Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 2, Shire Hall. View directions

Contact: John Cole  Democratic Services Officer

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

General

Additional documents:

1(1)

Apologies

To receive any apologies from Members of the Panel.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Bhagwant Singh Pandher; Councillor Peter Gilbert was present as a substitute.

 

1(2)

Disclosures of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests

Members are required to register their disclosable pecuniary interests within 28 days of their election of appointment to the Council. ?Any changes to matters registered or new matters that require to be registered must be notified to the Monitoring Officer as soon as practicable after they arise.

 

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

 

        Declare the interest if ?they have not already registered it

        Not participate in any discussion or vote

        Leave the meeting room until the matter has been dealt with

        Give written notice of any unregistered interest to the Monitoring Officer within 28 days of the meeting

 

Non-pecuniary interests relevant to the agenda should be declared at the commencement of the meeting.

 

The public reports referred to are available on the Warwickshire Web https://democracy.warwickshire.gov.uk/uuCoverPage.aspx?bcr=1

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were none.

 

1(3)

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 230 KB

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2021.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved:

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2021 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

 

There were no matters arising.

 

1(4)

Public Speaking

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There was none.

 

2.

Proposed Local Police Precept 2022/23

To consider the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposed precept for 2022/23 and make a report to the Commissioner on the proposals by 8 February 2022.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) presented his proposed budget for Warwickshire Police including a proposed Local Police Precept increase of £9.99 (3.95%) for Band D properties (and equivalent percentage increase for other bands) in the 2022/23 financial year. The Commissioner acknowledged that the Panel had been allowed limited time to review proposals; this was due to a restrictive timescale determined by external factors influencing the budget setting process.

 

The Commissioner provided a summary setting out the key priorities, risks, and benefits of the Budget for 2022/23 and the rationale for the proposed increased precept amount.

 

The Commissioner advised that the Budget had been developed to support delivery of priorities outlined within the Police and Crime Plan 2021 – 2025.

 

The Commissioner advised that gross expenditure for 2022/23 had been set at approximately £134m. This was an increase of almost £10m on the figures for 2021/22. He advised that income was projected to rise by approximately £2.46m. However, some figures were yet to be determined, such as the income derived from mutual aid.

 

The Commissioner outlined the anticipated benefits of the 2022/23 draft budget, including:

 

·       Enhanced services for contacting the Force (digitally, by phone, and face to face);

·       Recruitment of 55 additional police officers to be supported with appropriate vehicles, equipment, and training;

·       An improved response to Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG):

·       Improved criminal justice outcomes by means of Evidential Review Officers:

·       Increased recruitment and improved support for Special Constables;

·       Improved ICT infrastructure, including continued support for recently introduced standalone systems;

·       Improved sustainability, with a focus on solar PV and electric vehicles;

·       Increased resources for road safety.

·       Allocation of resources to annual grants to support schemes across the County, including reoffending programmes, youth projects, and support for victims of crime.

 

In summary, the Commissioner stated that each 1% of the proposed precept equated to £530,000; the increase of £9.99 for a Band D property equated to £0.83 per month; householders of lower band properties would pay less. He stated that government expectations on policing were predicated on police and crime commissioners taking up the maximum precept increase; if the Panel resolved to veto the proposal, it would be necessary to seek savings from the proposed budget.

 

The Commissioner outlined the risks associated with a lower precept amount, stating that consideration of pay and non-pay inflation was required. The current level of inflation was approximately 5%; it was likely to go up. He stated that the increase of 3.95% would help to protect against inflationary pressures on pay. An increase in police officer pay was anticipated in September 2022; however, the level of the increase was not yet known. He indicated his support for increased pay; it was important avoid capable prospective applicants being deterred from joining the organisation.

 

The Commissioner stated that it was necessary to ensure that ICT systems were adequately supported. Warwickshire Police had upgraded its ICT infrastructure; it would be important to consolidate improvements and allocate resources to maximise efficiency.

 

The Commissioner advised that the Home  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.

Report of the Planning and Performance Working Group

An update from the Chair of the Planning and Performance Working Group following the meeting on 10 January 2022.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Andy Davis, Chair of the Planning and Performance Working Group, provided an update of the meeting held on 10 January 2022. He reported that the Group had focused on:

 

·       Police officer turnover figures – the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) provided assurance that turnover figures were monitored and regularly discussed at Force governance meetings. Recent figures showed that officer turnover rates had begun to stabilise.

·       Continuity planning and the impact of an inexperienced workforce – the Group highlighted the risks associated with an influx of newly recruited, recently trained officers.

·       Outcome rates of Action Taken (detections) across Total Recorded Crime – it was noted that outcome rates had deteriorated. The OPCC advised that the position would continue to be scrutinised at Force governance meetings. The Group will continue to monitor work in this area with a focus on victim satisfaction.

·       Diversity, with a focus on the proportion of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) police officers – this remained at a level below the 7.3% figure required to be representative of the population of Warwickshire. The Group emphasised that whilst the composition of the Force did not currently reflect the population of Warwickshire, there was a need to ensure that a high level of cultural awareness was present to deliver a service that was inclusive and representative.

 

Andy Davis advised that the Group had received a progress update on deployment of the upgraded Warwickshire Police ICT system. Assurances were sought that robust business continuity measures were in place and that future performance reporting would show how investment in ICT had led to tangible improvements and a reduction in crime.

 

4.

Update from the Performance Framework (Police and Crime Plan 2021 - 2025) Task and Finish Group

To seek a view from the wider Panel on work recently undertaken by the Task and Finish Group including approaches to measuring of performance.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair reported that the Performance Framework Task and Finish Group had met on two occasions since the meeting of the Panel in November 2021. It would meet on 24 February 2022 to give further attention to:

 

·       An improved understanding of the effectiveness of the Commissioner’s approaches to the holding to account of the Chief Constable;

·       The effectiveness of partnership working arrangements;

·       The role of the Commissioner to prioritise the organisational health of Warwickshire Police with a focus on diversity;

·       Commissioning practices operated by the PCC with a focus on allocation of grants and the process by which the Commissioner manages the budget;

·       Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as a measure of performance.

 

Andy Davis praised the quality of resources and input provided by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) in support of the Group’s work. The Chair agreed.

 

Polly Reed (Chief Executive, OPCC) thanked the Panel, stating that the work of the Task and Finish Group had proved to be informative.

 

5.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 306 KB

To consider and review the Panel’s work programme.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was decided that the Work Programme would be refreshed taking account of recent changes. This would be coordinated by email prior to the Panel’s meeting on 7 April 2022.

 

6.

Dates of Meetings

To note the arrangements for future meetings:

 

·       7 April 2022 (at North Warwickshire Borough Council, 2.00pm)

·       23 June 2022 (2.00pm, venue to be advised)

·       22 September 2022 (2.00pm, venue to be advised)

·       17 November 2022 (2.00pm, venue to be advised)

·       6 February 2023 (2.00pm, Shire Hall, Warwick)

·       6 April 2023 (2.00pm, venue to be advised)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Future meeting dates were noted.

 

7.

Any Urgent Items

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were none.

 

8.

Reports Containing Confidential or Exempt Information

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 and paragraph 7 of Schedule 12A of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972’.

Minutes:

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 and paragraph 7 of Schedule 12A of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

9.

Exempt Minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2021.

Minutes:

Resolved:

 

That the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2021 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

 

There were no matters arising.

 

10.

Complaints

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

Minutes:

There were none.

 

 

The meeting rose at 11:08 on 3 February 2022.