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Agenda and minutes

Venue: On-Line Meeting

Contact: Kevin Fielding  Democratic Services Officer

Media

Items
No. Item

110.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

There were no apologies.

111.

Declarations of interest

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

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

 

 

112.

Chairman's Announcements

Minutes:

That the panel members should remember that they were at the meeting to listen to the Commissioner’s proposals, and not to approve the precept.

 

 

113.

Public Participation

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.

 

Minutes:

Two written questions were received from Paul Sunners - Chair Wiltshire NHW Association 

 

What support has been given by the PCC to the Chief Constable's statement in respect of all front line workers being prioritised to receive the Covid vaccine?  The need for enforcement of lockdown restrictions seems only likely to increase with obvious implications for the police as the prime law-enforcement agency.

 

Following Brexit, the view held generally is that the UK is less secure as British policing has now forfeited some of its most valuable tools including the Schengen Information System, a vast database providing real-time alerts to locate terrorists and serious criminals.  The UK has also lost its influential seat at the EU's policing agency, Europol.  In light of these changes, does the PCC anticipate any practical difficulties for Wiltshire Police in crime prevention and detection as it relates to multi-national collaboration?

 

It was agreed that written replies would be provided by the OPCC.

              

114.

PCC Budget 2021/22 and MTFS

Clive Barker to present the PCC’s Draft Budget Settlement for 2021/22, including the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Capital Strategy

 

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Commissioner introduced his draft budget settlement 2021-22 and outlined how he was consulting on three options:

 

·    Option A – To increase council tax by £15 per annum (6.9%)

 

·    Option B – To increase council tax by £12 per annum (5.5%)

 

·    Option C – To increase council tax by £10 per annum (4.6%)

 

The Commissioner reported that on the 17 December the provisional settlement was announced by the government.  This settlement confirmed that PCCs would be able to increase Band D Council Tax by £15 and that £415m had been provided to fund an additional 6,000 officers nationally.  Whilst this was good news the usual letter to PCCs identifying requirements and detailing the settlement was still outstanding, when this was received it may lead to some changes in the proposals.

 

The MTFS forecasts the estimated financial position over the next 4 years and the impact this had on the Commissioner’s ability to commission services. There remains no certainty surrounding future years funding, this was a one-year settlement. 

 

With the lack of funding information, it meant that financial planning beyond 2020-21 was more uncertain than usual.  The impact of Covid 19 on the economy and future settlements alongside the government’s desire to continue increasing officers made estimating future settlements very difficult.  These risks were in the Commissioner’s mind as he looked to secure the viability of the service in future years. 

 

Clive Barker - Chief Financial Officer, explained the detail of the budget proposals and the Medium Term Financial Strategy and answered questions.

 

The chairman thanked Clive Barker for a comprehensive and professional paper and presentation.

 

Decision

 

  • That the Wiltshire Police and Crime Panel endorses the Commissioner’s decision to consult on Option A - To increase council tax by £15 per annum (6.9%)

 

The Chairman thanked the Commissioner and Clive Barker for their reports.

 

 

115.

Forward Work Plan

To note the forward work plan.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Forward Work Plan was noted with the following additions:

 

March

 

  • Commissioning budgets and delivery objectives

 

·         Road safety work in Wiltshire & Swindon

 

June

 

·         Complaints system, including local performance and governance mechanisms

 

116.

Future meeting dates

To note the future meeting dates below:

 

·         Thursday 4 February 2021 - 10am

 

·         Thursday 18 March 2021 - 10am

Minutes:

Future meeting dates were:

 

·         Thursday 4 February 2021 - 10am (On-Line meeting)

 

·         Thursday 18 March 2021 - 10am (On-Line meeting)

 

 

117.

Any Other Business

Minutes:

Cllr Jonathon Seed advised that he was still waiting for a satisfactory response from the Commissioner on the question re the car show in Trowbridge which was emailed to the OPCC on the 18 September 2020. Cllr Seed had again raised the same question at the 14 December PCP meeting.

 

It was agreed that the Commissioner would re-visit Cllr Seed’s question and a response would be given.

 

 

Brian Mathew advised that re Cllr Richard Britton’s question re auto speed watch cameras which was emailed to the OPCC on the 5 January 2021, that a local company had a product that Wiltshire Police may be interested in using.

 

It was agreed that the OPCC would get back to the panel on this matter. The Deputy Police Commissioner was aware of this company and its product.

 

 

 

118.

Close