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 Cllr Steve Edgar (Cheshire East), Cllr Sam Naylor (Cheshire West and Chester), Cllr Norman - Plumpton Walsh (Halton) and Miss Yasmin Somani (independent co-opted Panel member).

Cllr Norman Plumpton - Walsh was represented by Cllr Peter - Lloyd Jones.

The Secretariat noted that Cllr Norman Plumpton - Walsh had indicated that he would be leaving the Panel and that in due course Halton Borough Council would nominate his permanent replacement.

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.

No issues were raised.

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 7 February 2025.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2025 be approved

The Chair welcomed Prof. Barry Godfrey to his first meeting of the Panel. She also noted that since the last meeting, the Panel had held a training event. She thanked the representatives of Remedi, who had spoken on restorative justice and hate crime at the event, and also Tom Dooks, Head of the Cheshire Youth Justice Service, who had briefed Panel members on the work of his service.

The Chair noted that Matt Walton who worked in the Commissioner’s Office would shortly be leaving to take up a new role within the Constabulary. She thanked him for all the work that he had done behind the scenes with the Secretariat to support the Panel and wished him well for the future.

To agree the programme of meetings for the 2025/26 civic year

The Panel noted the dates of future meetings for the remainder of the municipal year. The Secretariat informed the Panel that dates for informal meetings with the Commissioner would be circulated when available.

It was noted that four questions from Panel members had been submitted in advance to the Commissioner.

The Chair welcomed the Commissioner and his team to the meeting. The Commissioner updated the Panel on a range of issues.

Panel members asked the Commissioner a number of questions, including the four 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. Questions 2024-2025

At the end of the meeting Cllr Martha Lloyd - Jones indicated that she would be leaving the Panel, as she was about to be appointed as Mayor of Halton. She wished the Panel well for the future. The Chair thanked her for her contribution to the Panel and wished her every success for her Mayoral year.