19 May 2026
Record of actions and decisions
Title: Chief Officer's Management Board - Strategic
Date: Tuesday 19 May 2026 at 1pm
Venue: Clift Room, Sutton Road HQ
Attendees
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| CC Tim Smith (Chair) | Chief Constable |
| ACC Nigel Brookes | Local Policing Directorate |
| T/ACC Tracey Quiller | Central Operations Directorate |
| DCS Emma Banks | Rep. Crime Directorate |
| ACC Simon Wilson | Serious Crime Directorate |
| ACO Richard Leicester | Director of HR and L&D |
| PSE Natalie Hardy | Rep. Director of Communications |
| PSE David Jedrzejewski | Rep. Director of Support Services Directorate |
| PSE Jonathan Castle | Chief Finance Officer |
| PSE Amanda Humphrey (item 3) | Head of Health Services |
| PSE Kirstin Taylor (item 5) | Head of Employee Relations |
| PSE Sonya Gransden | Chief of Staff |
| DI Neil Martin | Staff Officer to DCC |
| PSE Catherine Hughes (minutes) | Executive Assistant to CC |
Apologies
- DCC Peter Ayling
- ACC Nigel Brookes
- ACO Claire Medhurst
- ACO Gavin McKinnon
1. Approval of the record from Tuesday 5 May 2026
The record of the previous meeting was approved.
2. Matters arising/action updates
07/26 – the update was noted and the action discharged
09/26 – the update was noted and the action discharged
3. Attendance management update
PSE Humphrey presented the paper as previously shared providing an update on attendance management progress and performance across the force for April to March 2025/26. The report provided information relating to overall absence data, reasons and lengths of absence and further information in relation to Command analysis and supportive action being undertaken.
Chief Officers discussed observations raised within their commands, and highlighted the importance of supervisory intervention, and the need for ongoing review and support for psychological absences.
New action 10/26:
ACO Leicester to consider current arrangements to address ongoing psychological absence trends and if there are further areas of support that may be available/required. For inclusion in future standing reports.
New action 11/26:
PSE Humphrey to provide further analysis on the difference in absence rates between officers and staff, including more comprehensive national data for comparison of absence rates across forces.
4. Any other business
Vacancy Factor- PSE Castle sought Chief Officer agreement to reduce the budgeted vacancy factor to 9% which would bring the organisation in line with budget expectations and allow for increased staffing without causing an underspend. He advised the budget is currently set at 10.5%, however the actual vacancy factor sits at 12%. Chief Officers agreed to the budget reduction and requested appropriate communication of this change.
CLOSED SESSION - no record taken
Date of next meeting
Tuesday 2 June 2026, 1pm, Clift Room.