Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Cindy Creasy.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2015.

Resolved:

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 15 January 2015.

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

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 28 January 2015. 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 members of the public present or councillors’ questions.

The Police & Crime Commissioner will report at the meeting.

The Commissioner reported that the Chief Constable, Pat Geenty, had announced his intention to retire from his position with the Force in May 2015 in order to spend more time with his family.Mr Geenty joined Wiltshire Police in July 2009 and was appointed substantive Chief Constable of the Force in May 2012.  The Commissioner went on to express his thanks for all the hard work, professionalism and total commitment to his role as Chief Constable carried out by Mr Geenty.  The Commissioner would be giving consideration to the continuity plan for the Force to ensure that it was able to maintain consistency in leadership.  A timeline had yet to be worked out for the appointment of a new Chief Constable and the Commissioner intended to provide an update at the next meeting.

The Commissioner went on to report that discussions had begun which would see specialist police resources and support functions in the Wiltshire and Avon & Somerset forces being shared under a new strategic alliance, or ‘collaboration’ as both forces sought  to secure significant savings over the next five years. During the past four years each of the forces had been required to find substantial savings and, although this had not been easy, these had been achieved. It was noted that the two forces already collaborated on Brunel, a shared Major Crime Investigation Team, and Special Branch. Building on these successful foundations, the forces expected a wider collaboration would deliver a more efficient and cost effective police service for local communities.

It was anticipated that further significant savings would have to be found by 2018/19 and it was hoped that by collaborating where possible, the impact on the delivery of frontline services would be lessened.

Discussions between the Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables about a strategic alliance had begun in December 2014. These discussions were still at an early stage but it had been agreed that specialist police resources, protective services as well as corporate services would be included in the alliance. It had been agreed that both forces would retain their Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables, and that neighbourhood and response policing would continue to be delivered and overseen locally. 

The Commissioner stressed that this proposed strategic alliance was not a merger of the two forces and each would retain their own leadership and identity. This strategic alliance would look at how more resources, such as specialist police resources and office functions, could be shared. Local policing was of paramount importance and would continue to be delivered locally in response to communities’ needs.

The Deputy Chief Constable stated that he was fully supportive of this strategic alliance with the Avon & Somerset Force, it being apparent that the current level of service could not be maintained over the next three year period without change, given the likely level of cuts to be made.  He was confident that the savings that would be made following the strategic alliance would significantly help to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

The Police & Crime Commissioner will present his Diary report.

The PCC Diary report which set out a summary of commitments the Commissioner had undertaken since the last meeting of the Police and Crime Panel on 15 January 2015 was received.

The Commissioner advised that:-

·                there were shortcomings in the care for the homeless out of normal working hours.  He cited an example where one client who had been released from prison on licence and had also just been released from hospital had nowhere to go and spent a lot of time just sitting on the ground with his rucksack of possessions. He was taken to a soup kitchen which was about to close but a member of staff was willing to stay with him whilst the Crime and Communications Centre at Wiltshire Police HQ was asked for assistance.  In view of the heavy rainfall, the client was taken to one of the car parks and installed, with his sleeping bag, out of the rain and wind, under an exit ramp.  This was most unsatisfactory with issues for the hostels, the ambulance service, the health centre and Wiltshire Police, who did take ownership of the issue and tried their best to solve the problem.  It was noted that in Swindon, Cllr Wright was co-ordinating arrangements for the homeless.  The Commissioner was pleased to advise that this client had now been found accommodation in a hostel.

Resolved:

To note the Police & Crime Commissioner’s report.

A report by the Police & Crime Commissioner is attached.

To give formal consideration to the Commissioner’s proposed precept for 2015-16.

The Commissioner presented a paper setting out his proposals for his precept for 2015-16.

He reminded the meeting that at the Panel’s previous meeting on 15 January 2015, he had provided a detailed report setting out his reasons for his proposed precept and which also included a copy of his Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS); he was proposing an increase of the Band D Precept by 1.9% to £163.98, which represented a £3.06 increase from the 2014-15 Police part of the Council Tax of £160.92.

The Commissioner also reminded members that he had been carrying out a wide consultation from 6 January until 4 February 2015 with presentations being given to area boards and locality meetings during which he disclosed that there had been a significant reduction in central funding in the previous four years and had forecast that this was most likely to continue over the next three years.  The central funding reduction for the total seven year period was estimated at £25m, which represented 24% of the budget. He had also consulted the public through town and parish councils, chambers of commerce and the farming community.  From the responses received 86 were in favour of his proposal whilst 35 were against.  The public who attended area board meetings, tended to support an increase in precept, stating that they wished the service to be protected as much as possible and in particular, the local response teams.  It was noted that all but one of the area boards consulted had been made aware of the strategic alliance proposals with Avon & Somerset Police Force during their consultation.

Cllr Andrew Bennett reported that there had been no major opposition to the proposed increase in Precept in the Swindon area during the consultation, it being regarded as inevitable. 

The Commissioner stated that following this consultation he wished to maintain his proposal to increase the Band D Precept by 1.9% to £163.98, which he estimated would provide an additional £729,000 income.  He also explained that a zero percent increase in the police precept was likely to produce £384,000 in government freeze grant.  He stated that reserves were forecast to be £11.1M of which £3.1M represented his general reserves.  The Chief Constable’s operational reserves amounted to £1.1M.

Members referred to the projected savings that were likely to be accrued as a result of the proposed strategic alliance with the Avon & Somerset Police Force and enquired as to the level of savings expected.  Clive Barker, Chief Finance Officer explained that it was estimated that the alliance was likely to produce a saving of about £6M but this work take a few years to work through.

However, some Members were of the opinion that, given the level of reserves and the savings anticipated following the strategic alliance with the Avon & Somerset Force that a frozen Precept at the 2014-15 level could be justified. Furthermore, the Chairman referred to the Council Tax Collection Fund Surplus and noted that £600,000 had been received, of £200,000 was over and above  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

To provide an update on Police and Crime Panel task group activity:

1.    Volunteers and Special Constables Task Group

The Panel Chairman has submitted a series of questions to the PCC asking for updates in the relevant areas. The response is awaited.

2.    Licensing Task Group

The task group’s final report was referred to the PCC on 10 December 2014 and his response is awaited.

3.    Police Performance Review Working Group

The task group’s third meeting is scheduled for 10.30am, 11 February, Wiltshire Police HQ.  This will focus on discussion of a new PCC performance reporting mechanism that enables the Panel to effectively monitor delivery of the Police and Crime Plan. An update will be provided at the Panel’s March meeting, and the new performance report format is expected to commence in June.

4.    Regional Collaborations Task Group

Some proposed terms of reference for the task group were submitted to the PCC for comment on 21 January and a response is awaited.

Members are asked to note the update provided.

The Panel received an update on the activity of the following Task Groups:-

·         Volunteers and Special Constables Task Group

·         Licensing Task Group

·         Police Performance Review Working Group

·         Regional Collaborations Task Group

Resolved:

(1)       To note the update on task group activity provided.

(2)       To request that regular updates be received on regional collaborations.

To note the forward work plan.

A document was received showing the Panel’s Forward Work Programme.

Resolved:

To note the contents of the Forward Work Programme for this Panel.

To note the future meeting dates below:

·         Thursday 5 March 2015 – 2.30pm start – Monkton Park Offices, Chippenham.

·         Thursday 18 June 2015 – 2.30pm start – Corn Exchange, Devizes.

·         Thursday 3 September 2015 – 10.30am start – City Hall, Salisbury.

·         Wednesday 18 November 2015 – 10.30am start – Swindon Borough Council Offices.

Resolved:

To note that the next meeting of the Panel was due to be held on Thursday 5 March 2015, at Monkton Park Offices, Chippenham, starting at 2.30pm.