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.

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.

One member of the public had submitted a question which was asked on their behalf by the Chair during agenda item 11.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 24^th November 2023 be approved.

To receive a verbal update.

It was reported that Councillor Mo Hussain (Warrington Council) had joined the Panel, replacing Councillor Jane Whalen. The Chair welcomed Cllr Hussain to the meeting.

The Chair noted his work as Vice Chair of the National Association of Police, Fire and Crime Panels, mentioning a forthcoming meeting the Association would be holding with the Home Office, where the issue of “Support Hubs” would be discussed. He also briefed the Panel on ongoing discussions with the Department of Criminology at the University of Chester.

To consider the programme of meetings and work programme.

The work programme was noted.

The Chair explained that two 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 made a short statement in relation to a complaint made against him by a member of the public. This complaint, received by the Panel in early December 2023, had been considered by the Panel’s Complaints Management Sub Committee. Full details of the complaint, including the outcome, had been published on 1^st February 2024 on the Panel’s page of the Cheshire East Council website.

A number of Panel members responded to the Commissioner’s statement. Mrs Gemma Shepherd – Etchells, Chair of the Complaints Management Sub Committee thanked Sub Committee members for their work in considering the complaint and expressed her satisfaction that the process for managing complaints had worked well, with the complaint being resolved in a timely manner.

The Commissioner provided the Panel with a short update on a number of issues, including an initiative to combat retail and commercial crime.

To review the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposed Precept for 2024/25.

2024/25 Budget and Council Tax Precept document to follow

The Commissioner outlined his proposed Precept for 2024/25, taking questions from Panel members on the details of his proposals.

RESOLVED

That the Panel unanimously support the Commissioner’s proposed Precept for 2024/25 without qualification or comment.

A copy of the letter sent to the Commissioner confirming the decision to support his proposed Precept for 2024/25 is attached to these minutes.

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.