Agenda and minutes

Members are reminded that, in accordance with governance procedure rule at Part 3 paragraph 2.6, Panel Members, or their constituent authority, may nominate substitute members of the Panel in the event that the appointed representative(s) is/are unable to attend the meeting.  Advance notice of substitution should be given to the host authority wherever possible.  Members are encouraged wherever possible to secure the attendance of a substitute if they are unable to be present.

Apologies were received from Cllr Wendy Maisey OBE (Warrington Council) and Cllr Jane Whalen (Warrington Council).

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any disclosable pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest which they have in any item of business on the agenda no later than when the item is reached.

No issues were raised.

To receive questions from members of the public. A total period of 15 minutes will be allocated for members of the public to speak at Panel meetings. Each member of the public shall be limited to a period of up to 5 minutes speaking. At the Chair’s discretion the period made available for questions and statements may be extended.

In order that an appropriate answer to the questions can be given, the deadline for indicating a wish to speak or for submission of questions is 3 clear working days before a meeting of the Panel. The Chair has the discretion to waive the 3-day rule for issues deemed to be urgent.

In response to questions or statements the Panel may choose to agree to either provide an agreed verbal response, that will be minuted or to provide a written reply to a questioners chosen address.

Those wishing to ask a question or make a statement should register by email to: martin.r.smith@cheshireeast.gov.ukor send the question or statement by post to:

Cheshire Police and Crime Panel

Democratic Services and Governance

c/o Municipal Buildings

Earle Street

Crewe

CW1 2BJ

A list of those speaking or asking questions at a meeting of the Panel will be drawn up by the Panel’s Secretariat in order of receipt. Copies of questions and statements will be circulated to all Panel members in advance of the meeting and will be made available to the public attending the meeting. Copies will also be available on the Police and Crime Panel’s page of the Cheshire East Council website.

Nobody may submit more than one question or make more than one statement at the same meeting, but a supplementary question, related to the subject raised in the question /statement, will be permitted for clarification at the discretion of the Chair.

Those speaking or asking questions will not be permitted to address any issue that is the subject of a current or proposed complaint by them against the Police and Crime Commissioner. They are also advised that reference to an issue that could become the subject of a future complaint by them could prejudice the Panel’s consideration of that complaint.

The Panel will not accept a question or statement if:

There is insufficient detail to enable a proper response to be provided.

It is not about a matter for which the Police and Crime Panel has responsibility.

It is potentially defamatory, frivolous or offensive against named individuals.

It is substantially the same question which has been put at a meeting of the Police and Crime Panel in the last six months.

It requires the disclosure of confidential or exempt information.

No members of the public wished to speak at the meeting.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2023 be approved.

The Chair briefed on the forthcoming annual meeting of the National Association of Police, Fire and Crime Panels that would be taking place in November, noting that he would be standing again for the position of Vice Chair of the Association. The Chair also noted that he had attended a workshop with consultants appointed by the Home Office, where there had been discussions on the support that could in future be offered to Police and Crime Panels by regional hubs.

To receive a verbal update.

The Panel welcomed the suggestion that a training event should be held later in the year. The Secretariat were asked to canvass Panel members for a suitable date.

To receive, note and inform any future scrutiny or work programme item.

The papers for the Commissioner’s Scrutiny Board were noted.

To consider the programme of meetings and work programme.

The work programme was noted.

The Chair explained that a number of questions had been formally submitted to the Commissioner in advance of the meeting and that these had been included in the published papers.

The Chair welcomed the Commissioner to the meeting.

In his introductory comments the Commissioner congratulated the Constabulary on the excellent work that it had done in relation to Operation Hummingbird, which had led to the successful prosecution, at Manchester Crown Court, of Lucy Letby. The trial had lasted for almost a year and the case had been one of the most complex criminal investigations in history.

The Commissioner also briefed the Panel on a number of other issues, including pensions forfeiture, road safety and a bid for funding in the fifth round of the Safer Streets programme.

The Chair added his own, and the Panel’s congratulations to the Police, for the work undertaking in relation to Operation Hummingbird.

To consider the Annual Report.

Note: the attached version of the Commissioner’s Annual Report is a draft, it awaits formal sign off by the Commissioner at his Joint Management Board on Wednesday 13 September 2023.  Any changes to the Report will be notified to the Panel.

The Commissioner introduced his draft annual report, answering a range of questions from Panel members,

RESOLVED:

That the Commissioner’s Annual Report be noted, with no formal recommendations being made.

Panel members asked the Commissioner a range of questions. Details of questions and the Commissioner’s responses can be found on the Police and Crime Panel page of the Cheshire East Council website.