Agenda item

To review the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposed precept for 2020/21.

The Chairman welcomed the Commissioner to the meeting; he was accompanied by Wendy Bebbington and Clare Hodgson. The Chairman noted that Panel members had received a comprehensive briefing from the Commissioner and his Finance team in advance of the meeting.

The Commissioner noted that details of the financial settlement had only been received from the Home Office on 22^nd January, a month later than normal. He outlined the process of consultation that he had undertaken, over 2,500 responses had been received, with two thirds of those responding supporting his proposals. The Commissioner summarised the details of his proposed precept, details of which had been provided in advance to Panel members and had been published on the Panel‘s page of the Cheshire East Council website.

The Chairman noted that it would be helpful if the Commissioner had access to research undertaken by the four Cheshire local authorities when setting his proposed precept each year.

Mrs Sally Hardwick asked the Commissioner for more information about the consultation exercise, specifically referring to the third of people who had indicated that they did not support the proposed increase in precept. The Commissioner noted that of the third that had not been in support, half felt that the Police Service should be paid for nationally, the other half had indicated that they could not afford an increase in their Council Tax bill.

The Chairman asked the Commissioner for clarification over the recruitment and retention of Police Officers. The Commissioner indicated that the 43 additional Officers that had been approved when the 2019/20 precept had been approved in February 2019 had now been appointed. He noted that he had asked the Chief Constable to develop a recruitment plan for the forthcoming year.

Councillor Paul Findlow sought clarification over the adequacy of financial reserves. The Commissioner indicated that reserves were lower than they had been in previous years; they had reduced from £20m to £9m. Clare Hodgson, the Commissioner’s Chief Finance Officer clarified the position in relation to the reserves and the way in which they would be reported. She confirmed that in her professional opinion the reserves were adequate.

Councillor Andrew Dawson asked the Commissioner if there were any empty, unsold Police Stations in Cheshire. The Commissioner responded by saying that he had worked hard to rationalise the Police estate. Using the former Frodsham Police Station as an example he outlined how space was now shared with the Fire and Rescue Service. He recognised that there was still more to do, but he was confident that that there were no redundant assets in the Police estate. The Chairman asked if Commissioner could provide the Panel with a detailed breakdown of the Constabulary’s assets, with capital values.

Councillor Sam Naylor, who chaired the Northwich Regeneration Forum referred to the desire to create a public sector hub in Northwich, the development of which was being delayed by failure to relocate Northwich Police Station. The Commissioner indicated that affordability was an issue, whilst he saw it as desirable for the Police to be integrated into public sector hubs, this was not possible if the cost was greater than current expenditure.

Mr Bob Fousert asked what the Commissioner’s strategy was in relation to “Green issues” in relation to both property and transport. The Commissioner indicated that this was not an issue directly related to the Police precept, but that he would be happy to provide the Panel with an update at the future meeting. He recognised that these were important issues that were of concern to both the Panel and wider public. 

The Chairman asked for information on the Commissioner’s approach to risk management and the use of risk registers. He used the example of the removal of national funding from the Cheshire Anti-Stalking Unit as an example. The Commissioner reassured the Panel that he and the Chief Constable adopted a robust approach to risk management and that a joint strategic risk register was maintained. He indicated that should the Precept be approved, funding would continue to the Anti-Stalking Unit, which also received funding from the NHS. The Chairman congratulated the NHS for their foresight in providing funding for the Unit.

Councillor Andrew Dawson asked the Commissioner to reflect on the four budgets that he had set; noting that the increase each year had always been above inflation. The Commissioner highlighted that the increases had always been within the limits set by national Government and that on most occasions Government funding had not kept up with inflation; this had created very serious pressures on Police funding within Cheshire.

Councillor Paul Findlow noted that the increase in the number of Police Officers should lead to improvements in responses to crime. The Commissioner noted that cuts had consequences, and that with limited resources the Police did have to prioritise work and the way in which they responded to incidents. However, he did feel that his approach to community policing had raised the profile of policing in Cheshire and provided reassurance to the Cheshire community.  The Chairman noted that the ever increasing complexity of crime made the role of the Police more difficult.

The Chairman thanked Wendy Bebbington and Clare Hodgson for the work that they had undertaken in developing the paperwork presented to the Panel and for the informal briefing sessions which had been held the previous week.

RESOLVED:

That the Panel support the Commissioner’s proposed Precept for 2020/21 without qualification or comment. Councillor Andrew Dawson abstained from voting.