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.

Apologies were received from Councillor Brian Maher and Councillor Dave Thompson. Councillor P Lloyd Jones attended in place of Councillor Thompson.

To appoint a Chairman for the 2018/19 Municipal Year

Mr Robert Fousert was elected as Chairman for the 2018/19 Municipal year.

To appoint a Deputy Chairman for the 2018\19 Municipal Year

Councillor Andrew Dawson was elected as Deputy Chairman for the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

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

Three members of the public spoke at the meetings.

        Mr Bracey and his daughter, Ms Jo Chang, spoke raising concerns over the way in which both the Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner had managed a number of complaints made by Ms Chang and her husband over alleged hate crimes. Mr Bracey sought confirmation from the Panel that they would ensure the complaints would be properly investigated. The Chairman assured Mr Bracey and Ms Chang that the Panel would do what it could within the constraints imposed on it by law. 

        Mr G Brine raised allegations that Cheshire Constabulary were making illegal charges in relation to the storage of motor vehicles. He expressed his frustrations that he was finding it very difficult to get the Constabulary, Commissioner or the Cheshire East Council Monitoring Officer to address his concerns.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 22 May 2018.

        The Minutes of the meeting held on 2 May 2018 were approved as a correct record, with two minor corrections being made in relation to the attendance of Panel members representing Halton and Cheshire West and Chester Councils.

        It was noted that the meeting of the Panel scheduled for April 2019 which would have fallen during the pre election period would be brought forward to Friday 15^th March.

To consider a report regarding the membership of the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel for the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

         Panel membership for the 2018/19 Municipal Year was noted. The Chairman welcomed Councillors Davidson and Warren to the Panel.

To adopt the Rules of Procedure for 2018/19.

        The Panel adopted its Rules of Procedure for the 2018/19 Municipal Year, noting that only very minor changes had been to the version adopted the previous year,, these related to the terms of office of the three independent members of the Panel.

        Councillor Paul Findlow sought clarification over the way in which complaints were managed and reported to the Panel and asked that the Panel receive a regular, written update. Ms Suzanne Antrobus gave the Panel a brief verbal update on complaints, noting that she would provide further information to the  Chairman and Deputy Chairman in accordance with the Panel’s Procedure Rules.

To consider and approve the budget for the Panel for the 2018/19.

The Panel adopted a budget for the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

To agree dates for the informal meetings of the Panel for 2018/19

        It was noted that the Panel were waiting for the Commissioner to confirm dates for future informal meetings. The Chairman noted that at the last informal meeting there had been an agreement that future meetings would be themed, with each looking at a particular issue or subject. It was the view of the Panel that one or two informal meetings per year should be held in the late afternoon / early evening.

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

Notes of the Scrutiny Board held on 15 March 2018

Scrutiny items were noted.

        The Chairman welcomed the Commissioner to the meeting and thanked him for organising the informal meeting held on 6^th June which had also been attended by the Acting Chief Constable.

        The Commissioner congratulated Mr Bob Fousert on being elected as Chair of the Panel and Councillor Andrew Dawson on being elected as Deputy Chairman. He also passed on his good wishes to the Panel’s former Chairman, Councillor Howard Murray, who was no longer a Panel member.

        The Commissioner noted that the rollout of his local Policing model was going well and that this would be completed by the end of July. A “Mini Policing” programme had recently been launched in Halton, with the objective of involving young people in policing and engendering civic pride. If successful he hoped that the initiative would be rolled out more widely across the county. He congratulated the local PCSO in Halton who had developed the concept. In reviewing recent events the Commissioner noted the very high profile Royal visit to Halton and Chester, the policing of which had required a very significant input from Cheshire Constabulary.

        Councillor Robert Bisset expressed concern at the very low detection rates in Cheshire for cases of burglary and sought reassurance that efforts were being made to improve rates of detection. The Commissioner agreed that this was a serious issue, noting that feedback from victims was that burglaries could have a profound effect on them. He offered to provide the Panel with more detailed information, broken down by Council area. He suggested that this important and complex issue could perhaps be addressed in more detail at an informal meeting. He assured the Panel that burglaries were given a high priority by the Constabulary. Councillor Mick Warren asked if the information provided could be broken down by category (commercial, domestic and non dwelling). The Commissioner agreed to do this.

         Mr Evan Morris expressed concerns that there appeared to be no systematic approach in Cheshire to the issue of restorative justice, an issue that had been briefly discussed at the informal meeting that the Panel had held with the Commissioner and Acting Chief Constable earlier in the month. The Commissioner noted that restorative justice had an important role to play and that he commissioned a local service from a national supplier (Remedy). However, he agreed with Mr Morris that more could be done and that restorative justice could make a very positive contribution on occasions where the conventional criminal justice system had failed. Mr Morris asked if the Commissioner would share performance data with the Panel, which the Commissioner agreed to do.

        Councillor Lloyd Griffiths asked the Commissioner for an explanation of “Outcome 16”, in the context of the outcomes to offences. The Commissioner explained that this related to cases  where there were evidential issues with an offence, frequently when the victim, having reported an offence, choose not to proceed with the complaint.

        Councillor Lloyd Griffiths asked the Commissioner for information on the recently created Anti Stalking Unit. The Commissioner  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

To consider the Work Programme.

The Panel’s work programme was reviewed. 

Friday 28 September 2018, at 10am.

The next meeting of the Panel would be held at Hough Village Hall on Friday 28 September 2019.