Agenda and minutes

Members are reminded that, in accordance with governance procedure rule 2.7, 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.

In the absence of Councillor Howard Murray the meeting was chaired by Mr Robert Fousert, Deputy Chairman.

Apologies were received from Councillor Howard Murray (Cheshire East Council) and Councillor Amanda King (Warrington Borough Council). Councillor  Mick Warren attended in place of Councillor Murray and Councillor Jan Davidson in place of Councillor King.

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 in accordance with governance procedure rule 14.  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.

Members of the public may speak on any matter relating to the work of the Panel. During public speaking time, members of the public may ask questions of the Panel and the Chairman, in responding to the question, may answer the question, may decline to do so, may agree to reply at a later date or may refer the question to an appropriate person or body.

Questions will be asked and answered without discussion.  In order for officers to undertake any background research, members of the public who wish to ask a question at a Panel meeting should submit the question at least a day before the meeting.

Members of the public are able to put questions direct to Cheshire’s Police and Crime Panel via social media platform Twitter.

The Cheshire Police and Crime Panels’ Twitter account @CheshirePCP

There were no members of the public who wished to speak or ask questions.

The Deputy Chairman reminded those in attendance and those watching via the webcast that questions could be submitted in advance of the meeting.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2018 were approved as a correct record, with two minor amendments being made.  It was noted that Mrs Sally Hardwick had been in attendance and that the Commissioner had been accompanied by Mr Gareth Burrows, not Mr Ben McCrorie.

The Deputy Chairman asked that the written answer provided by the Commissioner to a question he had asked was made available to the public. This would be done via the Panel’s page of the Cheshire East Council website.  

To consider a report proposing a timetable for future Panel meetings, together with proposed meeting locations. 

The Panel agreed the pattern, dates and venue for meetings for the period up to February 2019, noting that the meeting proposed for Friday 14^th December would take place at Runcorn Town Hall.

Councillor Andrew Dawson highlighted the issue raised by the timing of all out elections in both Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East in May 2019. A meeting of the Panel had been proposed for 12^th April 2019, the Secretariat were asked to find an alternative date for this meeting, in advance of the pre-election period before the May 2019 local elections.

Police Commissioner Decision Meeting Notices: To receive, note and inform any future scrutiny or work programme items:-

Notes of the Scrutiny Board held on 14 December 2017.

The Panel noted the minutes of the Scrutiny Board held in December 2017.

Concerns were raised that Panel members were not receiving the advance notice of meetings from the Commissioner’s Office that they had been accustomed to in the past.

The Chairman welcomed the Commissioner to the meeting and noted that Panel members would not, at the current meeting, be asking questions about the Chief Constable’s ongoing Disciplinary  Hearing, but that once the matter had been concluded, the Panel would wish to meet with him to discuss the issue in detail.

The Commissioner noted that this was the Panel’s first meeting since it had endorsed his budget proposals for 2018/19, for which he had been very grateful. He also noted that that the initiative to provide one PCSO per community had been fully agreed and was in the process of being rolled out. Most PCSOs would have a base in their community; in very many cases this was being provided at no cost to the Constabulary.

The Commissioner noted that Mrs Elizabeth Lunn, his former Finance Officer had now retired after many years service to the Cheshire community.   A recruitment process was underway which would lead to the Panel needing to hold a Confirmation Hearing. He noted that Mrs Lunn’s successor would be appointed with a revised job description, on a lower salary.

Councillor Findlow sought clarification over the person appointed to replace Mrs Lunn, noting that she had been employed on a part-time basis. The Commissioner confirmed that her successor would have a wider remit and would be employed on a lower grade, as they would be contracted on a full time basis the actual cost of employment was likely to be higher.

Mr Evan Morris asked the Commissioner for information on the process that had been followed to recruit to the post of Finance Officer. The Commissioner briefly outlined the process, which had included seeking professional HR advice in advance of the vacancy being advertised.  

Councillor Thompson asked the Commissioner if the costs associated with the suspension of the Chief Constable would be met from Cheshire Constabulary budgets, or whether it would be necessary to approach the Home Office for additional funding. The Commissioner replied that the position was being closely monitored and that relevant financial and legal advice would be taken as appropriate.

Councillor Andrew Dawson asked the Commissioner how many officers within the Constabulary were acting up as a consequence of the Chief Constable’s suspension. The Commissioner confirmed that a number of Officers were acting up and he would provide additional information in writing. The Chairman sought clarification over the cost of such arrangements, the Commissioner responded by confirming that due process was being followed.

Councillor Findlow asked the Commissioner to reflect on the appointment of his Deputy Commissioner, noting that Ms Dirir who had been appointed in the spring of 2017 had now left. The Commissioner responding by saying that her appointment had represented excellent value for money and that she had led in a number of key areas, including the equality agenda, Domestic Violence (including the white ribbon campaign) and the introduction of the Living Wage. The Commissioner noted that Ms Dirir had helped transform the operation of his office and helped introduce financial  ...  view the full minutes text for item 125.

To consider the Work Programme.

The Panel’s work programme was reviewed