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 Mike Fry (Halton), Cllr Kuldeep Dhillon (Warrington), Cllr Sam Naylor (Cheshire West and Chester), Miss Yasmin Somani and Mrs Gemma Shepherd - Etchells. Cllr Ben Walker substituted for Cllr 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

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 meetings held on 21 November 2025 and 9 January 2026.

RESOLVED

That the Minutes of the meetings held on 21^st November 2025 and 9^th January 2026 be approved.

The Chair noted that Panel members would be holding a training day at some point in March, the Secretariat were asked to canvass dates for the event. The Chair encouraged Panel members to attend one of the Commissioner’s forthcoming Citizens’ Assembly meetings, details of which could be obtained from the Panel’s Secretariat.

To consider the Panel’s work programme.

The Panel reviewed its work programme, noting that there were still a significant number of issues where it wished to scrutinise the Commissioner. The Secretariat were asked to liaise with the Commissioner’s Office to prioritise and timetable such discussions.

One question had been submitted in advance to the Commissioner, this related to the costs associated with the replacement of the Police Station in Crewe. The Commissioner answered the question during the discussion on his proposed precept for 2026/27. Details of the response can be found on the Police and Crime Panel page of the Cheshire East Council website.

The Chair welcomed the Commissioner to the meeting, following which he briefly updated the Panel on a number of issues, including providing an updated position in relation to plans for changes to neighbourhood policing.

To review the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposed Precept for 2026/27.

The Chair welcomed Clare Hodgson, the Commissioner’s Chief Finance Officer to the meeting and thanked her for the informal briefing that she had provided for Panel members earlier in the week.

The Commissioner outlined the position in relation to his proposed precept, specifically those developments since the Panel’s Extraordinary meeting on 9^th January 2026, where he had briefed the Panel in detail on the financial pressures facing the Constabulary, specifically those related to the funding available to support Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). He noted the outcomes of the public consultation that he had undertaken and the response from central government in relation to his request for exceptional precept flexibility, which in part had been granted, meaning that 30 additional PCSO jobs would be saved.  The Commissioner outlined his proposals for the Police Precept for 2026/27 before taking questions from Panel members on a wide range of issues.

Concern was expressed by some Panel members that the Panel had not received the regular performance updates requested when the precept for 2025/26 had been approved in February 2025. Ways of improving the situation for the forthcoming year were discussed, including the possibility of adding an additional meeting to the Panel’s cycle of regular meetings to provide greater capacity for regular scrutiny of the Commissioner.

RESOLVED

That the Commissioner’s proposed precept for 2026/27 be supported, with two recommendations being made; these were:

That the Commissioner provide the Panel with regular updates on the changes to neighbourhood policing across Cheshire, including details of where those warranted officers who have replaced PCSOs have come from within the Constabulary, along with information on the wider implications of the changes for policing across Cheshire.

That the Commissioner provides the Panel with a detailed breakdown of accommodation costs for his Office.

Seven Panel members voted in favour of the Resolution, with one, Cllr Mike Jones (Cheshire West and Chester Council) voting against, with one abstention.

The letter sent by the Chair of the Panel to the Commissioner in relation to the precept is attached to these minutes for reference.

Questions to the Commissioner on his proposed precept had ranged over many subject areas and no further questions were asked. A summary of all questions asked by Panel members and responses received from the Commissioner can be found on the Police and Crime Panel page of the Cheshire East Council website.