10 February 2026
Record of actions and decisions
Title: Chief Officer's Management Board - Strategic
Date: Tuesday 10 February 2026 at 1pm
Venue: Clift Room and Microsoft Teams
Attendees
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| CC Tim Smith | Chief Constable |
| ACC Nigel Brookes | Local Policing Directorate |
| T/ACC Tracey Quiller | Central Operations Directorate |
| T/ACC Simon Thompson | Crime Directorate |
| ACC Simon Wilson | Serious Crime Directorate |
| ACO Richard Leicester | Director of HR and L&D |
| PSE Natalie Hardy | Rep. Director of Corporate Communications |
| ACO Claire Medhurst | Support Services Directorate |
| PSE Phil Wilson | Rep. Chief Finance Officer |
| Ch/Supt Simon Alland | Tactical Operations Command |
| PSE Gary Beautridge (items 3 & 4) | Head of Corporate Services |
| PSE Nicola Endacott (item 3) | Head of Intelligence & Data Analysis |
| D/Supt Neil Watford (item 4) | Tactical Lead for RPA and AI |
| PSE Steph Gill (item 5) vc | Head of IT Service Delivery |
| PSE Stephanie Shea (item 6) | Head of Estates |
| PSE Sonya Gransden | Chief of Staff |
| Insp Donna Cork | Staff Officer to DCC |
| PSE Catherine Hughes (minutes) | Executive Assistant to CC |
Apologies
- DCC Peter Ayling
- ACO Gavin McKinnon
- PSE Jonathan Castle
1. Approval of the record from Tuesday 13 January 2026
The record of the previous meeting was approved.
2. Matters arising/action updates
The updates for actions 01/26 and 02/26 were noted and both actions discharged.
3. CCC staff survey
PSE Beautridge and PSE Endacott presented the paper as previously circulated highlighting the survey design, question set, timing, and the inclusion of psychological safety, with a focus on aligning with national standards and addressing survey fatigue.
Chief Officers discussed the survey and requested general amendments, including revising the delivery date to approximately May, the inclusion of all protected characteristics, and implementing an auto save solution. There was consensus on the importance of benchmarking psychological safety and including these questions in the survey.
New action 03/26
Chief Officers to review the proposed survey questions and provide any specific observations and feedback by 10 March to Nicola Endacott.
4. IAT update
PSE Beautridge and D/Supt Watford presented the paper as previously shared providing an update on the West Midlands incident involving Copilot, the College of Policing’s CoPA Platform, the Intelligent Automation Pipeline and the governance structure. There were no decisions or actions.
5. IT Services technical refresh 2026-27 stage C
PSE Gill presented the paper as previously shared highlighting the key points and seeking approval to fund and proceed with the IT Technical Refresh programme from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
PSE Wilson confirmed Finance had been consulted on the business case and Chief Officers approved the funding of capital £4.251m and revenue £40k for Kent.
6. Estates update
PSE Shea presented the paper as previously shared noting a focus on improvement in statutory compliance, capital programme delivery, and strengthening departmental resourcing to ensure the best support to the organisation. This is against the backdrop of ongoing challenges presented by an aging estate and delays arising from contractor vetting processes.
ACO Leicester sought further clarity on the fire safety compliance risk and PSE Shea agreed to provide him with further detail.
The chief constable thanked PSE Shea for a comprehensive update and asked for a specific focus on compliance and fire safety in the July update.
7. Eurotunnel estates
Item removed for resubmission at a later date.
8. Tasers
T/ACC Quiller and Ch/Supt Alland presented the Taser T10 Migration Project paper as previously submitted seeking decisions on STO eligibility including refresher training, Taser Range extension, and confirmation of funding for T10 migration.
STO eligibility and training
Chief Officers approved a move to allocation based on operational requirements, whilst maintaining accessibility to frontline officers.
Chief Officers approved the removal of refresher training to those not in a frontline designated role.
Venue options – Repurpose and upgrade current facilities or build a Taser Range
The request for a decision will be resubmitted pending the commission of a review of the proposed venue options.
Confirmation of funding for T10 migration including kit and equipment, IT infrastructure, training requirements and venue options
Chief Officers approved a mixed fleet of Tasers for a 12-month period pending completion of conversion courses to T10.
Chief Officers approved the continued progression towards Taser T10 migration based on the cost implication of £2,468,082 Capital spend. It was noted the revenue costs will be recalculated and resubmitted following the review of the proposed venue options.
Decision: Chief Officers agreed to remove Tasers from inspectors with immediate effect and reallocate these to frontline officers.
New action 04/26:
T/ACC Quiller, ACO McKinnon and CC Smith to discuss and agree force level Taser communications.
New action 05/26:
T/ACC Quiller and Ch/Supt Alland to review the long-term Taser training schedule.
9. Carbine replacement
Redacted - operational sensitivity.
10. Road safety
T/ACC Quiller presented the paper as previously submitted outlining the work undertaken to support road safety and reduce serious and fatal road collisions. The paper provided information on the current status, trend analysis of fatal road collisions and related mitigating activity. The paper was noted and there were no decisions or actions.
11. Criminal cases review commission
ACC Wilson presented the paper as previously circulated for noting. In summary, S17 Criminal Appeal Act 1995 Notices have been issued to forces to allow previously closed applications to the CCRC to be revisited where convictions relate to murder and rape. The criteria applied by the CCRC focuses on cases where the conviction was prior to 1 January 2016 and are unlikely therefore to have benefited from DNA-17 testing. The paper was noted and there were no decisions or actions.
12. Financial performance management update P9 Q3
PSE Wilson presented the paper as previously circulated setting out the revenue and capital outturn forecast position for the 2025/26 financial year as at Q3 (April to December). The headline figures for the financial year ending 31 March 2026 are:
- a revenue underspend of (£3.5m) on service expenditure budgets
- an additional (£0.5m) of council tax surplus resulting in a total revenue underspend of (£4.0m)
- a capital underspend of (£12.3m)
Chief Officers approved a further transfer of the Q3 revenue underspend to a reserve where it can be used to support initiatives to be agreed by COMB including helping to manage the financial position over the medium-term financial plan.
The management recommendations were noted.
13. Finance capital budgets quarterly review
PSE Wilson presented the paper as previously circulated. Chief Officers approved all items as listed:
- Faversham Police Station external repairs
- Stockbury Kennels – floorcovering and drainage
- Op Quantity
- Knockholt capital improvements works
- Asbestos management and removal
- Countywide swipe access
- Custody investment
The decisions regarding Carbine Replacement were addressed in item 9.
14. Any other business
Performance managing arrangements
CC Smith postponed this item to the next meeting when DCC Ayling is present for the discussion.
There was no further business for the open session.
CLOSED SESSION - no record taken
Date of next meeting
Tuesday 24 February 2026, 1pm, Clift Room.