Members will consider a report about the process for the confirmatory hearing to appoint the Chief Constable of the Devon and Cornwall Police.

Mrs Hopkins introduced the report which included the proposed date (8 February) for the confirmatory hearing.  She advised that the media had already widely reported that Mr Shaun Sawyer was the preferred candidate for the position of Chief Constable.  However, the Panel had not yet been formally notified of this choice though it expected to be notified imminently.  The Host Authority, in liaison with the Chair, had done all it reasonably could to prepare for the confirmatory hearing process. 

Mrs Hopkins advised that the PCC had asked the Host Authority to consider holding a confirmatory hearing earlier than 8 February.  She acknowledged that convening meetings to suit the availability of all Members was challenging, especially at short notice.  She reminded the Panel that the Local Government Association’s advice was that the public should be given ample opportunity to attend the confirmatory hearing and that, in order for the Panel to be able to exercise the power of veto, 2/3rds of the Panel members (14 Members) would need to be present.

Members considered that trying to organise an additional Panel meeting at short notice would be impracticable.  A number of dates were proposed and Members’ availability was canvassed; it was evident that not enough Members would be able to attend on any date earlier than 8 February.  Therefore, there would be no change to the date.

The PCC advised that he would be present at the confirmatory hearing for the Chief Constable.

In response to Members’ questions, the Chair confirmed that:

• the PCC would supply information which would assist in the process of ensuring that the confirmatory hearing did not duplicate the interview process
• the LGA advised that a private meeting should take place at which the questions should be agreed and this was scheduled to take place immediately after the Panel’s formal meeting

A member stated that although the Panel had not received formal notification of the PCC’s preferred candidate, that information had appeared in the media.  The PCC responded that it was regrettable that the information was in the public domain as only a few people knew who the preferred candidate was.

AGREED:

·         the process outlined in this report and in Appendix 2 for the confirmatory hearing of the PCC’s proposed Chief Constable appointment

·         the principles of professional competence and personal independence contained in Appendix 4 of this report, for the evaluation of the candidate

·         that further discussions will be held, in private, following this meeting to formulate questions to be asked at the confirmatory hearing. 

·         that any further refinements to the questions following receipt of any additional information from the PCC is delegated to the Head of Safer Communities, in consultation with the Panel chair, before the confirmatory hearing is held

·         that, subject to having received the PCC’s notification, the confirmation hearing will take place on Friday 8 February 2013

·         if there is any further delay in the PCC notifying the Panel, the confirmation hearing meeting is provisionally scheduled to take place on Friday 22 February 2013

There was a five minute adjournment before the next item.