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 Norman Plumpton Walsh (Halton) who was represented by Cllr Peter Lloyd Jones.

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 23 September 2022 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd September 2022 be approved.

The Chair welcomed Mrs Gemma Shepherd – Etchells to her first meeting of the Panel. He also noted that he had been reappointed to the position of Vice Chair of the Association of Police, Fire and Crime Panels.

To consider the work programme.

The work programme for the remainder of 2022/23 was reviewed by the Panel.

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

The Chair welcomed the Commissioner to the meeting.

The Commissioner thanked Panel members for their comments on his draft Police and Crime Plan. He also made reference to a number of issues, including  the current establishment of Police Officers in Cheshire, the introduction of average speed cameras and the investment into local communities across the County of funds generated by the Proceeds of Crime Act.

To consider the draft Police and Crime Plan.

The Panel discussed the draft of the refreshed Police and Crime Plan. The Chair thanked the Commissioner for the opportunities that the Panel had been afforded to comment on earlier versions of the Plan.

RESOLVED:

That no formal recommendations be made in relation to the revised Police and Crime Plan, which was supported unanimously.

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.