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.
Minutes:
Three members of the public and four visiting Cheshire East Councillors addressed the meeting, all expressing concern at the proposed reduction in the number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) employed by Cheshire Constabulary, noting the very significant contribution that they made to local communities.
Mr Robert Douglas, a Congleton Town Councillor told the Panel that reducing the number of PCSOs would adversely impact on Police visibility and the ability to proactively tackle social issues, noting the contribution that they made in Congleton. He told the Panel that the idea of Cheshire Police incurring significant costs of redundancy and severance pay by terminating contracts of experienced front line Police Officers in 2026, only then to incur additional significant costs in taking on and training new front line Police Officers just two years later was the “economics of the madhouse.” He urged Cheshire Police to find a solution to avoid this proposed reduction in the number of PCSOs, which would result in increased crime to the detriment of local communities. If Cheshire Police refused to stop the proposed redundancies he urged the Panel to write to the Government calling on it to bring forward by two years to March 2026 the abolition of Police and Crime Commissioners, so that the resulting savings could be effectively used to reduce the number of PCSOs being made redundant.
Mr Stuart Redgard noted that Police workforce statistics published by the Home Office demonstrated the number of PCs serving in Cheshire had been decreasing since 2021. He indicated that the number of full time equivalent Police Officers in the local policing units of Cheshire Constabulary was at a seven-year low. He asked how the Police and Crime Commissioner had held the Chief Constable to account, considering that Officer numbers were so low.
Cllr Janet Clowes (Cheshire East Council) addressed the Panel, focusing on the Government’s commitment made in its Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee (NPG), which nationally included an additional 13,000 Police Officers, Special Constables and PCSOs. She asked the Commissioner how the proposals to reduce the number of PCSOs in Cheshire fitted into the principles of the NPG, requesting that the Constabulary’s plans for redundancies be rescinded.
Mrs Joanne Moorcroft, representing UNISON read statements from members of the public expressing concerns about the proposed reductions in PCSO numbers. She noted that PCSOs had been balloted and could take industrial action if the proposals were implemented.
Cllr Ben Wye (Cheshire East Council) noted the contribution that PCSOs made to their communities, particularly the work which they did with young people across the county.
Cllr Ken Edwards (Cheshire East Council) told the Council that he had consulted Bollington Town Council. He then read out a statement on their behalf. The Town Council very much valued the service provided by PCSOs and provided accommodation for them. Cllr Edwards stated that PCSOs provided regular monitoring reports on local crime and responded to social nuisance reports, traffic problems and issues such as irresponsible parking. He further stated that PCSOs were very well respected and made a valuable contribution to community life. The Town Council were of the opinion that the plans to reduce the number of PCSOs should be reversed.
Cllr Linda Buchanan (Cheshire East Council) expressing the views of Shavington cum Gresty Parish Council, told the Panel that until last year the Parish Council had paid for a dedicated PCSO, but with regret had stopped this due to financial pressures. However, she stated that the Parish Council greatly valued the contribution made by the Constabulary funded PCSO, saying that they were highly regarded by the local community.