18 November 2025
Record of actions and decisions
Title: Chief Officer's Management Board - Strategic
Date: Tuesday 18 November 2025 at 1pm
Venue: Wells Room and Microsoft Teams
Attendees
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| DCC Peter Ayling (Chair) | Deputy 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 |
| ACO Gavin McKinnon | Director of Corporate Communications |
| ACO Claire Medhurst | Support Services Directorate |
| PSE Jonathan Castle | Chief Financial Officer |
| PSE Fiona Brown (item 3) vc | Chief Information Officer |
| PSE Vita Steward (item 3) vc | Information Security |
| Ch/Insp Mark McLellan (item 6) vc | Digital Business Change |
| PSE Rebecca Humphreys (items 7 & 8) vc | Head of Operational HR |
| Ch/Supt Rob Kirby (item 11) vc | Head of L&D |
| PSE Sonya Gransden | Chief of Staff |
| PSE Catherine Hughes (minutes) vc | Executive Assistant to CC |
Apologies
- CC Tim Smith
1. Approval of the record from Tuesday 4 November 2025
The record of the previous meeting was approved.
2. Matters arising/action updates
Action 17/25 – the update paper was noted and the action discharged.
3. Third party assurance
PSE Steward and PSE Brown presented the paper as previously shared outlining risks and possible mitigating actions relating to the third-party assurance process. Option 3 was recommended – the purchase of Risk Ledger (third party assurance tool) at a cost of £30,000 per annum for a two-year contract across both forces. The meeting discussed security and financial concerns.
Chief Officers agreed to option 3 and requested a review in November 2026.
4. Risk management review
ACO Medhurst presented the paper as previously shared and advised risk management is in a positive position following the most recent Risk Star Chamber. The quarterly changes were noted:
- 1 x new URN 2855 - Channel Tunnel communication systems
- 2 x reduction in scores URN 2740 Intelligence Bureau Demand and URN 2775 ICCS
- 1 x moved out of scope URN 2808 ANPR resourcing
Risk owners provided brief updates on red risk URNs 2824, 2790 and 2845.
Chief Officers approved the risk management report changes.
5. Finance update 2025/26 period 7
PSE Castle presented the paper as previously shared noting the financial position remains stable, with no material changes since the last report. The main risk is related to Neighbourhood Policing Grant payments from the Home Office, which are expected in December. There is a capital underspend, with some projects deferred to future years.
T/ACC Quiller provided an update on management action 02/25 regarding camera safety and confirmed a review is in progress, which should be complete by early 2026.
6. Body Worn Video (BWV) live streaming
T/ACC Quiller and Ch/Insp McLellan presented the paper as previously shared providing a summary of the BWV live streaming pilot that occurred over summer 2025 and highlighted key points and recommendations.
Chief Officers discussed the options presented and agreed to proceed with option 4, to pause until all issues are resolved.
7. Health and safety update
PSE Humphreys presented the paper as previously shared and highlighted key points. Mandatory health and safety training compliance is strong across the force with over 89% or higher completion across all five areas. PSE Humphreys also noted the successful completion of the vehicle boot audit, and the implementation of new policies for first aid provision at sites without warranted officers. The HMICFRS custody inspection was undertaken earlier today, with no formal areas of improvement declared at this time.
8. Attendance management update
PSE Humphreys presented the paper as previously shared and highlighted key points. Absence rates are higher than last year, particularly for officers, with psychological reasons being the main cause. This mirrors overall national trends; however the force remains below the public sector average. Interventions include revised support planning, wellbeing programmes, and enhanced occupational health quality assurance.
It was agreed that Chief Officers would ensure that the attendance management data and information is made available for ongoing review, and that they must continue to have appropriate oversight of any good practice or concerning trends.
9. Chief Officer away day feedback
Chief Officers provided verbal updates on their observations during visits to Local Policing Teams across the county on Friday 7 November, in the following areas:
- ACO Leicester: Ashford
- T/ACC Thompson: Medway
- ACC Brookes: Canterbury
- ACC Wilson: North Kent VBCT
- DCC Ayling: Maidstone
Feedback forms have been submitted to the DCC’s office for review of recurring themes and the extraction of any actions. The DCC thanked Chief Officers for their valuable feedback.
7. Any other business
There was no further business for the open session.
CLOSED SESSION
Date of next meeting
Tuesday 2 December 2025, 1pm, Clift Room.