Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Mike Jones, (Cheshire West and Chester), who was substituted by Cllr David Brown (Cheshire East).

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 consider the complaints.

The Chair explained that three separate complaints alleging political bias by the Police and Crime Commissioner had been received by the Panel in July and August 2025. The full text of each complaint, with only names and email addresses redacted had been published with the papers for the Sub – Committee. In the supporting papers the complaints were described as complaints 1, 2 and 3.

The background papers had also included a copy of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Ethical Framework and Code of Conduct, this document includes a summary of the Seven Principles of Public Life (the Nolan Principles) and the full text of the Oath of Office taken by the Police and Crime Commissioner following his election in May 2024.

The Chair and Deputy Chair of the Sub - Committee, in accordance with the procedure contained in the Panel’s Procedure Rules, had reviewed the complaints when received and determined that they should be considered at a meeting of the Sub-Committee. The Chair noted that a slight delay in convening the meeting had been due to Panel member availability.

Each complaint was considered in turn, with the Sub-Committee taking advice from officers as necessary. The host authority’s Interim Head of Legal Services/ Deputy Monitoring Officer expanded on the legal advice provided in the report contained in the information presented to the Sub - Committee, explaining that in their personal capacity, a Commissioner may engage in political activities, including making personal endorsement, in the same way as any other citizen.

With reference to the telephone call made to the Commissioner’s Office referred to in Complaint 2, the Sub - Committee noted that it was unfortunate that the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner had no record of the call, but were grateful that checks had been made and that the Commissioner’s Office had indicated that they did not dispute that the call had been made.

RESOLVED

The Sub Committee resolved unanimously that:

1        In relation to Complaint 1, the Police and Crime Commissioner had not breached his Code of Conduct or Oath of Office.

2        In relation to Complaint 2, the Police and Crime Commissioner had not breached his Code of Conduct or Oath of Office.

3        In relation to Complaint 3, the Police and Crime Commissioner had not breached Sections 8(a), 8(c) or 9(b) of his Code of Conduct or his Oath of Office, or the Nolan principles; nor had he shown political bias when acting as Police and Crime Commissioner.

4        In relation to Complaint 3, it had been appropriate for the Police and Crime Commissioner to quote full-year figures in relation to crime statistics, as these were more likely to show trends than figures relating to individual months.

5        The Panel’s Secretariat be asked to draft the formal notices summarising the outcome of each complaint and, when approved by the Chair and Deputy Chair, that these be shared with each complainant.