Agenda item

Proposed Precept, Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2021/22 - 2024/25

Meeting of Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel, Friday 5 February 2021 10.30 am (Item 35.)

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 of BAME communities.

The Police and Crime Commissioner clarified:

·	front line staff did not just include Police Officers but also call centre works, detectives and more;
·	that better data collection and use would improve the efficiency of front line workers and that improved systems would also improve efficiency;
·	that ‘Other Staff Costs’ included items such as insurance and medical costs;
·	that 22 new staff on the 101/999 calls would help improve the 101 service, particularly at peak times;
·	PCC were working with other Police forces on the procurement of services and equipment to make savings;
·	temporary staff were needed for specific projects that would only last a certain amount of time;
·	the need to stop people from entering the criminal justice system unnecessarily and to help people with mental health problems;
·	the 37% increase in the precept since she had been Police and Crime Commissioner but that the budget was scrutinised and every penny was needed and spent well;
·	that the summer programme was included in the base line budget and was therefore not mentioned in the precept papers;
·	PCSO’s were not always ‘lost’ from the service but often transferred to other roles;
·	the environmental benefits of the new Police force building in Exeter;
·	the importance of the G7 summit of collaborative working and showing other countries how the UK police service works;
·	central government only provided £300,000 a year for capital projects;
·	investments were being made in improving outdated technology and programmes;
·	that in consultation with the public, carbon reduction programmes were not a priority;
·	her involvement in organisations and boards working to increase and celebrate diversity.

The Recommendations from the panel proposed by Councillor Gareth Derrick and seconded by Councillor Dominic Fairman was as follows:

The Panel voted to agree the budget, the proposed precept and the MTFS, but noted that with this year’s precept rise of 6.73%, the Police and Crime Commissioner would have raised the precept by 37% during her term of office, substantially above inflation, and agreed the following recommendations:

(a)	that given strong public support for Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) across the region, further consideration should be given to bringing about some growth in PCSO numbers where they are needed, in place of some of the warranted officers.
(b)	That future uplifts to the Commissioning Budget are made during the life of the plan, to reflect a prevention and public health approach to policing in Devon and Cornwall.
(c)	With a bumper “staycation” season predicted this year, the Police and Crime Commissioner considers with the Chief Constable, how best to resolve the summer policing surge, in cooperation with Local Authorities as soon as practicable.
(d)	That any future Medium Term Financial Strategy includes force-wide measures to implement carbon reductions to reduce the effects of climate change, in partnership with Local Authorities as appropriate.
(e)	That the Police and Crime Commissioner brings to the Panel a detailed assessment of the financial risks and force sustainability given the risk assessment presented in the report and the significant growth in cost base.
(f)	That the Police and Crime Commissioner redoubles her efforts to lobby government to ensure a fairer share of central government funding in future, given the substantial (£40m) shortfall in Devon and Cornwall central funding in relation to the national average.

Councillor Samuel raised concerns with regard to Councillor Derrick not declaring an interest.

It was clarified that Councillor Derrick had no legal obligation to declare an interest, however Councillor Derrick declared a personal interest as he will be the Labour selected candidate in the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

Councillor Samuel proposed an amendment to agree the precept with recommendations, each recommendation to be voted on separately, this was seconded by Councillor Hopwood. Councillor Hopwood subsequently withdrew and Councillor Towill seconded the amendment in place.

Votes for: 9	Councillors Artherfold, Derrick, Dewhirst, Hackett, Haydon, Hopwood, Nellems, Samuel, Towill
Votes Against: 8	Councillors Atiya-Alla, Batters, Biederman, Fairman, Knowles, Louden, Macauley, Sutton
Abstentions: 0
Absent/Did not Vote: 2	Councillors Croad & Heyward

The amendment passed and became substantive.

A vote on acceptance with the precept with recommendations to be voted on separately took place.

Votes For: 17	CouncillorsArtherfold, Atiya-Alla, Batters, Biederman, Derrick, Dewhirst, Fairman, Hackett, Haydon, Hopwood, Knowles. Louden, Macauley, Nellems, Samuel, Sutton, Towill
Votes Against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Did not vote/Absent: 2	CouncillorsCroad & Heyward

Recommendation (a)

Votes For: 17	CouncillorsArtherfold, Atiya-Alla, Batters, Biederman, Derrick, Dewhirst, Fairman, Hackett, Haydon, Hopwood, Knowles. Louden, Macauley, Nellems, Samuel, Sutton, Towill
Votes Against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Did not vote/Absent: 2	CouncillorsCroad & Heyward

Recommendation (b)

Votes For: 17	CouncillorsArtherfold, Atiya-Alla, Batters, Biederman, Derrick, Dewhirst, Fairman, Hackett, Haydon, Hopwood, Knowles. Louden, Macauley, Nellems, Samuel, Sutton, Towill
Votes Against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Did not vote/Absent: 2	Councillors Croad & Heyward

Recommendation (c)

Votes For: 17	Artherfold, Atiya-Alla, Batters, Biederman, Derrick, Dewhirst, Fairman, Hackett, Haydon, Hopwood, Knowles. Louden, Macauley, Nellems, Samuel, Sutton, Towill
Votes Against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Did not vote/Absent: 2	Councillors Croad & Heyward

Recommendation (d)

Votes For: 16	Artherfold, Atiya-Alla, Batters, Biederman, Derrick, Dewhirst, Fairman, Hackett, Haydon, Hopwood, Knowles. Louden, Macauley, Nellems, Samuel, Sutton
Votes Against: 1	Councillor Towill
Abstentions: 0
Did not vote/Absent: 2	Councillors Croad & Heyward

Recommendation (e)

Votes For: 17	CouncillorArtherfold, Atiya-Alla, Batters, Biederman, Derrick, Dewhirst, Fairman, Hackett, Haydon, Hopwood, Knowles. Louden, Macauley, Nellems, Samuel, Sutton, Towill
Votes Against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Did not vote/Absent: 2	Councillors Croad & Heyward

Recommendation (f)

Votes For: 17	Councillors Artherfold, Atiya-Alla, Batters, Biederman, Derrick, Dewhirst, Fairman, Hackett, Haydon, Hopwood, Knowles. Louden, Macauley, Nellems, Samuel, Sutton, Towill
Votes Against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Did not vote/Absent: 2	Councillors Croad & Heyward

(Councillor Croad & Councillor Heyward left the meeting part way through this item and did not vote on the Precept, Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2021/22 – 2024/25. They did not return to the meeting)

Supporting documents: