Agenda and minutes

Members are reminded that, in accordance with governance procedure rule at Part 3 paragraph 2.6, 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 Cllrs Rob Hignett, Rob Moreton and Sam Naylor.

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.

Cllr Judy Snowball (Cheshire East Council) indicated that she was a Director of a voluntary organisation who were seeking funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

To receive questions from members of the public. 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. At the Chair’s discretion the period made available for questions and statements may be extended.

In order that an appropriate answer to the questions can be given, the deadline for indicating a wish to speak or for submission of questions is 3 clear working days before a meeting of the Panel. The Chair has the discretion to waive the 3-day rule for issues deemed to be urgent.

In response to questions or statements the Panel may choose to agree to either provide an agreed verbal response, that will be minuted or to provide a written reply to a questioners chosen address.

Those wishing to ask a question or make a statement should register by email to: martin.r.smith@cheshireeast.gov.ukor send the question or statement by post to:

Cheshire Police and Crime Panel

Democratic Services and Governance

c/o Municipal Buildings

Earle Street

Crewe

CW1 2BJ

A list of those speaking or asking questions at a meeting of the Panel will be drawn up by the Panel’s Secretariat in order of receipt. Copies of questions and statements will be circulated to all Panel members in advance of the meeting and will be made available to the public attending the meeting. Copies will also be available on the Police and Crime Panel’s page of the Cheshire East Council website.

Nobody may submit more than one question or make more than one statement at the same meeting, but a supplementary question, related to the subject raised in the question /statement, will be permitted for clarification at the discretion of the Chair.

Those speaking or asking questions will not be permitted to address any issue that is the subject of a current or proposed complaint by them against the Police and Crime Commissioner. They are also advised that reference to an issue that could become the subject of a future complaint by them could prejudice the Panel’s consideration of that complaint.

The Panel will not accept a question or statement if:

There is insufficient detail to enable a proper response to be provided.

It is not about a matter for which the Police and Crime Panel has responsibility.

It is potentially defamatory, frivolous or offensive against named individuals.

It is substantially the same question which has been put at a meeting of the Police and Crime Panel in the last six months.

It requires the disclosure of confidential or exempt information.

No members of the public wished to speak at the meeting.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2024.

RESOLVED

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd November 2024 be approved.

The Chair had no announcements to make.

To receive a verbal update on the Panel’s membership.

The Chair outlined the process followed by the five member Recruitment Panel that had been established following the resignation of Mr Evan Morris MBE from the Panel. She noted that four excellent candidates had been interviewed for the vacant position and that the Recruitment Panel were recommending that Prof. Barry Godfrey be appointed to the Panel.

RESOLVED

1        That Professor Barry Godfrey be appointed to the Panel with his term of office running from 8^th February 2025 to 30^th September 2029.

2        That the Panel’s Secretariat bring a report to the Annual Meeting in June 2025 to make recommendations clarifying the position of co-opted Panel members should they not serve a full term, with the Panel’s Procedure Rules being amended accordingly.

To consider the programme of meetings and work programme.

The Panel’s work programme for the remainder of the municipal year was reviewed. It was noted that a that draft programme of meetings for the 2025/26 municipal year would be brought to the next meeting.

Three questions had been submitted in advance to the Commissioner, these had been included with the Panel’s papers for the meeting.

The Chair welcomed the Commissioner and his Team to the meeting.

The Commissioner briefed the Panel on a range of issues.

To review the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposed Precept for 2025/26.

The Commissioner described the consultation exercise that he had undertaken on his proposed precept for 2025/26 before outlining his proposals. He took detailed questions from Panel members on a range of issues related to the proposed precept.

RESOLVED

That the Commissioner’s proposed precept for 2025/26 be supported, with the recommendation that the Panel receive quarterly performance reports.

To consider the draft Police and Crime Plan.

The Chair thanked the Commissioner for the informal briefings that he had provided to the Panel on the development of his proposed Police and Crime Plan. The Commissioner outlined the process that had been adopted to develop the draft plan and the rationale behind his proposals. The Commissioner took questions from Panel members on a range of issues relevant to the draft Police and Crime Plan.

RESOLVED

That the Commissioner’s draft Police and Crime Plan be supported.

Panel members asked the Commissioner a number of questions, including the three that had been submitted in advance of the meeting.  Details of all questions asked of the Commissioner and his responses can be found on the Police and Crime Panel page of the Cheshire East Council website