Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Cllr Junab Ali – Swindon Borough Council, Cllr Alan Bishop - Swindon Borough Council and Cllr Caryl Sydney-Smith - Swindon Borough Council.

There were no declarations of interest.

That members of the press and public would be asked to leave the meeting when the panel made its deliberation.

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 3 clear wkg days before meeting. 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 was no public participation.

Background Information for Panel members.

Angus Macpherson – Police & Crime Commissioner advised that a robust selection process had been carried out with two good quality candidates.

Geoff Pears – Independent member of the Selection Panel outlined the selection process to the panel members.

A copy of a report prepared by Geoff Pears – Independent member of the Selection Panel had been circulated to all Wiltshire Police & Crime Panel members along with other papers, including the preferred candidate’s CV and statement of confirmation.

The preferred candidate - Mr Kier Pritchard gave short presentation on Wiltshire Policing.

To ask the preferred candidate questions in relation to their professional

competence and personal independence.

The panel were given the opportunity to question Mr Pritchard on a range of topics.

The Chairman made the point that the Confirmation Hearing panel members were not being asked to re-run the selection panel interview, but to reassure themselves that the selection process had been robust and that the applicant’s suitability and competency for the role had been adequately proven by the Selection Panel, and that the PCP could properly endorse the Selection panel’s recommendation that Mr Pritchard should be appointed Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police.

Part II

Item(s) during whose consideration it is recommended that the public should be

excluded because of the likelihood that exempt information would be disclosed

The Police & Crime Commissioner, members of the OPCC and members of the press and public in attendance were asked to leave the room so that the panel could deliberate its decision.

The Panel will be asked to make a decision on the proposed appointment.

At the Confirmation Hearing Mr Pritchard satisfied the panel with his responses to a wide range of questions put to him by the panel members.

The panel were pleased to endorse the Selection Panel’s recommendation that Mr Pritchard be appointed Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police.