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 Mike Jones (Cheshire West and Chester), Cllrs David Jefferey and David Brown, (Cheshire East Council), Cllr Angela McInerney, (Halton Council) and Mrs Gemma Shepherd-Etchells. Councillor Russell Chadwick, Cheshire East Council’s reserve member was in attendance.

RESOLVED:

That Cllr Judy Snowball be appointed as Chair of the Panel for the 2026/27 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED

That Prof. Barry Godfrey be appointed as Deputy Chair for the 2026/27 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

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 10 April 2026.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held 10^th April 2026 be approved.

To consider the report on the Panel’s membership.

The Panel noted the membership for the 2026/27 Municipal Year. Discussion of whether the current vacancy for a coopted independent Panel member should be filled was deferred until the July meeting.

The Panel to appoint members to the Complaints Management Sub Committee.

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.

RESOLVED:

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

2        That the Head of Democratic Services, after consulting with the Chair of the Panel, 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 approve the Panel’s budget for the municipal year.

RESOLVED:

That the proposed budget for 2026/27 be approved.

To note the Panel’s work programme.

The work programme was reviewed and a number of items added.

The Commissioner was indisposed and his Deputy Commissioner attended the meeting.

The Chair welcomed the Deputy Commissioner to the meeting, following which she briefly updated the Panel on a number of issues.

Three questions had been submitted to the Commissioner in advance of the meeting. The Commissioner’s Office deemed two of them to relate to operational policing matters and circulated written responses provided by the Constabulary. A verbal response was provided to the third question.

Panel members asked the Deputy Commissioner a number of questions. Details of all questions asked of the Deputy Commissioner and her responses can be found on the Police and Crime Panel page of the Cheshire East Council website.