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 Cllrs Michael Fry and Andrea Wall (Halton) and Cllr Judy Snowball (Cheshire East).

Cllr Russell Chadwick substituted for Cllr Judy Snowball.

RESOLVED

That Cllr Judy Snowball be appointed as Chair of the Panel for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED

That Miss Yasmin Somani be appointed as Deputy Chair of the Panel for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

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 declarations of interest were made.

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 9 May 2025 as a correct record.

RESOLVED

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 9^th May 2025 be approved.

To note the membership of the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel for the municipal year 2025/26.

The Panel noted the membership of the Panel for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

Mrs Gemma Shepherd - Etchells and Cllr Keith Millar were appointed as Chair and Deputy Chair respectively of the Complaints Management Sub – Committee.  The Secretariat were asked to consult Panel members over the remaining membership of the seven-person sub-committee.

To consider for adoption the Panel’s Rules of Procedure.

The Secretariat outlined relatively minor proposed amendments to the Panel’s Procedure Rules, noting that these aimed to clarify the position in relation to the resignation of an independent co-opted member.

It was noted that the urgency powers contained in the Procedure Rules had not been used during the 2024/25 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED

1        That the Procedure Rules attached as Appendix I to the report, be adopted.

2        That the Head of Democratic Services be given authority to make such changes during the year to the Procedure Rules as he considered necessary to give effect to the wishes of the Panel.

To consider the reappointment of an Independent member of the Police and Crime Panel.

Mrs Gemma Shepherd – Etchells had been appointed to the Panel in 2022 following a rigorous recruitment process, her three year term of office would be expiring on 30^th September 2025.

The Panel recognised the very significant contribution that Mrs Shepherd – Etchells had made to the work of the Panel, this had included chairing the Complaints Management Sub Committee. Noting the contribution that she had made, and that she was willing to serve a second three year term, the Panel agreed that Mrs Shepherd – Etchells should be reappointed.

RESOLVED

That Mrs Gemma Shepherd – Etchells be appointed for a second three year term, with her term of office running to 30^th September 2028.

To approve the Panel’s budget for the municipal year 2025/26.

RESOLVED

That the proposed budget for 2025/26 be approved.

To consider the Panel’s Work Programme.

The Panel noted the work programme for 2025/26.

Cllr Mike Jones noted that at previous meetings of the Panel he had requested that the issue of Police culture be added to the work programme, this had not happened, he asked that this oversite be rectified.

One question had been submitted in advance to the Commissioner; this had been included with the Panel’s papers for the meeting.

The Deputy Chair welcomed the Commissioner and his Team to the meeting.

The Commissioner briefed the Panel on a range of issues, including his new style scrutiny meetings, the next phase of the programme of Citizens’ Assemblies and his SWAP Summer Support Fund. He also paid tribute to the work of volunteers across the Constabulary. The Commissioner congratulated Detective Sergeant Dave Thomason who worked in the Constabulary’s Harm Reduction Unit who had recently been awarded the Kings Police Medal.

Panel members asked the Commissioner a number of questions, including the one that had been submitted in advance of the meeting.  Details of all questions asked of the Commissioner and his responses can be found on the Police and Crime Panel page of the Cheshire East Council website.

Questions asked of and issues raised with the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner during the 25-26 Municipal year