Agenda and minutes

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 were received from Councillor J P Findlow (Cheshire East).

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.

Members of the public are able to put questions direct to Cheshire’s Police and Crime Panel via social media platform Twitter.

The Cheshire Police and Crime Panels’ Twitter account @CheshirePCP

There were no members of the public present wishing to use pubic speaking time.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2016

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2016 be approved as a correct record, subject to the addition of Mr R Fousert to the list of those present.

To consider the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposed Precept for 2017/18.

(Details of the Commissioner’s proposed Precept to follow.)

The Commissioner outlined to the Panel the process that had been followed to develop his proposed Precept for 2017/18. He explained the context in which the Home Office had in December 2016 issued the Provisional Grant Settlement; this showed a 1.4% decrease when compared with 2016/17. He further explained that the Government had imposed a 2% limit on the increase in Council Tax for policing and any proposed increase above that level would require a local referendum. The cost of conducting a referendum across Cheshire was estimated at £1.2m, which would have to be paid for from the policing budget.

The Commissioner explained that in considering the level of the Precept for 2017/18 he had consulted the public, a process that had resulted in approximately 1,500 responses, an increase of 40% over the previous year.  Over 60% of those that responded supported an increase of the Precept of up to 2.00%. 

The Commissioner recognised that the proposed Precept would not maintain the current budget, whilst at the same time imposing an increased burden on the Council Tax payer. Pressures on the budget included funding the Police pay award, inflation and priory developments. He did pay tribute to the Constabulary for delivering a range of efficiency savings, including efficiencies created by the successful rollout of mobile hand held technology for Officers, the savings in Police time  equated to up to  50 additional Officers. 

The Commissioner indicated that the level of the proposed Precept would enable the current number of Constabulary funded PCSOs to be maintained. If his budget were adopted the Constabulary would have the highest number of Police Officers since 2012.

In proposing to increase the Police element of Council Tax by 1.99% for a Band D equivalent property from £161.13 to £164.44, the Commissioner indicated that this would provide a balanced budget, which would enable Cheshire Constabulary to protect the people of Cheshire and invest in the priorities set out in the Police and Crime Plan. In addition the proposed increase in Council Tax reflected the Government’s expectations and the outcome of public consultation.

Members of the Panel discussed the detail of the proposed Precept seeking clarification on a number of points from the Commissioner.

Councillor Thompson asked the Commissioner a question relating to Officer numbers, stating that the current number of Officers appeared to be lower than the previous Commissioner had indicated they would be when he set his last budget. Mr Keane noted that central Government had not honoured commitments in relation to funding and that this had impacted on the number of Officers currently in the Cheshire Constabulary. He stressed that in setting a budget and Officer numbers sustainability was extremely important to him.

Councillor King asked the Commissioner about the increased workload for the Constabulary due to Officers becoming more involved in a wider range of community related activities, often due to reduced levels of service delivery in other agencies. The Commissioner recognised that this was an issue and that the nature of Policing was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

To consider a report in respect of the process for appointing Independent Members to serve on the Police and Crime Panel.

Consideration was given to a report that outlined proposals for appointing independent members to serve on the Police and Crime Panel.

        The Chairman had recently received the resignation, with effect from 31 March 2017 of Mr Eric Hodgson, whose current term of office ran from 2016 to 2019. The two remaining Independent Members’ terms of office would expire in June 2017. Mr Hodgson explained that he had resigned, with regret, due to his being appointed as Chair of a newly created, pan Cheshire Magistrates Bench, which was replacing the current structure where there were three Benches. He explained that it was perceived by some that there could be a possible clash of interests should he continue as a member of the Police and Crime Panel. Mr Hodgson was thanked for the contribution that he had made to the work of the Panel and was asked to serve on the Recruitment Panel that would make recommendations as to the appointment of his replacement together with the two other independent members of the Panel whose terms of office would conclude shortly.

        The Panel were of the view that the terms of appointment of independent members should be staggered ensuring that in future one member would be recruited each year.

RESOLVED

(1)  That the Panel appoint a Recruitment Panel made up of Councillors Amanda King and Andrew Dawson together with Mr Eric Hodgson to advise on the most appropriate way to move forward with appointments to the Panel arising from the vacancy following the resignation of Mr Eric Hodgson, and the expiry of the terms of office of the two other independent Members of the Panel.

(2)  That the Panel’s Rules of Procedure be amended to incorporate the decision made in September 2015 in relation to the appointment of independent members and that the Head of Governance and Democratic Services be given authority to make such changes to the Rules of Procedure as he considers are necessary to give effect to the wishes of the Panel.

To agree the programme of meetings for 2017-18 and to agree the date of the Confirmation Hearing for Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, which must be no later than three weeks from the Commissioner notifying the Panel of the proposed candidate.

Consideration was given to a report which outlined dates and venues for future    meetings of the Panel, together with options for the date of a Confirmation     Hearing for the appointment of a Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.

RESOLVED

1.               That future meetings of the Police and Crime Panel be held on: -

Friday 24 March 2017 Capesthorne Room, Macclesfield Town Hall

Friday 23 June 2017   Council Chamber, Warrington Town Hall

  Friday 22 Sept 2017   Karalius Suite, Halton Stadium

Friday 1 Dec 2017     Council Chamber, Municipal Buildings, Crewe

Friday 2 Feb 2018     Council Chamber, Wyvern House,Winsford

Friday 20 April 2018   Ellesmere Port (venue to be confirmed)

2.     That a confirmation hearing for the appointment of a Deputy Commissioner be held on Wednesday 22 February 2017, with officers being requested to seek to secure a suitable venue.

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

Notes from the Management Board held on 4 January 2017

The notes of the meeting of the Management Board held on 4 January 2017   had been circulated to the Panel members in advance of the meeting.

RESOLVED

That the notes be noted.

To provide an opportunity for members of the Panel to submit questions to the Police and Crime Commissioner.

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

        Mrs Hardwick indicated that she still had concerns over the way in which performance statistics were presented, she asked the Commissioner the progress that he was making in developing performance indicators to hold the Chief Constable to account.

        The Commissioner updated the Panel on the progress that he was making in translating current performance figures into direct indicators and that these would be in use shortly.

        Councillor Thompson raised concerns the issue of parking tickets in parts of Halton. It was noted that Halton was the only Cheshire Borough not to have introduced decriminalised car parking and the Commissioner suggested that the most appropriate way forward would be though a local meeting.

To consider the Work Programme

The work Programme was noted.

The next formal meeting will be held on Friday 24 March 2017 in the Capesthorne Room at Macclesfield Town Hall.

resolved

That the next meeting of the Police and Crime Panel be held on Friday  24 March 2017, in the Capesthorne Room, Town Hall, Macclesfield.