Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to the appointment of Chairman for 2016/17 Municipal Year.

DECISION

That Councillor Howard Murray be appointed as Chairman for 2016/17 Municipal Year.

Consideration was given to the appointment of Deputy Chairman for 2016/17 Municipal Year.

DECISION

That Mr Bob Fousert be appointed as Deputy Chairman for 2016/17 Municipal Year.

Members are reminded that, in accordance with governance procedure rule 2.7, 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 for absence were received from Councillor Cathy Mitchell.

The Chairman requested that when members of the Panel could not attend a meeting that they appoint a substitute and suggested that they consider appointing a named substitute, preferably with a knowledge of policing issues.

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 in accordance with governance procedure rule 14.  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.

Members of the public may speak on any matter relating to the work of the Panel. During public speaking time, members of the public may ask questions of the Panel and the Chairman, in responding to the question, may answer the question, may decline to do so, may agree to reply at a later date or may refer the question to an appropriate person or body.

Questions will be asked and answered without discussion.  In order for officers to undertake any background research, members of the public who wish to ask a question at a Panel meeting should submit the question at least a day before the meeting.

There were no members of the public present, wishing to use the public speaking facility.

The Chairman reported that, as previously, for future meetings members of the public would be able to submit questions via Twitter. However, this facility had not been available at the meeting and they should submit any questions by e-mail to julie.north@cheshireeast.gov.uk

The Chairman reported that because the newly elected Police and Crime Commissioner was to remain as a Councillor in Warrington Borough, Cheshire East Council had taken over the administrative support to the Panel from Warrington Borough Council. He thanked the Warrington officers for their very able and competent support over the past few years. He also thanked those Members who no longer sat on the panel for their contribution to the work of the Panel and made special reference to Cllr Alex Black, from Cheshire West and Chester Council, for his support as Deputy Chairman.

It was agreed that a letter should be sent to the officers and Members concerned, thanking them for their contribution.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2016

DECISION

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2016.

With reference to minute CPCP47, Cllr Dawson reported that he had subsequently been provided with the information that he had requested in respect of the partner organisations who part funded PCSOs.

DECISION

That, subject to the addition of Cllr Andrew Dawson’s initials in the list of those present, the minutes be agreed as a correct record.

To note the Panel membership for the 2016/17 Municipal Year

           Consideration was given to a report and appendix setting out the Panel Membership for 2016/17. It was noted that Councillor Alex Black had been replaced Councillor Martyn Delaney as one of Cheshire West and Chester’s representatives on the Panel .

            RESOLVED

That, subject to the above alteration, the Panel Membership for 2016/17, as set out  at Appendix 1 of the report be received and noted.

To approve the re-adoption of the governance arrangements and rules and procedures.

Consideration was given to a report relating to the re-adoption of the governance arrangements and Rules of Procedure for the Panel. It was considered good practice for the Panel to review and readopt its governance arrangements and Rules of Procedure annually.

The current document, which was set out at Appendix 1 of the report, had been reviewed and revised from time to time, following comments from Panel Members at previous meetings of the Panel. It was noted that the content and context of the document would be routinely reviewed, monitored and amended as appropriate, in line with legislative changes, changes to local practices and procedures, and best practice advice.

A member of the Panel referred to paras 1.2 and 1.3 of the Procedure Rules, which stated that in the event of the resignation or removal of the Chairman, the replacement Chairman would be drawn from amongst the Councillors sitting on the Panel. This was said to restrict the appointment of the independent members of the Panel as Chairman. It was requested that consideration be given to removing this restriction.

It was suggested that a report, which properly explored this issue and any other anomalies in the Procedure Rules, including remuneration matters,  be submitted to the next formal meeting of the Panel, for consideration.

DECISION

1.    That the governance arrangements and Rules of Procedure be approved and adopted, so as to have effect until a report was made to the next Panel meeting.

2.    That a report be submitted to the next formal meeting of the Panel to consider any  changes to the Terms of Reference, governance arrangements and Procedure Rules which may be required.

To agree the location for the formal meetings of the Police and Crime Panel during the 2016/17 municipal year

           Consideration was given to a report seeking the Panel’s views on the location of its formal meetings for the municipal year 2016/17.

Since its inception, the formal meetings of the Panel had been held at Wyvern House Winsford. The meetings were now hosted and facilitated by Cheshire East Council, with accommodation being provided by Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Wyvern House had previously been chosen as the location for the formal Panel meetings due to its geographical location and ease of access from all parts of Cheshire.  A previous report which had considered the location of meetings was appended to the report.

It was suggested that consideration be given to rotating the venue for the Panel meetings around each of the four Boroughs, in order to make meetings more accessible to the public, subject to there being adequate webcasting facilities available at a reasonable cost.  

Consideration was also given to the proposed dates for meetings of the Panel for the 2016/17 municipal year. In order to avoid the Purdah period, it was suggested that the meeting date proposed for Friday 21 April 2017 be changed to Friday 24 March 2017.

The meeting dates were agreed as follows:-

o   Friday 17 June 2016 (AGM);

o   Friday 23 September 2016;

o   Friday 18 November 2016;

o   Friday 3 February 2017 (Budget and Precept meeting);

o   Friday 24 March 2017.

It was also requested that consideration be given to changing the start time of meetings from 10am to either 9am or 9.30am, or that meetings take place in the evening.

        DECISION

1.    That the meeting dates, as set out above, be agreed.

2.    That a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Panel in order to allow consideration of the time and location of meetings, to include any cost implications.

To confirm whether to continue to request informal meetings with the Police and Crime Commissioner, Chief Constable and other Police staff

           Consideration was given to a report seeking the Panel’s views in respect of continuing the practice of holding regular informal meetings with the Police and Crime Commissioner, Chief Constable, and other Police staff.

The purpose of the informal meetings had been to have frank, off-the-record discussions with the Commissioner and Chief Constable about various issues.

Panel members had previously indicated that they found such meetings particularly useful in gathering information, so that they could more effectively carry out their role of scrutinising the Commissioner.

The Panel was invited to consider whether it wished to continue  holding informal meetings with the new Police and Crime Commissioner, David Keane.

DECISION

It was agreed that the practice of holding informal meetings with the Police and Crime Commissioner should continue.

To receive and endorse the Panel’s budget for 2015/16 Municipal Year

Consideration was given to a report relating to  the Panel’s budget for the 2015/16 Municipal Year. The Panel was requested to receive and endorse the budget.

It was noted that the Home Office issued a ring-fenced grant to the host authority to maintain a Police and Crime Panel for the Cheshire Police force area to carry out its functions and responsibilities, as set out in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. The grant for 2015/16 claimed by the previous host authority had been predominantly against staff and team time engaged with supporting the Panel arrangements.  The grant claim details were set out in a table within the report.

The allocated grant for 2016/17 was split between £53,300 for administration costs and £11,960 (up to £920) for member expenses. The grant acceptance letter had been sent on 26 April 2016. 

In considering the report, the Panel requested that a further report be submitted to the next formal meeting of the Panel, providing details of how it was proposed to spend the £53,300 grant for administration costs, together with further outturn details of the 2015/16 financial year.

DECISION

That the report be noted and a further report be submitted to the next formal meeting of the Panel, providing details of how it was proposed to spend the £53,300 grant for administration costs, together with further outturn details of the 2015/16 financial year.

Police Commissioner Decision Meeting Notices: To receive, note and to inform any future scrutiny or work programme items.

a)         Management Board – 2 March 2016

b)         Management Board – 30 March 2016

c)         Management Board – 12 May 2016

The notes of the meetings of the Management Board held on 2 March, 30 March, 12 May, were submitted.

DECISION

That the notes be received and noted.

(At this point the meeting was adjourned for 10 minutes).

(Note: The Police and Crime Commissioner and representatives of his officer team will be in attendance)

Questions for the Police and Crime Commissioner

Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner, David Keane and Mr Stephen Pickup were present for the following part of the meeting.

The Chairman suggested that, for future meetings, if members of the Panel had questions and would like a response on the day of the meeting, that they submit the question in advance to the Democratic Services Officers and copy to the Chairman.

The Chairman welcomed the new Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner, David Keane, to the meeting and Panel members introduced themselves.

The Police and Crime Commissioner thanked the Chairman for his welcome and stated that he hoped to build a strong and effective relationship with the Panel. Since his election, he had visited various locations in the area and had met with a number of partners and stakeholders and had also visited some local policing units. He had met with Police officers and staff, which had provided an opportunity for them to ask questions and for him to get a better understanding of some of the issues in Cheshire.

He referred to the Police and Crime Plan and stated that he intended to take a different approach to previous plans by carrying out a six week consultation before the Plan was produced. The intention was to pull the comments together into a draft Plan, which would then go out to formal consultation in the Autumn to ensure that he had understood concerns and priorities correctly. He considered this approach to be more inclusive and democratic. It was proposed to publish the Plan in the following year and he hoped that the Panel would feed in to the process. He hoped to get as much involvement as possible and would welcome the Panel’s questions.

A summary of the questions asked of the Commissioner and a summary of the responses given are set out below:-

1.    The Chairman of the Panel asked what had been the Commissioner’s three greatest concerns since assuming his post.

Response –  The Commissioner responded that there was a big change in perception from being a member of the public to being a candidate and then Commissioner. One saw the reality and the different jobs that the Police had to perform. Seeing the challenges and professionalism and the pressures in terms of resources changed one’s perspective. He had been impressed by what he had seen and by the effective partnership with the emergency services in Cheshire and had witnessed the co-ordinated working. He stated that it was difficult to outline three main concerns, but he stated that resources and budgets were difficult to manage and that public expectation was very challenging. One area that he considered could be improved was HMIC reports, for example stop and search, which was one of the areas deemed not to be good and it was clear needed some attention . He had started to look at this area, to see how it could be improved. There were other areas which were deemed not to be good or outstanding and his hope  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

To consider the work programme for 2016/17

Consideration was given to the Work Programme for 2016/17.

DECISION

The Work Programme was agreed, subject to a change in the date of  the last meeting from 21 April  to 25 March 2017, as agreed earlier in the meeting.