Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Cllrs Ansell, Hawker and Howard.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2013 and 5 November 2013.

Decision:

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2013 and 5 November 2013 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Amanda Newbery declared an interest in item no. 6 being a city centre licensee

There were no chairman’s announcements.

The Panel welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

If you wish to make a statement at this meeting on any item on this agenda, please register to do so at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting. Speakers are permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes on any agenda item. Please contact the officer named on the first page of the agenda for any further clarification.

Questions

Members of the public are able to ask questions in relation to the responsibilities and functions of the Panel at each meeting. Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the Head of Democratic Services at Wiltshire Council no later than 5.00 pm on Wednesday 20 September 2013. Please contact the officer named on the first page of the agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

There were no questions asked or statements given.

Officers: Chief Executive (OPCC) and Chief Finance Officer (OPCC)

To receive quarterly data and exception reports on:

·       Risk

·       Performance, including a report on PCC attendance at area boards

·       Complaints

·       Finance

Risk

The Commissioner presented his Risk Register.

He drew attention to the following points:

Volunteers:

The score had dropped from 48 to 36.

Assets:

This relates to mainly force assets, e.g. mobiles, laptops. Currently there were 170 assets unaccounted for, and the risk would remain until the Commissioner was happy with the procedure in place for logging of assets.

Complaints / Integrity

There were issues around reputational risk. The likelihood had increased due to the environmental scanning of national, rather than internal issues. A new whistle-blowing policy was in place and an effort was being made to encourage this culture. As the document was a living document, the Commissioner was not concerned by red risks as long as they did not remain red.

In response to questions the Commissioner explained that the Speedwatch protocol which both councils had signed up to had not been used by Swindon Borough Council officers as agreed. This had now been resolved and training was ongoing.

It was suggested that the Commissioner should have a fixed programme of engagement with schools and colleges with volunteers being a vital part of his plan. He confirmed there was no programme for visiting schools at present, however he was engaging with Heads looking at what they were doing and what he could buy in to ensure that years 9-11 were exposed to appropriate messages.

The Commissioner confirmed the new team in Trowbridge would be able to process information from the speedwatch teams. There would be a report in the New Year providing detail on visits from Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

Performance

The Commissioner presented his performance report.

He noted that the report was for the first six months and performance overall was good. In real terms the reduction of crime was 7.2% compares to the same period in 2012/13.

It was noted that the number of recorded hours by Specials was not accurate, as they were transferring from using one system to another. He had asked for accurate data to be in place by the end of the financial review and for a specific budgetary line in the next financial year. After the next round of recruitment the number of specials would be up to 249.

He recognised the need to review his objective of having a minimum of 300 active specials across Wiltshire and Swindon, each attached to communities and contributing an average of at least 16 hours per month. The strategic needs would be discussed with the Chief Constable, defined and recruited to; which would also lead to a major re-write of the objective. The number of volunteers would also be revisited and it was hoped that the Panel’s scrutiny review would assist in this.

Although Neighbourhood Watch was an independent charity not owned or run by the police, a working group had been set up supported by OPCC officers to look at back office functions and Neighbourhood Alert. This would report back to the Commissioner to submit a business case for the re-launch of Neighbourhood Watch  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

Officer: Chief Executive (OPCC)

The PCC’s diary report was noted.

Officer: Monitoring Officer, Wiltshire Council

To note a report from the Monitoring Officer, Wiltshire Council.

The Monitoring Officer’s report was noted.

The Panel took a 5 minute recess.

To discuss the Panel’s public relations needs and develop a communications strategy.

The Panel discussed public relations, and how to promote the function and work of the Panel. The use of social media and radio was discussed,  and Sean Chacksfield, Media Relations Officer at Wiltshire Council agreed to promote upcoming meetings in consultation with officers.

The Panel welcomed the idea of an annual report which could be circulated to members, Area Boards and Locality meetings.

The possibility of having a press release would be considered at the end of each meeting.

To note the forward work plan.

The Panel noted the forward work plan.

To note the future meeting dates below:

The next meeting of the Police and Crime Panel will be on 15 January 2014 at Committee Room VI, Civic Office, Euclid Street, Swindon SN1 2JH.

Future meeting dates were:

6 February 2014

6 March 2014

11 June 2014

4 September 2014

19 November 2014