Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Ali, Councillor Ford, Councillor Humphries and Councillor Wright.

Councillor Amin substituted for Councillor Ali.

Councillor Doyle substituted for Councillor Humphries.

Councillor Page substituted for Councillor Wright.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chair explained that this was the last meeting for the Wiltshire Council members due to the upcoming elections in May 2013, and thanked members for their work in launching the Panel.

Attention was drawn to the draft minute from the Wiltshire Council Cabinet meeting held on 19 March 2013 at which the draft Police and Crime Plan was considered. It was explained that the observations made were from a different orientation to the Panel’s, being those of a partner organisation.

Councillor Bennett, Malcolm Grubb and Amanda Newbery attended the Local Government Association Police and Crime Panel Conference held on 21 March and it was agreed that a summary note would be circulated to members on their experience.

To confirm the minutes of the following meetings:

·       11 January 2013 – Confirmatory Hearing for the Chief Constable

·       6 February 2013

·       1 March 2013 – Extraordinary meeting to consider the draft Police and Crime Plan

The minutes from the meeting held on 11 January 2013 were presented. An amendment to the last paragraph of minute no. 17 changing the word ‘reviewing’ to ‘approving’ was accepted.

Decision:

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2013 were agreed as a correct record subject to the amendment detailed above, and signed by the Chairman.

The minutes from the meeting held on 6 February 2013 were presented. Amendments to minute no. 30 to record the abstentions of Councillors Bennett and Caswill; and to add the words ‘or increase in’ to the last bullet point of the resolution after the words ‘justification for’ were accepted.

Decision:

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 2013 were agreed as a correct record subject to the amendments detailed above, and signed by the Chairman.

The minutes from the meeting held on 1 March 2013 were presented. An amendment to include the details of the working group set up to review the plan and look at the reporting framework as agreed at the meeting was accepted.

Decision:

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 March 2013 were agreed as a correct record subject to the amendments detailed above, and signed by the Chairman.

The Panel welcomes contributions from members of the public.

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 20 March 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.

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.

There were no statements given.

A diary report from the Commissioner is attached.

The Committee noted the diary report attached.

Angus Macpherson, Police and Crime Commissioner drew attention to the appointment of Professor Allan Johns to the role of Independent Adjudicator and introduced him to the Panel. Professor Johns gave a brief outline of his role, explaining his responsibilities which included settling appeals, investigating complaints against the Chief Constable and monitoring all aspects of complaints and performance monitoring. He confirmed work will start on a formal report to the Panel.

The Commissioner highlighted the work that had been done on the plan and noted the future engagement with the public in understanding the performance of the constabulary and those commissioning.

The Panel drew the Commissioner’s attention to the issue of rural crime  and to the somewhat dismissive and cursory references in his blog to his meetings with the Panel.

To receive a verbal response from the Commissioner on the Panel’s report and recommendations on the draft plan

Angus Macpherson, Police and Crime Commissioner explained that the Police and Crime Plan would be published on Thursday 28 March. He confirmed that the consultation had generated 130 responses, all of which had been taken into consideration and all would be published on the website with the plan. The Panel was thanked for its comments.

Kieran Kilgallen, Chief Executive – Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), responded to the Panel’s recommendations point by point. The written response is attached to these minutes. He confirmed that undertakings had been given around the issue of employment regarding Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) with commitment given to the funding of posts. A working brief around the engagement and funding of CSP’s would be available by the end of April and a report would be brought to the June Panel meeting.

The Commissioner detailed the move to a regime of restorative justice as a large strategic change, the delivery of which must not increase risk areas.  He explained that a delivery plan was currently being developed by the Chief Constable which would give greater depth to the metrics and key performance indicators by which the panel would hold him to account. This plan would be circulated to panel members once agreed, which would be towards the end of April.

The Commissioner and his office were thanked for their consideration of the Panel’s report and recommendations. The Panel agreed that the working group tasked with looking at the reporting framework structure would meet after the delivery plan had been received with the results brought to the Panel meeting in June.

To receive a quarterly report from the Commissioner providing an update on finance and performance.

A verbal update will be provided on the risk register.

When introducing the item the Chairman reminded the panel of its role being not to monitor the work of the force but to monitor the work of the Commissioner in monitoring the force. The Commissioner introduced Nicola Calway from the OPCC who provided the Panel with an explanation of certain data.

The Panel welcomed the depth of data provided and the opportunity to question the PCC on it; however clarification was needed on what should be in the public domain. The suggestion of a quarterly summary report from the OPCC was welcomed, and the Panel agreed that the working group would develop a reporting mechanism in consultation with the OPCC.

Due to the work involved in isolating the OPCC risk register it was not possible to bring it to this meeting. It was agreed that this would be brought to the next Panel meeting in June and targeted around the delivery of the plan.

Resolved:

1.     That the Panel continue to receive the data in its current format on a quarterly basis

2.     That Panel Members consider and raise any issues with the Commissioner at the meeting following receipt of the quarterly data

3.     That, in discussion with the OPCC, the working group develop a summary reporting mechanism to be brought to the next Panel meeting

To consider the draft PCP / PCC protocol.

Mr Grubb introduced the draft protocol. It was noted that the Panel had two roles – its statutory obligation to support the Commissioner in his work which was difficult to separate from the role set out in section 2 of the protocol.

Amendments to change the word ‘they’ in the last sentence of 4.1 to ‘the PCC’ and to add a 4.6 to provide for joint projects stating ‘The PCC and PCP may from time to time agree on topics for joint consideration and research. However, it will remain the prerogative of the PCC to decide whether/how any results of such projects should be implemented’ were agreed.

The Commissioner was asked to report back to officers.

Resolved:

1.     To change the word ‘they’ in the last sentence of paragraph 4.1 to ‘the PCC’;

2.     To add paragraph 4.6 as follows:

4.6   The PCC and PCP may from time to time agree on topics for joint consideration and research. However, it will remain the prerogative of the PCC to decide whether/how any results of such projects should be implemented; and

3.     To present the amended protocol to the PCC.

To note the forward work plan.

The Panel noted the forward work plan. It was agreed that the quarterly update scheduled for June would be replaced with receiving the annual report.

A question was raised over the potential induction of new members pending the results of the Wiltshire Council elections and it was confirmed this would be discussed between the Chairman and officers.

The Commissioner suggested the theme of Young People / Business for a future panel meeting, possibly September.

To note the future meeting dates below:

12 June 2013

16 September 2013

26 November 2013

The next meeting of the Police and Crime Panel will be on 12 June 2013 in the Council Chamber, Monkton Park, Chippenham.

Future meeting dates were:

16 September 2013

26 November 2013

The Chairman thanked all for attending.