Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Cllrs Kelvin Nash and James Sheppard.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2025 as a true and correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2025 were considered, and it was,

Resolved:

To approve and sign the minutes as a true and correct record.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee or Monitoring Officer.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any announcements through the Chairman.

There were no announcements.

The Panel welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

If you would like 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. Up to 3 speakers are permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes each on any agenda item. Please contact the officer named on the front of the agenda for any further clarification.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public received in accordance with the Panel’s constitution.

Please note that questions must relate to the responsibilities and functions of the Panel and must not relate directly to operational policing matters.

Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the front of this agenda no later than 5pm on 29 January 2025 in order to be guaranteed of a written response. In order to receive a verbal response, questions must be submitted no later than 5pm on31 January 2025. Please contact the officer named on the front of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on Wiltshire Council’s website.

No questions or statements were submitted.

To consider the findings of the public consultation on the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Precept proposals.

Philip Wilkinson, Police and Crime Commissioner, presented a report on the consultation undertaken on the proposed policing precept for 2025/26. Details were provided of the online survey and in person events which took place as well as how the consultation was circulated. It was explained that responses were slightly down on the previous years’ consultation, with approximately 55% in support of the proposed increase.

The Panel commented on the report and raised queries with the Commissioner. It was acknowledged that the language of the opening statement in the consultation indicating little real choice but to raise the precept the maximum amount may have put some people off from responding, and this would be taken into account for the next year. A breakdown of the response rate in different areas was requested and would be provided at the next meeting. There was discussion of the role of councillors to help encourage more responses, and on efforts to improve the response among different demographics, including age and ethnicity, such as engaging with youth organisations. Different views were expressed on the practicality of seeking specific views from those who had been victims of crime.

At the conclusion of discussion, it was,

Resolved:

To note the report.

The Panel will be asked to approve the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Precept proposals for the forthcoming financial year.

The Chairman introduced the report and noted the options available to the Panel to approve the precept without comment, approve with recommendations, or veto the precept through a two thirds majority and reasons given for doing so.

Philip Wilkinson, Police and Crime Commissioner, spoke further to the report and stated that even with the precept raised to the maximum level the police in Wiltshire would be £6.2m short of balancing the budget, with much working being undertaken on how to achieve a balance.

In response to queries it was stated that additional funding for neighbourhood policing would be made available through government grant, but the amount for Wiltshire had not yet been confirmed, nor had detail been provided on further funding for unsocial behaviour. The Commissioner argued the core policing funding formula was inadequate and that one off grants was not a suitable approach, as this affected ability to sustain recruitment.

The Panel discussed the report and were supportive of the precept increase, with many comments agreeing that the improvements to policing in Wiltshire would struggle to continue without changes to the national funding formula, bringing Wiltshire up to at least the national average. There was discussion of the impact of national insurance rises, borrowing costs, contracts for custodial healthcare and support for victims of sexual assault, and refurbishment of the police headquarters. There was discussion of the cost of handling dangerous dogs as an example of increased costs which could not have been planned for.

At the conclusion of discussion, and on the motion of Cllr Ross Henning, seconded by Cllr Abdul Amin, it was,

Resolved:

To approve the proposed precept increase of 5.2% from the 2023/24 amount.

It was noted that the resolution of the Panel was unanimous.

To consider how the Panel can improve its communication with the public.

The Chairman noted details of the communications which would be sent out now the precept had been approved, seeking comment from the Panel on elements to be included.

It was also noted that further effort was needed to promote the work of scrutinising the Police and Crime Commissioner, including improving viewership of those meetings which were broadcast.

To note the forward work plan.

It was,

Resolved:

To note the Forward Work Plan.

The date of the next meeting will be 26 March 2025.

Other future meeting dates are scheduled as follows:

·         26 June 2025

·         11 September 2025

·         25 November 2025

·         15 January 2026

The next meeting of the Police and Crime Panel will be on 26 March 2025.

Future meeting dates were confirmed as:

• Thursday 26 June 2025, 10:30am
• Thursday 11 September 2025, 10:30am
• Tuesday 25 November 2025, 10:30am
• Thursday 15 January 2026, 10:30am
• Wednesday 4 February 2026, 10:30am
• Thursday 12 March 2026, 10:30am

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency, or questions for the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Ther were no urgent items.