Personnel and Finance Queries ref 2009/10 etc.

Dear West Midlands Police Authority,
I have been reviewing the West Midlands Casualty Reduction Partnership website and noticed their most recent announcement(MRA),
http://www.wmsafetycameras.co.uk/news.php
"West Midlands Police is to provide over £1 million funding to ensure that speed enforcement cameras remain operational across the region for the coming financial year, following the local authorities' decision to withdraw funding to the West Midlands Casualty Reduction Scheme"...

I am confused about this decision for several reasons,as our Police vision statement is:'Serving our communities, protecting them from harm', yet evidence from Swindon and other partnerships show that, in reality,the cameras do not really have a significant impact on accident statistics, so somehow the financial decision makers in the West Midlands must have been persuaded to allocate funds for some reason.My main crime concerns, from press reports, is escalating levels scrap metal theft,cannabis factories,drug dealing and street crime.I note from accounts that the external funding of cameras was £2.5 million in 2009/2010.

As a tax paying resident of Birmingham I would appreciate information about various finance related matters of concern.

QUESTION ONE.Regarding the WMCRP announcement,is it WM police or the WMPA who have agreed to provide the one million pound funding, and which part of the budget will provide the funding?

QUESTION TWO.Obviously the final decision would have been made at a spending review meeting and minutes will have been recorded.Please advise of the date of the meeting and the names and status of the people who attended.Please advise if a copy of the minutes is available for review.Was the decision be signed off with approval of both the treasurer and Chief Constable Chris Sims?

QUESTION THREE.Quote "West Midlands Police is to provide over £1 million funding...".Obviously the funding request is a calculated amount which is distributed to more than one end user.Please advise how the money is expected to be distributed, in terms of salary costs and the various other expenses including camera maintenance and other members of the partnership,and from which bank account the money originates and which bank account is the destination.

QUESTION FOUR.From the WMPA website "We are required by law to have a legal adviser and a treasurer. These are provided through an agreement with Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council".Please advise if the WMPA treasurer is Mr S.Williams CPFA,IRRV, and what is his ongoing connection with Dudley MBC as he appears to have left their employ over 12 months ago.Please advise when Mr Williams started as treasurer WMPA and if that is his sole full-time employment, as from the accounts he appears to be paid only £24,000 p.a.

QUESTION FIVE.As WMPA have knowledge of WM police, please advise what is the role of their Director of Resources, Mr Derek Smith,who has no qualifications or C.V on display, despite being on the Command Team and earning £121,000 p.a.

QUESTION SIX.On the WMPA Statement of accounts 2009/2010 Part 11, the total of Members allowances came to £278,000. Please advise how many members of the WMPA are eligible for these allowances.Under Inland Revenue rules a person cannot claim expenses to their normal place of work, but there appears to be extensive travel claims.Please explain the nature and quantum of the `basic allowances`, `special responsibility allowances`, `travelling and subsistence allowance`, and the `other allowances` which seem to be consistent at £12,000 annual claim.

QUESTION SEVEN.In section 34,there appears to be a separate bank account called the `proceeds of crime account`(POCA) with approximately £3.8 million,$19,000, and 64,000 euros.This is confusing as U.K bank accounts only record amounts in U.K currency, an explanation would be appreciated.Please advise the name of the bank operating the account, the account type, and whose signatures are authorised to make withdrawals.Please advise of the year end balance of the account for the past five years, and list the amount and destination of withdrawals exceeding £500 over the last 12 months.Who has the responsibility of paying monies in, and who decides for what purposes the funds are to be used and if there is any written protocol for use of the account.

I find Birmingham Council tax to be very high and I would appreciate clarification as to what is going on regarding various revenues raised.

I would appreciate completion of these points within the usual 20 day FOI timescale.

Yours faithfully,

Dennis Fallon