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), Professor Barry Godfrey, Cllr Mike Jones (Cheshire West and Chester), Mrs Gemma Shepherd – Etchells and Miss Yasmin Somani.

Cllr Chris Carlin substituted for Cllr Mike Fry.

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 declarations of interest were made.

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 20 June 2025.

RESOLVED

That the Minutes of the meeting held 20 June 2025 be approved

The Chair welcomed Cllr Andrea Wall (Halton) to her first meeting of the Panel.

The Chair noted that the Panel would shortly be holding a second training day, following on from the one held earlier in the year, she would be consulting with Panel members over the subjects that would be covered at the event.

Reflecting on the recent informal meeting with the Commissioner which had been held in Warrington, the Chair thanked Sergeant David Thomason for the presentation that he had made. In his presentation he had outlined some of the uses the Constabulary were making of AI in its work combating stalking and harassment. The Chair noted that she had written to Sergeant Thomason thanking him for his presentation and congratulating him on the award of the King’s Police Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours.

To consider the Panel’s Work Programme.

The Panel reviewed its work programme for the remainer of the civic year.

The Chair welcomed the Commissioner and his Chief Executive to the meeting. The Commissioner briefed the Panel on a range of issues.

To consider the Commissioner’s progress report on the Police and Crime Plan.

The Chair thanked the Commissioner for the progress report that he had submitted to the Panel, noting that that the Panel had requested this information when it had approved his proposed Precept at the meeting in February. The Panel reviewed the information provided by the Commissioner, seeking clarification on a number of issues.

The Chair noted that Cllr Mike Jones, who was not able to attend the meeting, had produced a very helpful commentary on the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan which he had circulated to Panel members in advance of the meeting; she asked the Commissioner a number of questions prompted by the work undertaken by Cllr Jones.

To consider the Annual Report.

That the Panel note the Commissioner’s Annual Report, with no formal recommendations being made.

A copy of the letter sent to the Commissioner by the Panel’s Chair in relation to the Annual Report and the Commissioner’s reply are attached to these minutes.

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

Panel members asked the Commissioner a number of questions, including the three that had been submitted in advance of the meeting and included in the Panel’s papers. The Commissioner noted that in his view elements of some of the questions submitted in advance related to technical policing matters which he was unable to answer himself. To assist the Panel, he undertook to raise the questions with the Constabulary. The detailed responses provided by the Constabulary are attached to these minutes.

Details of questions asked of the Commissioner and his responses provided at the meeting can be found on the Police and Crime Panel page of the Cheshire East Council website. Cheshire Police and Crime Panel