To sign and confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2023.

The minutes from the meeting held on 24 November 2023 were agreed as an accurate record.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

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.

The Committee agreed to note the report.

Alison Hernandez (Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner) introduced the item and highlighted the following points:

a)     Public contact management of sexual and violent offenders in communities and crime recording had improved since 2022;

b)    Public confidence in national policing was at an all-time low for various reasons including funding not being visible to the public, delays in the judicial system and low conviction rates for crimes such as shoplifting;

c)     There were the highest number of police officers in Devon and Cornwall Police Force with 3,610 currently employed;

d)    4.95% increase, equivalent to £12.94 for a Band D property, was the proposed precept increase;

e)     There would be savings and efficiencies of £5.4 million in the assumptive budget;

f)      Operation Ragwort would be the next push in the region and would tackle organised criminals in rural communities who steal animals and property;

g)     £1.5 million of funding would be received to tackle anti-social behaviour;

h)    The number of Police Enquiry Offices had reached 28, an increase of 18 since the Commissioner came to office;

i)      Victim focused crime had increased by 11.9% since 2019 and levels of reported violence had exceeded pre-pandemic levels;

j)      An additional £1.257 million had been invested for tackling violence in Devon and Cornwall.

Nicola Allen (Treasurer/Chief Finance Officer) added:

k)     Assumed versus Actual for 2023/24:
i) Assumed: Grant levels per CRS and £10 council tax flexibility, Actual: Grant levels remained, up to £13 council tax flexibility for 2024/25;
ii) Assumed: 2% pay award, Actual: Pay award average of 7%;

iii) Assumed: Police Officer pension contribution of 31%, Actual: Contribution rate increased to 35.5%;

l)      Additional funding of £4.3 million had been included in the Provisional Settlement for 2024/25;

m)   Budget assumptions for 2024/25 and beyond would include: Pay awards at 3%, police officer pension contributions of 35.3% which would increase by 4.3% and no capital grant funding;

n)    The budget would potentially increase by £22.1 million;

o)    Staffing equated to 85% of the overall budget;

p)    Financial Risks and Resilience included: Increasing trend in the public sector in the number of Section 114 notices being issued, the Economic Impact of inflation (assumed used 3.9%) and pay award (assumed used 3%), a review of the funding formula, the maintenance of police officer levels, the increased levels of specific grant and the long term impact on funding levels;

q)    General Reserves would be used to mitigate unexpected costs, and consumed 4% of the net revenue budget which was within the recommended limits of the Reserve Strategy;

r)     The final element for mitigating unexpected costs would be transparent decision making, ensuring decisions were published to ensure good governance and processes. This included internal and external audits alongside an independent audit committee;

s)     Inflation had reduced since the peak in October 2022 from 11.1% to 3.9% in November 2023, and this figure was used to plan the budget;

t)     There is no expectation to have to externally borrow any money until 2025/26;

u)    The upcoming general election  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

The Committee agreed to note the report.

The Committee agreed to note the report.

Felicity Ridgeway (Assistant Chief Executive) introduced the report and provided the following updates:

a)    The baseline for deaths or serious injuries by high-risk driving behaviour was showing at 74 offences in the previous report; this was incorrect and should have shown 55 offences.

The Committee agreed to note the report.

There were no complaints against the Commissioner.

There were no additions to the Work Programme.