The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (the Act) created both the Commissioner and Chief Constable as corporations sole with the ability to perform a number of functions, including the employment of staff. In November 2012 all staff previously employed by West Midlands Police Authority transferred to the employment of the Commissioner. In the context of these arrangements the Commissioner approved a scheme of delegations in November 2012 which set out delegations to the Commissioner’s statutory officers, the Chief Constable and other senior posts within both the Commissioner’s office and West Midlands Police.
Following a direction from the Home Secretary the Commissioner has agreed a Transfer Scheme which will take effect from 1 April 2014. The principles and details of the scheme are reflected in the Commissioner’s decision WMPCC 037/2013. The effect of the scheme is to transfer the majority of staff previously employed by the Commissioner to the employment of the Chief Constable. This transfer necessitates the Commissioner to approve a revised scheme of governance to reflect the revised employment arrangements in the light of the provisions of the Act.
A draft of the scheme of governance was reviewed and supported by the Joint Audit Committee at its meeting on 26 March 2014. The governance documentation considered by the Commissioner is attached at Annexes A, B and C to this decision.
