034/2014: Tripartite Collaboration with Cleveland and Durham – 16 March 2015
Executive Summary and recommendation:
This Decision Notice seeks the Commissioner’s approval for key documents that support the next steps of Tripartite Collaboration between North Yorkshire Police, Cleveland Police and Durham.
This exciting collaborative venture builds on the decision to work more closely on operational matters with Cleveland Police. The formalisation of a tripartite collaborative venture to include Durham widens the scope of opportunity for the delivery of enhanced services that protect and serve our communities. Commitment to this tripartite venture shall not preclude the exploration of work with other public sector partners where this would be beneficial to our communities.
It is recommended that the Commissioner approve the commitment to the following supporting documentation for Tripartite Collaboration.
- Collaboration : Our Strategic Intention
- Terms of Reference for a Joint Governance Board
Police and Crime Commissioner decision: Approved
Signature: 
Date: 16 March 2015
Title: Police and Crime Commissioner
Part 1 – Unrestricted facts and advice to the PCC
- Introduction and background
This Decision Notice seeks the Commissioner’s approval for key documents that support the next steps of Tripartite Collaboration between North Yorkshire Police, Cleveland Police and Durham.
The purpose of this exciting collaborative venture is to enable the best possible use of resources in protecting and serving our local communities. Efficient use of resources is of ever increasing importance as we face new challenges in protecting our communities. There is also increased emphasis on ensuring efficient utilisation of resources in the current financial climate in order that the Commissioner can manage the challenges of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2013 – 2017.
This collaborative venture builds on the decision to work more closely on operational matters with Cleveland Police. The formalisation of a tripartite collaborative venture to include Durham widens the scope of opportunity for the delivery of enhanced services to our communities. Commitment to this tripartite venture does not preclude the exploration of work with other public sector partners where this would be beneficial to our communities.
At this time the focus of the tripartite venture will be on scoping options for alternative delivery models for policing functions. Each Force will retain the posts of Chief Constable, Deputy Chief Constable and the operational resources dedicated to the delivery of local policing.
- Matters for consideration
The Commissioner is asked to consider and approve the following key documents:
- Collaboration: Our Strategic Intention
This document (Appendix 1) sets out the shared aspirations of the Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables for collaborative working and provides an overview of the ways of working.
- Terms of Reference for a Joint Governance Board
The Terms of Reference (Appendix 2) provide the agreed arrangements for joint decision making in relation to collaborative activity.
Accepting these terms of reference offers the Commissioner the opportunity to enable the reduction in bureaucracy goal within the Police and Crime plan. This shall be done by reducing the need for local decision notices where decisions are made on collaborative matters. The requirement for promotion and awareness would be met by a shared decision notice convention that respects the publication requirements and Corporate Governance structures of each PCC. This means that matters that require formal recording in decision notice format, from a collaborative perspective, will be considered at the Joint Governance Board and agreed by the relevant parties without the need for duplicate local decision notices.
In the near future the Commissioner (along with the other collaborating parties) shall be invited to consider a Joint Decision Notice that seeks approval of a Collaboration Agreement. This document will form the legal agreement that provides the formal basis on which the parties shall collaborate and is currently being drafted in accordance with the provisions of section 89 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.
- Other options considered, if any
As indicated previously, commitment to this collaborative venture does not preclude consideration of activity suitable for development with other parties, or for further development on a single force basis. Options will continue to be considered on a case by case basis.
- Contribution to Police and Crime Plan outcomes
The recommendations in this Decision Notice directly support the police and crime plan corporate priority 1. Transforming the organisation. Furthermore the activities arising from the approval of the recommendations shall be enablers for the achievement of the objectives of the four policing priorities.
- Consultations carried out
Consultation has been undertaken at a high level across all parties regarding the collaborative venture. It is recognised that the scope of consultation shall be required to widen as the programme progresses.
- Financial Implications/Value for money
Police and Crime Commissioner’s Chief Finance Officer Comments
None of the documents appended to this Decision Notice quantify any financial implications of the collaboration. I am therefore not in a position to provide any financial comments at this stage. The financial implications of each individual element of the collaboration will be considered and commented on at the time of requesting approval for each business case.
- Legal Implications
Having read this report and having considered such information as has been provided at the time of being asked to express this view, the Acting Force Solicitor and Head of Legal Services is satisfied that this report does not ask the PCC for North Yorkshire to make a decision which would (or would be likely to) give rise to a contravention of the law.
The s22A Police Act 1996 collaboration agreement proposed will ensure that the legal framework and governance arrangements are lawful.
- Equality Implications
There are no immediate equality implications arising from agreeing the recommendations of this decision notice. Individual initiatives shall be subject to equality analyses as they are commissioned.
- Human Resources Implications
The Strategic Intention and Terms of Reference both provide a solid platform for the development and progression of collaborative proposals between the 3 forces. This must be supported by the development of the Collaborative Agreement which will provide a framework upon which proposals can be taken forward. The requirement to undertake further consultation, not least with representative bodies and unions, will form part of the next stage and can now be communicated and marketed through the new branding ‘Evolve’ which will provide identity to the work for those involved.
Public Access to information
The Police and Crime Commissioner wishes to be as open and transparent as possible about the decisions he/she takes or are taken in his/her name. All decisions taken by the Commissioner will be subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
As a general principle, the Commissioner expects to be able to publish all decisions taken and all matters taken into account and all advice received when reaching the decision. Part 1 of this Notice will detail all information which the Commissioner will disclose into the public domain. The decision and information in Part 1 will be made available on the NYPCC web site within 2 working days of approval.
Only where material is properly classified as restricted under the GPMS or if that material falls within the description at 2(2) of The Elected Local Policing Bodies (Specified Information) Order 2011 will the Commissioner not disclose decisions and/or information provided to enable that decision to be made. In these instances, Part 2 of the Form will be used to detail those matters considered to be restricted. Information in Part 2 will not be published.
Part 2
Is there a Part 2 to this Notice – NO
Originating Officer Declaration
Author name: Donald Stone
Collar number: 5812
| Name (Collar Number) | Date of completion (√) | |
| Head of Departmenthas reviewed the request and is satisfied that it is correct and consistent with the NYPCC’s plans and priorities. | Maria Earles006824 | 5.03.15 |
| Legal AdviceLegal advice has been sought on this proposal and is considered not to expose the PCC to risk of legal challenge or such risk is outlined in Part 1 or Part 2 of this Notice. | Jane Wintermeyer3840 | 06.03.15 |
| Financial AdviceThe PCC CFO has been consulted on this proposal, for which budgetary provision already exists or is to be made in accordance with Part 1 or Part 2 of this Notice. | Michael Porter 4317 | 11.03.15 |
| Equalities AdviceEither there is considered to be minimal impact or the impact is outlined in Part1 or Part2 of this Notice. Author to complete as Equalities matters are mainstreamed within departments. | Donald Stone5812 | 5.03.2015 |
| HR AdviceHR advice has been sought in relation to any people related matters | Rosemarie Holmes4647 | 10/03/15 |
| I confirm that all the above advice has been sought and received and I am satisfied that this is an appropriate request to be submitted for a decisionSignature Donald Stone Date 12.03.15 |
Appendix
- Published on