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 Councillor Norman Plumpton Walsh (Halton) and Councillor Laura Jeuda (Cheshire East).

To appoint a Chair for the 2021/22 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED:

That Mr Evan Morris be elected as Chair of the Panel for the 2021/22 Municipal year.

To appoint a Deputy Chair for the 2021/22 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Rob Bissett be elected as Deputy Chair of the Panel for the 2021/22 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.

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.

There were no public speakers.

To approve the minutes of the Panel meeting and the Confirmation Hearing held on 12 March 2021.

Panel meeting 12^th March 2021

Councillor Riley sought clarification over the answers to a number of questions put to the former Commissioner that were outstanding from the meeting. The Secretariat confirmed that written responses had been received from the Commissioner’s Office and had been circulated the day before by email. Printed copies were available for Panel members.

rESOLVED

That the minutes be approved.

To note the Panel membership for 2021/22, appoint members to serve on the Complaints Management Sub Committee, and consider the provision of induction for newly appointed Panel Member.

The Panel noted the nominations made by the constituent Councils for the 2021/22 Municipal year, they also noted the need to appoint members to the Complaints Management Sub Committee; including the Chair and Deputy Chair.

Councillors Martha Lloyd Jones (Halton), Kenneth Critchley and  Jane Whalen (Warrington) were welcomed to the Panel by fellow Panel members. The Panel thanked Councillors Dave Thompson, Peter Walker and Mrs Jan Davidson for the work that they had done as Panel members and wished them well for the future. It was noted that Councillor Dave Thompson, the Panel’s former Deputy Chair was now the Deputy Leader of Halton Council. The Chair congratulated Cllr Martyn Delaney on this appointment as Lord Mayor of Chester.

Panel members recognised the importance of both induction training for new members and ongoing training of all Panel members, noting that the newly elected Police and Crime Commissioner had agreed to continue with the practice of holding  informal meetings with Panel members, some of which could take the form of training and awareness raising events.

RESOLVED

(i)        That the nominations made by the four constituent Councils be noted.

(ii)       That following the meeting nominations  for membership of the Complaints Management Sub Committee would be agreed, with proportionality being  three Labour, two Conservative, one independent and one co-opted member.

(iii)      That Mrs Sally Hardwick be appointed as Chair of the Complaints Management Sub Committee for the 2021/22 Municipal year and Councillor Martyn Delaney appointed as Deputy Chair.

(iv)      That opportunities for both the induction of new Panel members and the ongoing training of all members would be taken up during the year. 

To determine how the Panel wishes to fill the position of independent co-opted member.

The Panel had three independent co-opted members each of whom were appointed for a three-year term. At the Panel’s annual meeting in 2020  it had been resolved that due to the pandemic and the uncertainty it had created, all three independent co-opted members should have their term of office extended for a further twelve months. Mr Bob Fousert’s term of office, which had been due to expire on 30^th September 2020 was now due to expire on 30^th September 2021.

Panel members recognised the very significant contribution that Mr Bob Fousert had made to the Panel over a number of years and encouraged him to reapply for Panel membership.

RESOLVED

That a proportionate recruitment Panel consisting of four members (Mr Evan Morris and Councillors Martyn Delaney, Lynn Riley and Jane Whalen) be appointed to lead the recruitment process and make recommendations to the Panel over the membership of an independent co-opted member.

To endorse the draft Memorandum of Understanding as a basis for formal discussions with the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Mrs Sally Hardwick introduced this item, outlining the work which the working group (which she chaired) had undertaken; this had resulted in the production of a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which had been shared with Panel members for comment earlier in the year. The Chair briefed the Panel on his experience of visiting the North Wales Police and Crime Panel and also the practice in a number of other areas where MoU’s had been developed or were in the process of being drafted.

Panel members were supportive of the principle of introducing a MoU, seeing the initiative as being one that would lead to better scrutiny of the Commissioner and assist the Commissioner in his work.

RESOLVED

That the draft Memorandum of Understanding be endorsed as a basis for formal discussions with the Police and Crime Commissioner, with the discussions being led by Mrs Evan Morris and Mrs Sally Hardwick with support from the Panel’s Secretariat.

To review and adopt the Rules of Procedure for the 2021/22 Municipal Year.   

Councillor Paul Findlow sought clarification as to the position should it be necessary to appoint a new Police and Crime Commissioner between elections. The Secretariat agreed to research this issue and report back to Panel members.

RESOLVED

(i)           The Panel adopt the Rules of Procedure, as published, for the 2021/22 Municipal year.

(ii)          The Head of Democratic Services and Governance be given authority to make changes to the Rules of Procedure during the year to give effect to the wishes of the Panel.

To receive an update on the complaints made against the Commissioner that have been received since November 2020.

Mrs Sally Hardwick introduced this item reviewing the work of the Complaints Management Sub Committee, which she had chaired since its creation late in 2020. She noted the desirability of amending the wording on the Panel’s page of the Cheshire East website, to provide greater clarity over the nature of the complaints that can be considered by the Panel.

RESOLVED

(i)               That the summary of complaints considered with by the Complaints Management Sub Committee since its creation be noted.

(ii)             That the Secretariat be authorised to amend the Panel’s page of the Cheshire East website to provide greater clarity.

The Panel to consider if it wishes to submit evidence to the consultation which is seeking views on the use of the remote and hybrid meetings.

The Chair introduced this item by outlining the process that the Government were going through to consult on the longer-term options for remote meetings. The provisions of the Coronavirus Act which had allowed for remote public meetings to be held had expired and as a consequence remote meetings were no longer lawful.

Panel members expressed the desire to see the facility for remote meetings to continue, but also saw it as being desirable for the Panel to be able to  hold hybrid meetings, where some of those participating could access the meeting remotely, with others meeting in a central location. Some Panel members recognised the benefits of holding face to face meetings.

It was noted that individual Panel members could if they wished make personal submissions to the consultation.

RESOLVED

That the Secretariat make a submission to the consultation on behalf of the Panel.

To approve the budget for the 2021/22 Municipal Year.

The Panel discussed the proposed budget for 2021/22. It was noted that the cost of webcasting would be slightly higher than indicated in the report as further information and revised costings had been received from Cheshire West and Chester Council who webcast the Panel’s meetings. The Secretariat were of the view that the webcasting service provided by Cheshire West and Chester  represented excellent value for money.

Councillor Murphy queried whether the amount of money allocated to room hire, training, conferences and membership of a regional group would be sufficient, especially as the Panel had committed to providing training for newly appointed members. The Secretariat confirmed that much training could be delivered at little or no cost. Councillor Findlow sought clarification over the Panel’s membership of a regional group, something which he favoured; the Chair confirmed that Frontline Consulting, who organised a number of regional groups and a national conference, would shortly be creating a North West regional group for Police and Crime Panels; the cost of joining would be small, but was not yet known.

RESOLVED

That the Panel budget for 2021/22 be approved.

To consider the work programme.

The work programme was noted. The Secretariat confirmed that discussions were ongoing with the Commissioner’s Office over a programme of informal meetings. 

The Commissioner had indicated that he would be unable to attend a meeting on Friday 17^th September, the Panel agreed to the meeting being put back until Friday 24^th September.

The Chair welcomed Mr John Dwyer to the meeting, congratulating him on his election to the  Office of Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire. He also thanked Mr David Keane, the outgoing Commissioner for the work he had undertaken during his five years in office.

The Commissioner outlined his priorities for his term of office, which would only be three years. He noted that he planned to appoint a Deputy Commissioner. The Commissioner informed the Panel that he had moved the Commissioner’s Office from Stockton Heath to Police HQ in Winsford.

He announced that he had launched a Community Action Fund of £100,000, with bids of up to £5,000 being accepted. Those bidding would need to secure matched funding. He also briefed the Panel on success in achieving Safer Streets funding from the Home Office and on his intention to appoint volunteers as Police Auxiliaries.

Members of the Police and Crime Panel questioned the Commissioner on a range of issues, including:

Mr Bob Fousert:

·                Noted the commitment of the new Chief Constable of Greater Manchester to devote more resources to issues such as burglaries and to his commitment to see his officers smartly turned out.  He asked the Commissioner for his views on these issues.

The Commissioner confirmed that Cheshire’s new Chief Constable would adopt a similar approach. He expressed dissatisfaction with current detection rates for offences such as burglary and promised a significant improvement in the way in which crime was dealt with in Cheshire.

Cllr Paul Findlow:

·                Sought clarification over the Commissioner’s plans for enforcing speeding in Cheshire, particularly in rural areas. The Commissioner responded by saying he was committed to addressing this issue and that work was being undertaken to develop a comprehensive approach. This would be shared with the Panel, probably at an informal meeting. Mr Evan Morris, the Panel’s Chair welcomed this approach.

·                Asked if the Commissioner’s Office could publish reports for issues discussed at Scrutiny Meetings at the same time as the agenda, not weeks later as was the current practice. The Commissioner agreed to take this issue up with his staff.

Cllr Martha Lloyd Jones:

·                Sought clarification over whether the Commissioner would be prepared to work with local authorities over Safer Streets funding. He indicated that he wished to work with all local authorities and all of Cheshire’s Members of Parliament.

Cllr Martyn Delaney:

·                Sought clarification over the Commissioner’s move to Police HQ, asking if any cost savings had been identified. The Commissioner responded by saying that it had been illogical for the previous Commissioner to have moved the Office to Stockton Heath. He had moved back to Police HQ on his first day in post and his staff had also moved. Such a move would have associated costs, these were not yet known, but in his opinion, it was vital that he was co-located with the Chief Constable.

Cllr Lynn Riley:

·                Sought the Commissioner’s view as to how he would hold the Chief Constable to account over issues such as  partnership working with local authorities and such things as the enforcement of speed limits. She noted that all four Cheshire Council’s had invested heavily on such things as 20 mph zones, but that speeding in more rural areas was an issue. She also highlighted issues of rural crime more generally.

The Commissioner stressed the importance of partnership working, especially with local authorities. He gave the example of speed limit signs that were obscured or difficult to read, maintenance of such signs was a local authority responsibility, but poor maintenance created enforcement issues for the Police.

Mr Evan Morris:

·                Asked the Commissioner if he was confident that community safety partnerships across Cheshire were delivering against key objectives. The Commissioner indicated that he planned to meet with the local authority Chief Executives over this important issue.

Cllr Peter Lloyd Jones:

·                Sought clarification over the operation of the fast  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.