CPS Board meeting minutes - March 2022
Thursday 31 March, 14:00-17:00
Euston, Dulwich and Farringdon Rooms / MS Teams
Members
Monica Burch (C), Max Hill QC, Rebecca Lawrence, Mark Hammond, Caroline Wayman, Simon Jeffreys
Guests
Gregor McGill (attending item 5), Laura Tams (attending item 5), Baljit Ubhey (attending item 6 and 7), Sandra McKay (attending item 6 and 7), Fiona Dixon (attending item 6), Ali Coles (attending item 6), Matthew Outterside (attending item 6), Sue Hemming (attending item 7), Dawn Brodrick (attending item 8), Gemma Hyde (attending item 9), Moira Quick (attending item 9), Mike Dunn (attending all items)
Secretariat
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 Mike Dunn, Non-Executive ARAC member, to his first Board meeting with the CPS. The Chair noted Non-Executive ARAC members would attend a Board meeting once a year.
2.1 The Chair raised the feedback provided by the Shadow Board, noting it was both useful and detailed.
2.2 Board members reviewed and agreed the minutes of the last meeting.
2.3 The Board agreed with the Secretariat’s suggestion to close all actions on the Board action log, on the basis they had been acknowledged or completed.
2.4 The Chair expanded on action July 1, noting the NLRC will look at senior succession planning at a future date.
Item 3: Shadow Board Terms of Reference
3. Max Looker, Corporate Governance Manager, outlined several changes to the Shadow Board Terms of Reference and induction pack. Max noted the changes were made to reflect the approach agreed by the Board Chair and Shadow Board Chair.
3.1 The Board agreed with the changes to the Terms of Reference. Board members requested minor amendments to point 6 and point 9 in the revised Terms of Reference.
Item 4: Update from the CEO
4. The CEO provided an update on the following items:
a. Criminal Justice System (CJS) Scorecards
b. RASSO: latest ministerial, stakeholder and media position
c. CEO visits to South East and CPS Direct
d. Victims Needs Assessment: stakeholder engagement and internal engagement
e. Ministerial landscape and reflections after Ministerial Strategic Board
f. Messages from Civil Service Leadership: Ukraine and UK Government Landscape
g. Hybrid working
4.1 The Chair requested a horizon scan of the CJS landscape as a future Board item.
Item 5: CPS High Profile Disclosure Issues
5. Greg McGill and Laura Tams provided an overview of the lessons learned from recent disclosure failures. Greg noted:
a. The CPS efforts to improve disclosure at a national level, including the development of tools, governance, training and guidance
b. The next steps and culture change required on the frontline to improve disclosure.
5.1 The Board discussed the culture around disclosure.
5.2 The Board agreed an update on the disclosure change programme would be brought to the Board in July or September.
Item 6: Scorecard Engagement
6. The Board welcomed Baljit Ubhey, Sandra McKay, Matthew Outterside and Fiona Dixon to the meeting. The team outlined:
a. The development of national and local CJS scorecards.
b. Analysis of the first national all-crime and adult rape scorecards in December 2021
c. The media interest in national and local scorecards
d. Internal and external handling of scorecards
e. The impact of scorecards on CPS business
f. Collaborative efforts with the Home Office and Ministry of Justice (including new data sharing agreements)
g. Building a joint approach with local police forces before the release of scorecards
6.1 The Board discussed how scorecards were received within the CPS. Baljit noted the positive engagement from Chief Crown Prosecutors (CCPs) with the scorecards, and the efforts of CCPs to involve Police and Crime Commissioners with the data from the scorecards.
6.2 The Chair requested Non-Executive Board Members receive scorecard data once they’re ready for publication internally. The Board thanked the team for all their work on scorecards.
Item 7: RASSO casework update on (1) strategy for improvements (2) public confidence (external reporting)
7. Baljit Ubhey, Sandra McKay and Sue Hemming provided an update on the RASSO programme and public confidence in RASSO, following external reporting on the Rape Strategy Update.
7.1 Baljit spoke of the launch of the Rape Strategy Update on 22nd February 2022, noting the update included a newly defined strategic aim to significantly increase the number of rape cases brought to court, year on year.
7.2 Sue discussed the programmes of work highlighted by the Rape Strategy Update, including the launch of a Joint National Action Plan, updated legal guidance on RASSO, Operation Soteria, and a national RASSO enhancement programme.
7.3 Sandra discussed the communications analysis of the external reporting which followed the Rape Strategy Update, along with the DPPs proactive media approach.
7.4 Sue gave a brief summary of next steps, noting Operation Soteria would be expanded to three additional CPS Areas in May, along with 14 new Police Forces Areas.
7.5 The Chair raised feedback from the Shadow Board on the importance of engaging and collaborating with local leadership on RASSO activity.
Item 8: Workforce Strategy Presentation
8. Dawn Brodrick and Jamie Booth provide an overview of the CPS 2022/23 workforce and resourcing plan. Dawn highlighted:
a. The current resourcing position for 21/22
b. The headline resourcing priorities for 22/23
c. The supply and total vacancy filling ask for 22/23
d. How CPS will meet the resourcing challenge for 22/23
e. The recruitment approach for 22/23
f. The governance in place to more progress against the workforce and resourcing plan
8.1 The Board discussed how the People Function were modelling the arrival of staff into the workforce, noting challenges from a casework planning perspective. The Board also raised the impacts of COVID on the workforce plan.
8.2 The Board discussed how the workforce presentation was received by the Law Officers. D
8.3 The Board spoke of the measures put in place to develop and safeguard culture in the organisation. The Board agreed an item on culture in the CPS would be brought to the Board later in the year.
Item 9: Future Casework Tools Portfolio
9. Gemma Hyde and Moira Quick provided a summary of the scope, delivery plan and progress of the Future Casework Tools (FCT) Portfolio. Gemma noted:
a. The context behind the creation of the FCT portfolio
b. The opportunity to transform the tools CPS staff use to progress and deliver casework
c. Changes to the Case Management System in 2022/23
d. The strategy to deliver the FCT portfolio
e. The measures to drive innovation and ensure CPS digital system remain flexible
f. The key strategic risks in delivering FCT
9.1 The Board discussed how cyber security was being taken into account during the development of the FCT portfolio. Gemma noted the several measures the CPS had taken to ensure protection of the organisation and its data. The Board agreed an update on cyber security would be brought to the Board after being taken through ARAC.
Item 10: AOB
10. The Board discussed the Board forward look. The Chair requested the Board have sight of the forward look as a below the line paper for each Board meeting.
10.1 The DPP acknowledged the feedback and comments from the Shadow Board.
10.2 The Board thanked Mike Dunn for his contributions to the Board meeting.
Secretariat
March 2022