035-2014 Public Service Network in Policing Project Budget – 24 March 2015

Executive Summary and recommendation:

On the 1st July 2014 approval was given for £2,226,443 to enable North Yorkshire Police (NYP) to undertake various activities to meet government mandated compliance requirements, through a Code of Connection, and transition to the Public Service Network in Policing (PSN-P).  At the time of budget approval, the costs associated with this were unknown.

Further work has been undertaken to understand the activities, with associated costs, required to meet the PSN-P Code of Connection, leading to a re-profiling of the original budget.  As a result of this, a revised budget of £1,760,028 is required for the PSN-P project.

It is recommended that the re-profiled budget of £1,760,028 is approved, enabling the PSN-P project to continue to deliver the required activities in order for North Yorkshire Police to meet compliance requirements and transition to the Public Service Network in Policing.

Police and Crime Commissioner decision: Approved

Signature: 
Date: 24 March 2015
Title: Police and Crime Commissioner

Part 1 – Unrestricted facts and advice to the PCC

1. Introduction and background

On 31^st October 2014 the current Home Office CJX and PNN connectivity arrangements entered into their final 12 months of operation, to be replaced by the government mandated Public Service Network in Policing (PSN-P).  The government have mandated that all UK Police Organisations transition to the PSN-P by 31^st October 2015.

On 1^st July 2014, the Executive Board approved a budget of £2,226,443, enabling a project to be established to allow North Yorkshire Police (NYP) to determine the activity required to meet the mandatory compliance requirements required to transition to the PSN-P.  The original budget was approved on the basis that confirmation would be provided to Executive Board at a later date.

The NYP PSN-P project are now able to confirm spend areas and the budget requirements.

2. Matters for consideration

The budget for which approval is being sought is as follows:

3. Other options considered, if any

There are no other options available.  The PSN-P is nationally mandated by the Government and Home Office.  All UK Police organisations must comply with the requirements of the Code of Connection and transition to the new regime by 31^st October 2015.

4. Contribution to Police and Crime Plan outcomes

The activity associated with PSN-P will support NYP in progressing its technical strategy and vision of better utilisation of technology in delivering policing services to the communities of North Yorkshire and the City of York.  Additionally, the IT Strategy will contribute to the achievement of PSN-P compliance.

It is anticipated that there will be benefits arising from PSN-P, in  as much as it will provide a consistent technical architecture and enable data sharing with strategic partners who are compliant to the required standard.  It will provide assurance to organisations and each other that they have met guidelines laid out as part of the PSN-P compliance framework; introducing a standard and common assurance.

5. Consultations carried out

The detail behind the proposed budget and associated activities, were discussed at the ICT and Estates Governance & Delivery Board on 4^th March 2015, where a detailed report was presented and it was requested that this Decision Notice be prepared for Executive Board.

6. Financial Implications/Value for money

The revised budget is to provide the funding to carry out the necessary activities required to meet PSN-P compliance requirements.  Where any procurement activity takes place, this will be carried out in a compliant manner and with the support of Regional Procurement. Sufficient funds have already been set aside within the 2014-15 budget to fund this expenditure and therefore the proposals within this Decision Note are affordable within the current plans and budgets of the PCC.

7. 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 Deputy Force Solicitor 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.

8. Equality Implications

There are no equality implications.

9. Human Resources Implications

In order to deliver some PSN-P project compliance requirements, there is a need to secure the services of specialist external resources, on a commercial basis, to deliver specific project related activities.  This resource will be procured in a compliant manner as part of the project.  There is also the potential to deliver some specific project activities through paid overtime arrangements for NYP ICT staff, discussed with ICT management and Human Resources.

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 two

Is there a Part 2 to this Notice –  NO

Originating Officer Declaration

Author name:      Jerry Mertz

Collar number:     004151