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.

No apologies were received.

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.

Councillor Keith Millar (Cheshire West and Chester), recognising that the meeting would discuss the Constabulary’s “Right Care, Right Person” policy, declared a non-pecuniary interest as a member of the West Cheshire Mental Health Partnership Board.

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 15 September 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 15^th September 2023 be approved.

The Chair noted that he had been re-elected as Vice - Chair of the National Association of Police, Fire and Crime Panels. He also noted the ongoing work being undertaken with the Police College Library and contacts he had made with the Department of Criminology at the University of Chester.

To receive the Chair’s Mid-Year Review report.

The Chair introduced his first mid-year review, noting that in future it was his intention to provide an update to the Panel twice a year. A copy of the report can be found on the Panel’s page of the Cheshire East Council website.

To consider the programme of meetings and work programme.

The work programme was noted.

Now that the detailed timetable for the 2024 Police and Crime Commissioner Elections was known, the Panel agreed an additional meeting at 10.00am on Friday 15^th March 2024. The pre-election period, in advance of the May 2024 election would commence the following Monday.

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

The papers for the Commissioner’s Scrutiny Board were noted.

The Chair explained that a number of questions had been formally submitted to the Commissioner in advance of the meeting and that these had been included in the published papers.

The Chair welcomed the Commissioner to the meeting.

The Commissioner provided the Panel with a detailed update on a wide range of issues. He noted that his Deputy Commissioner, Mr David McNeilage would be standing down at the end of December; due to the proximity of the Police and Crime Commissioner elections, he was not planning to replace him. He assured the Panel that the work that was currently done by Mr McNeilage would be adequately covered by others in his Office.

Panel members asked the Commissioner a range of questions. Details of questions and the Commissioner’s responses can be found on the Police and Crime Panel page of the Cheshire East Council website.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Councillor Jane Whalen (Warrington Council) announced that to avoid any conflict of interest, she would be standing down from the Panel at the end of December. From the New Year she would be acting as campaign manager for the Labour Party candidate in the May 2024 Police and Crime Commissioner elections. The Panel thanked her for the work that she had undertaken as a Panel member.