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 Mick Warren (Cheshire East Council) who was substituted by Councillor Denis Murphy and Councillor Dave Thompson (Halton 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

No members of the public present at the meeting choose to speak.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2019.

The Minutes of the meeting were reviewed.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th September 2019 be approved as a correct record. 

To confirm the membership and date of first meeting.

Membership of the Complaints Sub Committee was confirmed as Mr Evan Morris, Mrs Sally Hardwick Councillor Andrew Dawson, Councillor Paul Findlow and Councillor Brian Maher.

The Secretariat was asked to circulate the report that had been considered by the Panel at the meeting when the Sub Committee had been established, together with the relevant minute from that meeting. 

RESOLVED

That the Secretariat would canvass dates for a meeting of the Sub Committee and would compile a database of all recent relevant complaints which would be reviewed by the Sub Committee.

To receive a report on the Eighth National Conference for Chairs, Members and Support Officers of Police and Crime Panels and Police, Fire and Crime Panels.

Advance notice that the 2020 Conference will be held on 23/24 November 2020.

Councillors Norman Plumpton Walsh and Paul Findlow briefed the Panel on their attendance at the Conference, which they had both found to be useful and informative.

Panel members discussed the benefits of visiting other Panels to see how business was conducted.

The Chairman indicated that the Panel had received an invitation from the National Association of Police and Crime Panels to become members, there was now no membership fee for joining the Association. He also indicated that should the Panel become members he had been asked if he would be interested in joining the Executive Committee. The Panel saw benefits in becoming members and supported the Chairman, should he wish to apply to become an Officer of the Association.

RESOLVED

That the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel become members of the National Association of Police and Crime Panels.

To receive an update from the Chairman.

This item was introduced by the Chairman, who had drafted a submission to the Strategic Review of Policing which was being conducted by the Police Foundation under the Chairmanship of Sir Michael Barber.

The Panel endorsed the approach being recommended by the Chairman. Councillor Andrew Dawson noted that clarity was needed in relation to the role and powers of Police and Crime Panels, commenting that the Cheshire Panel’s relationship with the two Commissioners it had worked with had been less than satisfactory. 

The Chairman indicated that he favoured the adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Commissioner, along the lines of ones developed in other areas.

RESOLVED:

That the Head of Governance and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Chair and Deputy Chair finalise a submission to the Strategic Review of Policing; with a copy to be circulated to all Panel members. 

To receive a verbal update.

The Chairman welcomed the Commissioner to the meeting.

Councillor Paul Findlow asked the Commissioner for clarification on Police policy in relation to the support provided to those organising Remembrance Day events. He noted that at relatively short notice the Police had, in 2019, announced changes to the levels of support that had traditionally been provided.

The Commissioner had reviewed the support provided in 2019, noting that 69 events had been held across Cheshire, in excess of 230 Police Officers and PCSOs had been on duty.   Events had also been supported by members of the Special Constabulary.

Councillor Rob Bisset raised concerns over the experience in the Ellesmere Port and Neston areas in 2019. He stressed the role that remembrance events played in society and the importance of maintaining such traditions.

Councillor Andrew Dawson sought clarification over the charges that would be made for support in future years. Councillor Denis Murphy requested that the Commissioner use his influence to minimise those occasions when charges were made.  

The Commissioner highlighted that there had been some issues in 2019 over arranging road closures; the responsibility for which rested with local authorities.

The Chairman asked the Commissioner to revisit this issue with the Chief Constable and also requested that the Police communicated at an early stage with local authorities in relation to events being held in November 2020. The Panel confirmed that it would revisit this issue at a future meeting.

Mr Evan Morris, referring to an article in the on line magazine Police Insight, asked the Commissioner if Cheshire Constabulary had a policy on the use of body-worn video.

The Commissioner responded by saying that he had been very supportive of the introduction of body-worn video in Cheshire. Its introduction appeared to have led to a reduction in the number of complaints received and afforded significant protection to Police Officers and PCSOs. The equipment had now been provided  to all relevant Officers across the Constabulary.  He saw guidelines for its use as being important and informed the Panel that the implementation of the policy was currently being reviewed. The Commissioner committed to sharing the outcome of that exercise with Panel members, when available. Mr Morris asked if the Cheshire policy had been published, noting that the policy developed by the Metropolitan Police had been published and was available online. The Commissioner promised to take this issue up with the Chief Constable.

Mrs Sally Hardwick referred to a newsletter that she had received from the Commissioner’s Office in relation the precept for 2020/21; this had made reference to Police recruitment. Mrs Hardwick sought clarity over the additional number of Police Officers that would be recruited and the timescales associated with the process.

The Commissioner indicated that the issue was complex. Due to the General Election no announcement had yet been made on the levels of national funding for 2020/21. He was currently consulting over plans for his precept for 2020/21. The Commissioner indicated that he had authority to recruit up to 30 Officers by April 2020 and a further 60 by April 2011. However; funding had not yet been provided by central Government, its receipt was dependent on Officer numbers being maintained at current levels.   The Commissioner indicated that should the funding settlement not include an element for inflation, cost pressures of £6m would be placed on the Constabulary budget. The Chairman offered the Commissioner the Panel’s support in lobbying for fair funding for the Cheshire Constabulary.

Councillor Denis Murphy noted that in his area (Congleton) a number of PCSOs had been promoted to positions of Police Officers. He asked what plans were in place to ensure PCSO numbers were maintained. The Commissioner responded by saying that there were plans were in place to replace those that had moved on to new roles.

Mr Bob Fousert asked the Commissioner how information about his proposed budget had been circulated. He replied that information had been circulated in a number of ways and was available online. He noted that nine public consultation events were being held. The Chairman encouraged Panel members to attend these events.

Councillor Andrew Dawson made reference to a complaint which he had forwarded to the Commissioner, recognising that this would be dealt with through the appropriate channels, but asked what the Commissioner’s expectations were of the Chief Constable and Constabulary in relation to race and racial profiling.

The Commissioner indicated that he expected the Police to act impartially at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

To receive, note and inform any future scrutiny or work programme items.

Documents for the Scrutiny meetings held on 18 September and 13 November 2019 attached.

The Panel noted the agenda of the Commissioner’s Scrutiny meetings held on 18^th September 2019 and 13^th November 2019.

The Chairman noted that the Commissioner now had a new website and that information was now easier to find.

To consider the Work Programme.

The work programme was noted.

Panel members indicated that they would be content for the programme of formal meetings for 2020/21 to follow that adopted in previous years. A draft programme would be brought to the next meeting for the Panel’s consideration.

The Panel endorsed the importance of continuing with the practice of holding regular, informal meetings with the Commissioner. Panel Members suggested a number of areas which could beneficially be discussed at such meetings, these included diversity, adult safeguarding and performance.

Friday 7 February 2020 at 10.00 am at Wyvern House, Winsford.

The next meeting of the Police and Crime Panel was confirmed as being held on Friday 7^th February at Wyvern House, Winsford.