Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies from Members of the Panel

Apologies were received from Councillors Jenny Fradgley (Warwickshire County Council), Peter Gilbert (Warwickshire County Council), Maggie O’Rourke (Warwickshire County Council) and Christopher Watkins (Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council).

Members are required to register their disclosable pecuniary interests within 28 days of their election or appointment to the Council.

A member attending a meeting where a matter arises in which they has a disclosable pecuniary interest must (unless they has a dispensation):

• Declare the interest if they has not already registered it

• Not participate in any discussion or vote

• Must leave the meeting room until the matter has been dealt with (Standing Order 39).

• Give written notice of any unregistered interest to the Monitoring Officer within 28 days of the meeting Non-pecuniary interests must still be declared in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

These should be declared at the commencement of the meeting.

There were none.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2020.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2020 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

There was none.

Report attached.

The Police and Crime Commissioner introduced the report. He stated that since the report had been produced, the progression of the COVID-19 virus had triggered postponement of the UK local elections, including the ballot for Police and Crime Commissioners, which were due to be held on 7 May 2020. He advised that the elections were likely to be rescheduled for May 2021 and that it was anticipated that the terms of Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales would be extended by 12 months.

The Police and Crime Commissioner stated that the existing Police and Crime Plan covered the period up to 2021 which provided scope for the anticipated additional 12 months in office and mitigated the necessity of urgently producing an updated plan. He observed that the scheduled pre-election purdah period would also be deferred to 2021.

The Police and Crime Commissioner reported that a plan to address the implications of COVID-19 had been instigated by Public Health at Warwickshire County Council (WCC). He stated that, to date, there had been seven reported cases of the virus in Warwickshire resulting in two fatalities. The Commissioner added that he would monitor the response of Warwickshire Police to the pandemic and hold the Chief Constable to account to ensure that the Force acted effectively.

The Police and Crime Commissioner advised that contingency measures to improve resilience had been enacted within the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and Police Force. He drew attention to the threat posed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus but stated that, at present, both organisations were operating at full strength.

The Police and Crime Commissioner reported that, following the termination of the Strategic Alliance with West Mercia Police, progress had been made to determine the quantum of the financial settlement. The Commissioner stated that the 2020/21 Budget had been predicated upon the assumption of no settlement with West Mercia Police and that recent progress had contributed to a clearer outlook for reserve strategy planning.

In respect of the transition of services following termination of the Alliance, the Police and Crime Commissioner reported that in October 2019, 18 services had transferred to the independent Warwickshire Police Force. He advised that a further 17 services would come under independent control by the end of March 2020. The remaining four services (ICT, Forensics, Transactional Services and File Storage) would be subject to a Section 22 Agreement with West Mercia Police to enable continued joint service provision for a period of 12 months or longer, if necessary.

In the longer-term, the Police and Crime Commissioner advised that ICT provision would be operated in partnership with West Midlands Police, primarily in the area of data storage. Transactional Services, including Payroll, would also form part of a collaborative agreement with West Midlands Police, alongside provision of Forensic Services and dog kennelling. The Commissioner reported that West Midlands Police was highly regarded and that the partnership arrangement offered good value for efficient services.   

The Police and Crime Commissioner reported  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

The Chair reported that a grant was provided by the Home Office to Warwickshire County Council (WCC) to offset the costs associated with the operation and administration of the Police and Crime Panel in its capacity as Host Authority. He observed that the grant claim process had not been recently scrutinised by the Panel and recommended that the subject be considered by the Budget Working Group. The recommendation was endorsed by the Panel.

Resolved:

That the Police and Crime Panel Budget Working Group scrutinise the Home Office grant claim process.

The Chair introduced the item and praised the contribution of Bob Malloy, who had indicated his intention to stand down from his role as an Independent Member of the Panel at the conclusion of his term on 5 December 2020.

The Chair recommended that measures be enacted to recruit a replacement Independent Panel Member. Jane Pollard (Legal Services Manager) advised that she would circulate the job description and person specification to Members of the Panel for information, and to provide an opportunity for comments to be made. She recommended that the vacancy be advertised in September 2020 with a view to scheduling interviews in October and consideration of candidates by the Panel at the meeting on 19 November 2020.

The Chair proposed that formal consideration of the selection process be scheduled for the meeting of the Panel on 24 September 2020. He prompted Panel Members who were aware of any suitable individuals to nominate prospective candidates.

The Chair reported that he had been elected to the Executive of National Association of Police, Fire and Crime Panels. He requested the support of the Panel for his occupancy of this role. The Members of the Panel unanimously offered their support.

To consider and review the Panel’s Work Programme.

In recognition of the unknown complexities and unique challenges presented by the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, the Chair proposed that the Work Programme be suspended. He recommended that the status of the Work Programme be reassessed at the meeting of the Panel on 18 June 2020.

The Chair advised that the report of the Planning and Performance Group ‘Review of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Funding of Substance Misuse Services’ would be reviewed at the next meeting of the Planning and Performance Group prior to consideration by the Panel on 18 June 2020.

To note the arrangements for future meetings. All Police and Crime Panel meetings start at 10.30 am, unless specified otherwise. The following meetings are scheduled at Shire Hall, Warwick:

·       Thursday 18 June 2020

·       Thursday 24 September 2020

·       Thursday 19 November 2020

·       Monday 1 February 2021

·       Thursday 1 April 2021

The Chair invited the Panel to take note of the future meeting dates:

·       Thursday 18 June 2020

·       Thursday 24 September 2020

·       Thursday 19 November 2020

·       Monday 1 February 2021

·       Thursday 1 April 2021

At the discretion of the Chair, items may be raised which are considered urgent (please notify Democratic Services in advance of the meeting).

There were none.

To consider passing the following resolution: ‘That members of the public be excluded from the meeting for the items mentioned below on the grounds that their presence would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972’.

Resolved: ‘That members of the public be excluded from the meeting for the items mentioned below on the grounds that their presence would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972’.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2020.

Resolved: That the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2020 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider any complaints received and considered regarding the conduct of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

There were none.

The meeting rose at 11.20am

…………………………………….

Chair