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 Jane Whalen (Warrington) who was represented by Cllr Mo Hussain.

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 22 December 2022.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd December 2022 be approved. Two small typographical errors were noted. These would be corrected in the published minutes.

The Chair welcomed Cllr Mo Hussain (Warrington Council) to the meeting.

The Chair thanked the Commissioner for hosting the finance briefing for Panel members held at Police HQ the previous week.

To consider the update on complaints against the Commissioner that were received by the Panel during 2022.

The Panel noted that during 2022 two complaints about the Police and Crime Commissioner had been received. In line with the Panel’s procedure, the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Complaints Management Sub Committee reviewed each complaint, taking advice as appropriate. In each case they had determined that there was no legitimate complaint against the Commissioner and the complaints were therefore rejected. Relevant timescales were met in both cases.

To receive a verbal update on the work programme.

It was noted that the March 2023 meeting of the Panel would receive a draft programme of meetings for the 2023/24 Municipal year for its consideration.

There was general agreement that to accommodate cost effective and efficient webcasting of meetings, the Panel would default to holding its meetings at Ellesmere Port Library; with other locations across the county being used as necessary. There was recognition that the Panel needed to be mindful of its carbon footprint when arranging meetings.

The Chair explained that three questions had been formally submitted to the Commissioner in advance of the meeting and that these had been included in the published papers.

The Chair welcomed the Commissioner to the meeting.

The Commissioner outlined the progress that the Constabulary were making with the recruitment of new Police Officers, noting that a further intake was scheduled for March 2023. He outlined the success of his Community Cashback Fund which used money seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.  Each of Cheshire’s nine Local Policing Units had been allocated £10,000 from the Fund.

The Commissioner briefed the Panel on the work that the Constabulary were undertaking with the Hollie Gazzard Trust, which was aimed at making Cheshire’s streets even safer.

To review the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposed Precept for 2023/24.

The Commissioner outlined his proposed Precept for 2023/24, taking questions from Panel members on the details of his proposals. There was a general recognition that an increase in Council Tax bills for the coming year would pose challenges for many families across the county.

Cllr Martha Lloyd Jones (seconded by Cllr Norman Plumpton Walsh) proposed that the Panel veto the Commissioner’s proposal to increase the Policing element of the Council Tax by 6.37 per cent. When put to the vote, 6 Panel members supported the proposition, 5 were against and 2 members abstained. As a two thirds majority of all Panel members was necessary for such a proposition to be carried, the proposition was lost.

Further discussion took place on the details of the Commissioner’s proposed Precept.

RESOLVED

That the proposed Precept be supported, with recommendations being made to the Commissioner.

The Chair’s letter, detailing the Panel’s recommendations to the Commissioner, is attached to these minutes. The Commissioner’s response is also attached.

Panel members asked the Commissioner a range of questions. Details of questions and the Commissioner’s responses can be found on the Police and Crime Panel page of the Cheshire East Council website - questions-from-september-2022-updated-march-2023.pdf