Agenda and draft minutes

Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel - Friday 5 February 2021 10.30 am

Venue: Virtual Meeting

Contact: Jamie Sheldon  Email: jamie.sheldon@plymouth.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

32.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 133 KB

To sign and confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 20 November 2020.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Rachel Sutton proposed the minutes of 20 November 2020 to the panel for approval; this was seconded by Councillor Kevin Towill.

 

The minutes were agreed as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

 

Councillor Rachel Sutton requested a progress update in appointing a new independent member of the panel to represent Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly; Andrew Loton (Head of Governance, Performance and Risk) informed Members that they had found a suitable candidate and would be making that recommendation to the panel in June 2021.

33.

Declarations of Interest

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made by Members in accordance with the code of conduct.

34.

Public Questions

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.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair advised the Panel that no public questions had been received.

35.

Proposed Precept, Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2021/22 - 2024/25 pdf icon PDF 359 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Alison Hernandez (Police and Crime Commissioner) introduced the report on the

Proposed Precept, Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2021/22.

 

The Police and Crime Commissioner highlighted the following key points:

 

·          

there would be 498 more officers and 271 new jobs;

 

·          

it would make the most of the Council Tax flexibilities the Prime Minister has allowed;

 

·          

it was designed to meet the needs of local communities to prevent and deal with crime;

 

·          

PCC had the second lowest crime rate in England and Wales but was ninth lowest with regards to violent crime. The target was to be the lowest;

 

·          

building on success with the Home Office and create a progressive policing service;

 

·          

181 more officers 40 of which funded by council tax;

 

·          

79 police staff – investigating crime and focusing on violent and sexual crime;

·          

22 members of staff to improve 101 waiting times;

 

·          

20 new members of staff to work on data reliability and accuracy which will in turn improve effectiveness of front line staff;

 

·          

build on improvements made in the maritime arena;

 

·          

special constable payment scheme to ensure the right training and equipment to create a special reserve similar to the armed forces;

 

·          

there would be an increase of 6.7%/£1.50 a month for Band D;

 

·          

focus on building reserves, there was more that the usual 3-5%, but some of this was already earmarked for projects such as the airwaves replacement project;

 

·          

there was a focus on the future, not just the short term.

 

Shaun Sawyer, Chief Constable, spoke about the precept drawing particular attention to the following:

 

·          

the way the Police work best with other organisations to prevent crime;

 

·          

the Police must focus on inclusion and fairness within society and ensure the vulnerable were not falling through the safety nets;

 

·          

particular focus on reducing domestic abuse and sexual exploitation;

 

·          

the Police needed to be ready for the night time economy to return this year.

 

Nicola Allen (Chief Finance Officer/ Treasurer, OPCC) gave a powerpoint presentation detailing some of the key figures from the report.


The Panel discussed:

 

·          

how the new staff would be distributed across different frontline areas within the Police;

 

·          

how better data collection and use could improve Police services;

 

·          

what was encompassed within ‘Other Staff Costs’;

 

·          

capital programmes including Barnstaple Police Station;

 

·          

why there was a need for temporary staff on some projects;

 

·          

if additional funds could be better spend on update digital systems rather than being spent on hiring more officers;

 

·          

if enough consideration had been given to pressures on domestic abuse as well as alcohol and drug abuse support services;

 

·          

the fact that the Police and Crime Commissioner said in 2020 they would not ask for a further increase in the precept and now is.

 

·          

support with a summer programme, with particular attention on the night time economy in Plymouth and people using second homes to holiday in this summer;

 

·          

loss of PCSO’s from the service;

·          

how the Police aimed to be more environmentally friendly;

·          

the G7 summit in St Ives;

 

·          

support for members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

36.

Commissioner's Update Report pdf icon PDF 295 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Alison Hernandez (Police and Crime Commissioner) introduced the Commissioner’s Update Report as ‘read’.

 

There were no questions.

 

Councillor Haydon proposed and Councillor Hackett seconded to note the report.

 

37.

Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner's Performance Report pdf icon PDF 198 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Alison Hernandez (Police and Crime Commissioner) presented the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Performance Report and highlighted:

 

·        

the update included regarding the 101 service;

 

·        

there was a cost of 52p per day per head for Devon and Cornwall’s policing service compared to 61p for the rest of England and Wales.

         

Councillor Biederman proposed and Councillor Derrick seconded to note the report.

38.

Update on the 101 Service pdf icon PDF 235 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Alison Hernandez (Police and Crime Comissioner) requested the item be considered within agenda item 7. Councillor Biederman noted the improvements.

 

39.

Complaints against The Police and Crime Commissioner received under The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act pdf icon PDF 142 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Nicky Allen (Chief Finance Officer/Treasurer, OPCC) confirmed that no complaints had been received during this period and no questions were received.

 

Councillor Biederman proposed and Councillor Knowles seconded to note the update.

40.

Tracking Recommendations pdf icon PDF 203 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Alison Hernandez (Police and Crime Commissioner) directed members to her report.

 

41.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 46 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was confirmed that items to be included on the Panel’s work programme would be emailed to the Chair, Councillor Batters and Jamie Sheldon (Senior Governance Advisor, PCC).

42.

Future Meeting Dates

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members noted the future meeting dates as follows:

 

·          

18th June 2021;

 

·          

10th September 2021

 

·          

12th November 2021

 

 

The next Precept meeting would be agreed at a later date in consultation with The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.