Agenda and minutes

The Chairman referred to the terror attack which had taken place in London on 22 March. Members of the Panel stood in silent tribute to those who had been affected, lost their lives and had been injured in the attack.

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 Cllr D Thompson, Halton Borough Council.

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 the public speaking facility.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2017, and 22 February 2017.

The minutes of the meetings of the Panel held on 3 February and 22 February 2017 were submitted.

With regard to the minutes of 3 February 2017, it was agreed that more detail should be included at minute 47, in respect of the questions to the Commissioner and that the Chairman and Vice-chairman be authorised to sign the minutes, once this had been completed and they were satisfied that they were a correct record.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2017 be approved as a correct record and that the minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2017 be approved as a correct record, subject to more detail being included in respect of the questions to the Commissioner and that the Chairman and Vice-chairman be authorised to sign the minutes as a correct, once this has been completed.

To consider whether the subscription to “Policing Insight” should be renewed.

Consideration was given as to whether the Panel’s subscription to “Policing Insight”, an online magazine and weekly newsletter, providing analysis and insight on policing governance, policy, politics and legislation, should be renewed.

In considering the proposal the Panel discussed whether access should be to all members of the Panel, at a cost of £950 per annum, or for a limited number of Panel members, at a cost of £250 per member, per annum. It was agreed that access should be available to all Panel members.

RESOLVED

That the subscription to Policing Insight be renewed, for access to all members of the Panel, at a cost of £950 per annum, plus VAT .

The Commissioner was welcomed to the meeting.

The Commissioner made a short statement, updating the Panel on the recent terror attack which had taken place in London on 22 March. He felt that the Panel would wish to join with him in condemning the attack and noted that a minute’s silence had been observed at the start of the meeting. He reported that he and the Chief Constable had sent condolences to all those who had been affected and the Metropolitan Police Force. He also provided information in respect of the current threat level and reported that there was no specific intelligence in respect of  Cheshire. However, Cheshire Constabulary had responded in the areas of  engagement and reassurance within communities. The Constabulary had also engaged with key stakeholders, key representatives and locations across the County and a Gold group had been brought together, which included key emergency services, local authority leads and community safety leads, The threat to Constabulary staff was recognised and a briefing had been circulated to all staff in respect of this issue. The Chairman thanked the Commissioner for the update.

The Chairman of the Panel stated that  he was aware that a number of issues relating to the Commissioner’s recent appointment of a Deputy and that other matters had been raised with Panel members direct, and/or with officers. He was conscious that Panel members may feel it appropriate to raise these matters with the Commissioner at today’s meeting.

He asked members of the Panel to be mindful of the fact that the Panel had adopted Rules of Procedure, which set out a process involving the Monitoring Officer, which must be followed when formal complaints wee made against the Commissioner.

Whilst it was quite legitimate for Panel members to raise their own personal concerns with the Commissioner, he asked that they avoid alluding to any formally submitted complaints which were now subject to the complaints procedure, under Item 6: Overview and Scrutiny of the Police and Crime Commissioner.  There would be a concern that any formal complaints process might be prejudiced by direct discussion with the Commissioner at today’s meeting.

The Commissioner updated the Panel on the following issue, raised at the previous meeting:-

Cllr Dawson had asked a question relating to the related consequences for the Constabulary of investigating non-recent sexual abuse cases. The Commissioner had agreed to report on these issues at the next meeting of the Panel. The Commissioner stated that, as explained at the last meeting, he had been involved in a request to the Home Office for further support. The Constabulary had established a Non Recent Sexual Abuse Team and in order to deal with this issue a decision had been made to increase assets. Initial funding of £120,000 had been approved, but this had not been sufficient and a second bid for £130,000 had been submitted. The Commissioner briefly explained what the impact of the grant would be.

Questions for the Police and Crime Commissioner

A summary of the questions put  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

The Commissioner reported that Mr Stephen Pickup, Head of Scrutiny and Planning Office, at the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office, had left his position and asked the Panel to join him in thanking Mr Pickup for his work in relation to the Panel and to wish him well in his new role.

The Chairman added his personal thanks and on behalf of the Panel.

To consider the Work Programme.

It was agreed that an item relating to transparency and openness should be added to the list of agenda items for the 23 June 2017 meeting.

RESOLVED

That, subject to the above addition, the Work Programme be approved.

It was noted that Mr Eric Hodgson had resigned for the Panel and that this had been his last meeting.

The Chairman thanked Mr Hodgson for his service, diligence and wise counsel, during his time on the Panel.

It was agreed that a letter of thanks should be sent to Mr Hodgson on behalf of the Panel.