CPS Annual Report 2005-2006 - PDF - Crown Prosecution Service

44 RESOURCE ACCOUNTS
Professional Standards
To provide assurance to the CPS Board that the CPS is
delivering independent, high quality casework and advocacy.
Professional Standards Members Attendance
Chris Newell 5
David Archer 4
Bob Capstick 4
Sarah Jane Gallagher 5
Charles Ingham 4
John Revell 3
Rob Turnball 4
Sandie Hebblethwaite 1*
Harry Ireland 2
Anjali Arya 2
Philip Geering 3
Peter Lewis 2
* Meetings not attended due to long-term absence
Work Undertaken
• Reviewed legal guidance policy developments for the Service
and determined priorities for updating guidance material;
• Monitored overall ethical and professional standards for legal
training and determined the standards for CPS staff engaged
in managing large and complex cases; and
• Reviewed and advised on proposals for identifying and
promulgating good practice in the CPS.
Audit Committee
To provide objective advice, support and assurance to the
Accounting Officer and Additional Accounting Officer on CPS
corporate governance, risk management and control systems
and on the activity and findings of External Auditors.
Audit Member Attendance
Anjali Arya 3*
Philip Oliver 1*
Baljit Ubhey 3
Linda Fox 4
Peter Lewis 3
David Judd 4
*Anjali Arya replaced Philip Oliver as chair of this committee
Work Undertaken
• Reviewed and approved the annual audit plan; the Head of
Internal Audit’s Annual Report to the Accounting Officers
and the CPS Board; and the Statement on Internal Control;
• Reviewed and considered NAO observations on the annual
accounts and continually reviewed progress against the
Internal Audit Plan and all major developments and
departmental initiatives that impact on internal control, risk
management or corporate governance;
• Requested explanations from departmental management in
respect of actions that have impacted upon the control, risk
and corporate governance environment; and
• Reviewed and directed internal/external audit cooperation
for the next year ended 31 March 2007.
In line with good practice, a review of the effectiveness of the
Governance arrangements was undertaken between October
2005 and January 2006.This review tested the arrangements
and evaluated the extent to which they comply with HM
Treasury’s Code of Good Corporate Governance.
The main findings show that the introduction of a smaller, more
strategic decision making Board has been a success.There are
some recommendations for improving the administration
between the Board and committees and between the
committees themselves.The structure complies with the Code
of Good Corporate Governance and no major decisions on
prosecution policies, new initiatives, human resources, ICT or
investment decisions are made without going through the
appropriate committee or Board arrangements.
The recommendations from the review will be implemented in
2006-07. The committee structure will be further reviewed in
2006-07 once the impact of police reform is known.
Pensions
The Accounting Policy Note 1 describes the CPS policy on how
pension liabilities are treated and the accounting treatment is
detailed in Note 8 and in the Remuneration Report.
Equal Opportunities
The CPS has a strong commitment and increasingly positive
reputation on equal opportunities. The Service reviewed and
refreshed its policy commitments on equal opportunities in
2005 and its refined policy statement states:
“We are committed to taking account of the diversity of the
population we serve and the staff we employ, promoting
equality and opportunity for everyone. The Service recognises
the challenge of institutional discrimination. We will work to
eradicate it. We will work to ensure that prosecution decisions
are free from bias or discrimination and that victims, witnesses