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

There were no declarations of interest.

Councillor Loudoun introduced the item and highlighted the following points:

a)     A letter of apology had been given to the Panel on 20 November 2024, and therefore a supplementary motion had been submitted to not move the motion on the agenda;

b)    The initial motion was not about individual Members, and was focussed on how the Panel had been dealt with collectively;

c)     Concerns around the ‘careful consideration’ the Commissioner gave to the views of the Panel when appointing the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner due to the quick time frame in which the appointment was announced.

Following the Commissioner’s letter to the Panel, dated 20 November 2024, in which she offered the Panel an apology, the Panel agreed to:

1)    Note and accept the Commissioner’s apology;

2)    Request the Chair and Vice Chair, in consultation with the host authority and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner ensure an agreed, clear process for future appointments was agreed at the next meeting of the Panel.