachel Zaltzman, Scott Dawes and Baljit Ubhey provided the following key updates to the Strategy:

• Significant work on 2030 metrics was underway to ensure alignment with the new strategy
• New government priorities, safer streets mission and cross CJS work was being considered
• Allocation of business planning for 25/26 and the change in style to show a crisp and clearer comms strategy.

7.2     The Board highlighted the need to shape our culture within the strategy and queried how the CPS intended to measure the impact as it will help victim attrition.

7.3     Baljit confirmed that, through the investment of the VTP evaluation, we are able to see what we’re doing differently and what impact there is in the victims’ experience.

7.4     The Board confirmed that they were encouraged to see the step change from 2025 to 2030 and how energizing empowerment can be for the organisation.

Item 8: Disproportionality

8.1     The NEBM’s understand the position of colleagues, the strength of feeling and the view of experts and concluded that this was a decision to be taken by the DPP and that his decision was considered and thought through.

8.2     Graham Ritchie and Lisa Benbow joined Baljit to provide an update on progress and proposed communication plan.

• In advance of publication on 28 November the CCP’s, DCCP’s and ABM’s have been briefed and offered support to facilitate all-staff discussions. There has been a positive shift in leaders’ confidence to effectively communicate and navigate potential questioning
• The Shadow Board has been an excellent sounding board which has fed into the plan
• The handling plan has been taken to MSB with the SG having keen interest in the work
• On the day of publication there is a proposed CAF which will allow us to talk directly to its membership about the work.

8.3     The Board suggested that the AGO should be engaged.  Lisa confirmed that she and Graham met with the AGO earlier that day to work through all the different scenarios and they have made slight amendments following those discussions.

8.4     The DPP welcomed the feedback given and the input from the NEBMs.

Item 9: VAWG Strategy Update

9.1     Baljit and Graham provided the following update:

• A recent Ministerial meeting had commissioned a VAWG audit
• The launch of the DA joint justice plan had highlighted the need to align with the government’s priorities
• PM stocktake on VAWG is due on the 14 December where the CPS will be able to provide assurance that we are being reactive and proactive with a cross-Government approach.

9.2     The Board challenged the space in which we evaluate the impact of our KPI’s and to see if this can be streamlined to give a clearer focus. Graham and Baljit welcomed the consideration and will give thought and report back.

9.3     The Chair reiterated the need to remember our independence in strategy development, which was unanimously agreed.

Item 10: Audit and Risk Assaurance Committee & Remunderation Committee Reports

10.1     Audit and Risk Assaurance Committee

• High level progress on HMCPSI outstanding recommendations
• Cyber and AI resilience being considered
• Controls over third parties a focus of the Committee.

10.2     Remunderation Committee

• Leadership strategy was considered with an acknowledgment that there needs to be space to allow for a culture step change
• Comms was discussed and it was encouraged that more work is done to recognise good news stories
• The senior structure update will be in place by January.

Item 11: AOB

11.1     The DPP passed on his sincere thanks to Simon for his contribution over the last 6 years. Simon had supported the CPS through a range of issues in that time and has had a hugely positive impact on the CPS. The DPP noted that Simon has created a very professional ARAC which considers and responds to emerging risks.

11.2     The Chair mirrored the compliments and thanked Simon for his contribution to the culture of the CPS.  

Meeting closed.

Secretariat – Max Looker & Stephanie Bradshaw

November 2024