To sign and confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 5 October 2018.

Agreed the minutes ofthe meeting held on 05 October2018.

Members will be asked to make any declaration of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

The following declaration of interest was made in accordance with the code of conduct –

To receive questions from (and provide answers to) members of the public that are relevant to the panel’s functions.

Questions should be no longer than 100 words and sent to Democratic Support, Plymouth City Council, Floor 3, Ballard House, West Hoe Road, Plymouth, PL1 3BJ or democratic.support@plymouth.gov.uk

Questions must be received at least 5 complete working days before the meeting.

No questions had been received from members of the public. 

The Panel considered the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposal to increase the precept by 12.75% and the reasoning behind that proposal, was presented by Alison Hernandez the PCC, Fran Hughes the OPCC Chief Executive and Nicky Allen the OPCC Treasurer.

In addition to the report, the Panel received a presentation which set out a detailed budget analysis.

In response to questions, the Panel were advised that –

(a)   There was a budget requirement for 2019/20 of £312m;

(b)  Staffing was the main area of expenditure – 83% of the overall budget;

(c)   £24 increase (Band D) equated to 12.75%;

(d)  Overall increased funding of £22m; 7.5% overall increase;

(e)  There was a Police Officer pension pressure of £7.7m;

(f)    Pay awards and wage growth pressure of £7.5m.

The panel agreed

1.    not to exercise the Panel’s veto in respect of the Police Crime Commissioners (PCC) proposal for a £24 increase in the Band D equivalent for the police element of the council tax for the 2019/20 financial year.

2.    to note:

a.     That the Reserves Strategy, Treasury Management Strategy and the Capital Strategy have been published online to enhance transparency.

b.    That it is intended that the level of General Balances held will be nomore than 5% or no less than 3% of the net annual budget at the end of the financial year.

c.     Police  Officers  and  Police  Staff  will  be  receiving  an  overall  2% increase in pay for the year to August 2019, in accordance with national pay settlements.

3.    that the Chair, on behalf of the panel write to the Government to outline that a Fairer Funding Settlement for Policing, in particular for communities in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly must be established through the upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.

The letter should note the panel’s view that –

a.     Whilst the extra flexibility for Police and Crime Commissioners to raise more funding locally has enabled our local Police and Crime Commissioner to secure growth in policing next year, it has and will continue to have a negative impact on the poorest communities who are most likely to be a victim of crime;

b.    It should be recognised in any future settlement that Devon and Cornwall has an increased population over the summer months which the panel does not believe is captured in base funding formula for policing the peninsula;

c.     Devon and Cornwall with complex rural, urban and coastal policing demands does not receive a fair funding when compared to large metropolitan areas;

d.    Whilst accepting that local taxation will always play a part in police funding, the Panel calls upon the Government to halt the trend of significant increases to local taxation, and to resource the Police Service adequately through a funding settlement.

The Panel will receive an update from the Police and Crime Commissioner in respect of performance against objectives and performance measures in the Police and Crime Plan.

The OPCC Chief Executive provided the Panel with the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Performance Report.  The Panel were advised that –

The Panel noted the report.

The Police and Crime Commissioner has provided the Panel with her regular report regarding activities and decisions she has made since the last Police and Crime Panel meeting.

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) presented the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Update Report.

Councillor John Mathews welcomed the PCC and Chief Constables decision to adopt the use of spit and bite guards which will protect police officers and other front line staff from these serious assaults.

Councillor Sally Haydon welcomed the opening of the new Plymouth Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC).

The Panel noted the report.

Members will consider the report and, after due consideration, agree the resolutions by the Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Fran Hughes (OPCC Chief Executive) advised the Panel that one formal complaint against the Police and Crime Commissioner had been received during the period 20th September 2018-9th January 2019

The Panel noted the report.

The Panel will consider options and issues for inclusion into their scrutiny work programme.

The Panel noted the work programme and agreeed to schedule the following items –

1.    Forensic Operations

2.    Under Reporting of Rural Crime – Rural Affairs officers to come and give presentation

3.    Future of Policing Technology

4.    Road Closures

Proposed meeting dates for the municipal year 2019-20 –

·         3 June 2019 – Training (delivered by Frontline Consulting)

·         14 June 2019

·         13 September 2019

·         15 November 2019

·         31 January 2020

·         14 February 2020 (if precept is vetoed)

The Panel noted the future meeting dates.