Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence

An apology for absence was received from Councillor H Murray

Due to the Chairman submitting his apologies for the meeting, it was necessary to appoint a Chairman for the meeting.

RESOLVED

That Councillor M Grant be appointed as Chairman.

Councillor M Grant took the Chair.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To provide an opportunity for Members to declare the existence of a party whip in relation to any item on the agenda.

There were no whipping declarations.

A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers.

Note: In order for officers to undertake any background research, it would be helpful if members of the public contacted the Scrutiny officer listed at the foot of the agenda, at least one working day before the meeting to provide brief details of the matter to be covered.

There were no members of the public present wishing to speak.

To approve the minutes as a correct record

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting.

RESOLVED

That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Further to the meeting held on 14 February 2013, to receive a presentation by representatives of Cheshire Probation Trust on the changes to probation service.

Further to the last presentation on the changes to the Probation Service, Ben McCrorie, Special Projects Manager and Garath Burroghes, Board Secretary from Cheshire Probation, attended the meeting to give a presentation on the latest developments in the transforming rehabilitation strategic change programme and its implications for Cheshire. The presentation outlined:

·         The timeline and proposed changes

·         Transition and mobilisation phase – key priorities

·         Implications for strategic partners

·         National Probation Service

·         Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC)

·         Statutory partnerships and responsibilities

·         Partnership transition plan

·         CRC Competition – involvement of strategic partners

With regard to the transfer of case loads, it was noted that the police would be able to provide additional support to assist with the transition.

Case allocations and risk assessments on whether offenders should go through the company or probation service would now be done through the courts on the day, which would be more intensive but considered to be impartial. Lines of communication and procedures would therefore need to be watertight.

It was noted that the transfer of staff would be done through Cabinet Office Standard of Practice (COSOP) rather than through the TUPE process as the service sat within the Government Office. Performance would still be audited through the HM Inspectorate of Probation.

As all offenders would now have access to the Probation Service, it was envisaged that there would be around 54,000 more cases nationally with no additional resources available.

RESOLVED

That the representatives of the Probation Service be thanked for their presentation.

To give consideration to the work programme

It was agreed that the following issues would be added to the work programme:

·         Reflective Review of domestic homicide in Cheshire East – date to be agreed

·         Cheshire Sub Regional Review of Community Safety – date to be agreed.

AGREED

That the Reflective Review of domestic homicide and Cheshire Sub Regional Review of Community Safety be added to the work programme.