a)     

The Force hosted an outstanding Policing and security operation at the G7 Summit in Cornwall;

b)     

Had operated during the busiest point in the summer due an increase in the number of staycation holidays;

c)     

Provided immediate response and support following the tragic events in Keyham in August 2021;

d)     

The Police force had dealt with 956,306 requests for help and 20,023 victims of crime that required extra support. 18,668 detainees within the Police force’s care;

e)     

There had been an increased recruitment drive within the service;

f)      

The Commissioners priorities included drugs, anti-social behaviour, serious violence and road safety;

g)     

Vision zero has been implemented in the region with the aim of reducing road deaths on the roads of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to zero within twenty years. £2.5 million had been ring-fenced to spend on safety initiatives;

h)     

Since the Police and Crime Commissioner, Alison Hernandez started her role in 2016, this would be the first time in which the Police received a three year settlement, enabling the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to plan more effectively and allow for a more strategic and sustainable approach in managing the overall budget;

i)      

The commissioner advised the Panel, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner would be seeking the maximum precept due to the increased volatility and economic hardship. This increased volatility would see greater levels of domestic violence and acquisitive crime. The Commissioner requested the Panel to accept the full precept of 4.23% which would equate to £1 per month on a Band D property when paid over 10 months.  This would strengthen, stabilise and sustain the Force for the future;

j)      

The Commissioner expressed her desire to keep Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly as one of the lowest crime rate areas in the country, whilst ensuring that Police officers are visible and accessible to communities in the region; 

k)     

The Precept would bring the total number of officers from 1.8 officers per 1,000 population in 2016 to 2.2 per 1,000 population in 2022. The Force would have 3,610 officers which was recognised to be more than pre-austerity numbers and more than at any point in the Force’s history; 

l)      

Less than half of respondents to the budget had confidence in policing, however 85% expressed a desire for an increase in the number of police stations open to the public. Women felt under served by policing due to the low conviction rate of rape and sexual offences.

a)     

Should the full £10 increase be taken in 2023/24 this would represent an increase of 4.06% on the Council Tax with a 3.9% increase on Council Tax for 2024/25 which would be subject to agreement at future Police and Crime Panels;

b)     

Following 2022/23 there would be a significant decrease in the level of grant funding, this indicated a combination of Council Tax and Grant funding would be required in order to fully fund the budget in future years;

c)     

Within the provisional settlement for 2022/23, £550 million would be provided for policing with £135 million ring-fenced and subject to the achievement in the national uplift in Officers. 188 officers would be recruited in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly as part of the national uplift. Within the £550 million was a £80 million efficiency built into the budget. The Provisional settlement assumed £244 million from the precept. Overall the settlement would provide an increase of 5.3% in funding.

d)     

Pay awards would resume for the force following a pay freeze and this would take effect from 1September 2022;

e)     

Continuation of the pension funding had been agreed in 2019/20 which equated to £153 million nationally and £3.3 million for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

f)      

Capital Grant funding would cease, national funding of £12.3 million was allocated to capital grant, for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly this had meant a reduction in funding of just under £300,000;

g)     

There would be a budget requirement for 2022/23 of £371.6 million; a Capital Programme of £70 million over four years; increased funding of £21.9 million or 6.3%; Funding provided for the final phase of the national officer uplift; staffing equated to 84% of the overall budget; there would be pay and inflation pressure of £10.1 million and a £10 or 4.23% in the proposed council tax increase for Band D properties in the region; 

h)     

There would be a further deficit to be paid for 2022/23 of £863,000; there had been a net surplus of £1million due to the increased Council Tax base which had been up by 2.34%;

i)      

The Reserves Strategy had set the framework and outlines risks. This was reviewed by the independent audit committee who recommended approval for the commissioner which had been done;

j)      

Financial risks for the budget included inflation, the resumption of pay awards, COVID-19 pandemic, review of the funding formula and centrally driven ICT programmes;

k)     

Inflation continued to be a significant risk for the budget, CPI rates for November were recorded at 5.1% which was compared with 0.3% for November 2020. Electricity had been forecast to see an increase of 31% equivalent to £500,000; gas increase of 95% or £400,000; Fuel 28.5% or £500,000; construction workers availability had been at an all-time high across the construction field coupled with a shortage in construction materials. There had been an increase of 17.5% on construction materials which was causing complications for the Force in terms of planned maintenance and elements of the capital programme;

a)     

Requested that the Commissioner adopt any recommendations from Plymouth’s commission to tackle violence against women and girls within the Commissioner’s control;

b)     

That the Commissioner set targets for future scorecards to measure whether receiving the maximum precept delivers results;

c)     

That the Commissioner continues efforts to request from central government extra funding to subsidise the increase in visitor numbers from other parts of the country due to the region being the number one domestic tourism region for holidays. It was hoped that if successful would release the burden on local taxpayers;

d)     

For the Commissioner to continue her efforts to bring down the median wait time for callers to the 101 service and whilst doing so, alleviate the pressures on the 999 call line;

e)     

For the Commissioner to endeavour to increase confidence in Devon and Cornwall’s Police and to work to ensure that women and girls needs are met;

f)      

That the Commissioner allocates Torbay Council with a fair share of uplifted officer numbers to reflect the increase in crime for the area;

For:

Councillors Towill, Salmon, Hackett, Knowles, Attiya-Alla, Sellis, Fairman, Mrs Pengelly, Brown, Dewhirst, Tilbey, Sharon Minty, Alvey (13)

Against:

None (0)

Abstentions:

Councillor Cheadle (1)

Absent or did not vote:

Councillors Biederman, Rodger, Fitter, Loudoun and Wright (5)