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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, Lewes. View directions

Contact: Ninesh Edwards, Senior Adviser, Democratic Services  West Sussex County Council (033 022 22542)

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Items
No. Item

38.

Declarations of Interest

Members and officers must declare any pecuniary or personal interest in any business on the agenda. They should also make declarations at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting. Consideration should be given to leaving the meeting if the nature of the interest warrants it. If in doubt contact Democratic Services, West Sussex County Council before the meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

38.  In accordance with the code of conduct members of the Panel Declared the personal interests contained in the table below.

 

Panel Member

Personal Interest

Brad Watson

Member of Horsham Safety Partnership

Dave Simmons

Chairman of Safer Communities Partnership, Adur and Worthing

 

Vice-Chairman of Safer West Sussex Partnership

Bill Bentley

Chairman of East Sussex Safer Community Board

 

Member of the LGA Safer and Stronger Communities Board.

 

LGA National Member Champion for domestic violence issues.

Emma Daniel

Member of Brighton and Hove Safe in the City Partnership Board

Eileen Lintill

Member of Chichester Community Safety Partnership

Tony Nicholson

Chairman of Lewes Community Safety Partnership

Michael Jones

Chairman of Safer Crawley Partnership

Kate Rowbottom

Chairman of the Community Safety Partnership at Horsham

Warren Davies

Chairman of the Safer Community Partnership at Hastings

Lee Wares

Applicant to funding provided by the Commission on behalf of a Local Action Team

Norman Webester

Member of Mid Sussex Partnership

Alan Shuttleworth

Chair of Eastbourne Community Safety Partnership

Kevin Jenkins

Member of Adur and Worthing Safer Communities Partnership

Susan Schofield

Magistrate

Len Brown

Member of Safer Arun Partnership

 

39.

Welcome

To welcome members of the panel and of the public

Additional documents:

Minutes:

39.     The Chairman welcomed the Police and Crime Commissioner and the High Sheriff of West Sussex to the meeting.

40.

Minutes of previous meeting 4 July 2016 pdf icon PDF 58 KB

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting on 4 July 2016

Additional documents:

Minutes:

40.   The Panel asked for clarification on the date for the Commissioner’s business case for the potential changes to the fire and rescue service. The Commissioner advised that this would be around the end of December 2016/beginning January 2017.

 

41.   Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the Sussex Police and Crime

Panel held on 4 July 2016 be confirmed as a correct record.

41.

Appointment of Chief Finance Officer pdf icon PDF 44 KB

To note the correspondence confirming the appointment of Iain McColloch as the Chief Finance Officer of the Officer of the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

42.   The Panel noted the response from the Police and Crime Commissioner that

confirmed the appointment of Iain McColloch as the Chief Finance Officer of the

Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

42.

Annual Report pdf icon PDF 657 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

43. The Panel noted the response from the Police and Crime Commissioner to the

Panel’s comments on the Annual Report discussed at the previous meeting of the

Panel.

43.

Working Group Update

The Panel will receive a verbal update on the Police and Crime Plan Working Group. The Panel should consider the update and identify any issues the WG needs to address in its work. The Panel met on 31 August 2016, and plan to meet again in early December.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

44. The Panel received a verbal update on the Police and Crime Plan Working

Group. The Chairman advised that the group met in August 2016, and had

received a presentation from officers on the Police and Crime Plan. He added that

the group would be meeting again in December 2016 and would continue to keep

the rest of the Panel up to date

44.

Medium Term Financial Forecast and Budget Timetable 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 271 KB

The attached report sets out the medium term financial forecast and budget timetable for 2017/18, including planning assumptions for precept income, and will be introduced by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

45. The Panel considered the Report by the Police and Crime Commissioner

which set out the latest budget planning assumptions for the financial year

2017/18. It also contained the Medium Term Financial Forecast (MTFF) covering the period up to 2021.

 

46. The Head of Finance (Sussex Police) took the Panel through the Report. He

advised that this report set out the position statement and timetable for the

OSPCC. He added that a review was currently being undertaken in relation to the

police grant formula, and that Sussex Police would ensure they took a full part in

the consultation. He further added that the accounts had now been formally

approved. These accounts assumed no precept increase as yet, and set out the

budget savings that were required.

 

47. The Panel raised the following issues and questions of the Commissioner:

 

• A question was raised about the cost of asset management. The Head of

Finance confirmed that there was currently a review being undertaken of

asset management, and the report would be updated consequently if

changes needed to be made.

 

• The Panel raised concerns that, although it had been promised that

neighbourhood policing was a priority, a significant amount of the budget had

been cut from this area as part of the wider savings that needed to be made.

The Commissioner explained that the local neighbourhood policing model had

not been reviewed for some time. Savings did need to be made, and changes

in the nature and types of crimes being committed needed to be addressed.

She assured the Panel that local neighbourhood policing was still a priority,

and she would continue to scrutinise the Chief Constable on the new model,

and would continue to listen to stakeholders and members of the public on

this issue.

 

• A question was asked in terms of street drinking in Hastings. The

Commissioner was happy to talk further on this issue outside of the meeting,

and advised that the member in question may wish to see if the recent local

alcohol action area’s pilot could be extended.

 

• The Panel asked for the level of cuts to PCSOs. The Commissioner confirmed

that there had been a reduction of around 60 PCSO roles.

 

• In relation to the financial provisional, as set out page 26 of the agenda, the

Panel asked for a breakdown of these costs. The Head of Finance agreed to

provide a breakdown to the Panel.

 

• Regarding the level of reserves currently set at 4.3%, the Panel asked if this

was being reviewed. The Commissioner advised that the lower limit had been

set at 4%, providing flexibility for unforeseen circumstances.

 

• The Panel asked if the interim forecast was looking accurate, in terms of the

original budget. The Head of Finance confirmed that they anticipated a

balanced budget and agreed to provide a line on this issue in further reports.

 

• The Panel asked when the Commissioner would have further information on

the possible changes to the police grant formula. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

45.

Development of Police and Crime Plan 2017-21 pdf icon PDF 176 KB

To discuss development of the Police and Crime Plan and pass any comments to the Working Group to address.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

49. The Panel considered the Report by the Police and Crime Commissioner

which set out the Police and Crime Plan 2017-21.

50. The Chief Executive of the OSPCC took the Panel through the Report. He

explained that the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) had a statutory duty

to set the police and crime objectives for their area through a Police & Crime Plan.

The prescribed content of the Plan was set out in Chapter 3 – Section 7(1) of the

Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (PRSRA).

51. The current Plan was approved by the Sussex Police & Crime Panel on 11

January 2013 and had been refreshed annually in accordance with Section 5(9)

PRSRA. This Plan also remained valid until 31 March 2017.

Unconfirmed minutes – subject to amendment/confirmation at the next meeting of

the Police and Crime Panel

52. Work on the Police & Crime Plan 2017/21 had begun and would include

shaping, developing and designing community safety priorities which reflected

accurately the expectations of the public. The Plan was intended to cover the

(second) four-year term of office of the PCC and would again be refreshed annually.

He added that a reference group had been set up, which would meet before the

Panel’s working group.

53. The Panel raised the following issues and questions of the Commissioner:

• The Chief Executive Officer confirmed that he would circulate the

presentation given to the Working Group to all Panel members.

• The Panel asked if the objectives were unique to Sussex. The Commissioner

confirmed that they were, as they were part of her manifesto, informed from

talking to local residents. She advised the Panel on what the objectives

covered.

• The Panel raised concerns regarding the objective “Strengthening local

policing”, as residents may feel that changes to the neighbourhood policing

model contradicted this statement, since it sounded as though this meant

more local policing. The Commissioner advised that she would ensure that

stakeholders and the public understood the term.

• The Panel questioned recent concerns highlighted by the Youth

Commissioner, specifically young people being victims rather than

perpetrators of crime. The Commissioner advised that Sussex Police

continued to work with young people in this area.

• The Panel asked whether more information could be put into the Plan. The

Commissioner reminded the Panel that this was a strategic document and

that it was for the Chief Constable to ensure its delivery.

• The Commissioner confirmed that “access to justice” meant ensuring new

technologies were embraced to help officers and victims of crime access

courts and the justice system more easily.

• The Panel were concerned that the reduction in neighbourhood policing would

impact on the elderly population, and that while credit card fraud was

typically addressed by the credit card companies, this was not the case for

the banking industry in respect of bank fraud. The Commissioner explained

that fraud covered a multitude of issues.

• Concerning the precept, the Commissioner advised that the Chief Constable

would need to show a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

46.

Work Programme 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 21 KB

To note the Police and Crime Panel Work Programme 2016/17

Additional documents:

Minutes:

55. The Panel considered the Work Plan of the Panel for 2016/17 (copy appended

to the signed minutes). The Chairman invited the Panel to make any comments on

the topics highlighted in the Work Programme and make suggestions on any further

topics that should be considered by the Panel.

Unconfirmed minutes – subject to amendment/confirmation at the next meeting of

the Police and Crime Panel

 

56. The Panel advised that scrutiny of any proposed changes to responsibility for

fire and rescue services should be added to the work programme.

 

57. Resolved – That the Panel agreed the Work Plan.

47.

Quarterly Report of Complaints pdf icon PDF 43 KB

The Panel is asked to consider the report of any complaints received since the previous meeting in July 2016 and the initial handling of complaints by the Monitoring Officer. The report also provides progress on those complains previously reported to the Police and Crime Panel.

 

4 correspondents have contacted the Panel since its last meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

58. The Panel received and noted a report providing an update on complaints

received in the last quarter.

48.

Written Questions pdf icon PDF 41 KB

Written questions may be submitted by members of the public up to two weeks in advance of a meeting for which the Panel Chairman and Commissioner will be invited to provide a response by noon of the day before the meeting.

 

There has been one written question received prior to this meeting of the Panel. The questions to the Commissioner and the responses provided are attached for the Panel to note.

 

Please can Members ensure that any supplementary questions relate to the subject matter of the written question.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

59. The Panel received and noted the schedule of written questions submitted

prior to the meeting and the responses from the Commissioner’s Office (copy

appended to the signed copy of the minutes).

60. The Commissioner advised that, regarding the issue of street drinking in

Hastings and other towns in the county, a multi-agency approach was being

undertaken to address this issue, and that Sussex was not alone in this issue.

49.

Commissioner's Question Time

The Panel is asked to raise any issues or queries concerning crime and policing in Sussex with the Commissioner.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

61. The Panel raised the following issues and questions of the Commissioner:

• The Panel asked whether the Commissioner could provide further information

relating to performance measures and data that she used in order to

evidence the Chief Constable’s successful delivery of the Neighbourhood

Policing Model. The Commissioner advised that she used various data

sources, including police systems as well as HM Inspection data and regular

public and stakeholder meetings. She added that the Chief Constable was

undertaking the new neighbourhood policing review, and that she was happy

for the Panel to look at the performance measures that were being used.

• The Panel asked if the Commissioner was confident that adequate resources

were in place for Lewes Bonfire, as this year’s event was on a Saturday

therefore higher turnout figures were expected. The Commissioner confirmed

that she was confident the Chief Constable had the required resources in

place, and she always ensured that she scrutinised the event afterwards.

• The Panel asked if it could be involved in the design of the review of the new

Neighbourhood Policing Model. The Commissioner advised that she would

ensure that the Chief Constable heard the Panel’s concerns, and that any

specific questions the Panel had could be sent to her.

• The Panel raised concern over the correct recording of crime, and indicated

that Sussex Police should be aiming for a figure of 100%. The Commissioner

explained that 100% was hard to achieve, and that a recent inspection had

raised the Police’s result from 82% to 95% which was a great achievement.

• The Panel asked for the Commissioner to assure members that Sussex Police

did not have cases of sexism in the workplace as some other police forces.

The Commissioner gave that assurance.

• The Panel asked what work was being undertaken to ensure the recruitment,

and career opportunities were there for women and BME communities within

Sussex Police. The Commissioner advised that she sat on the board of the

College of Policing, where work was being undertaken in this area and she

held regular governance meetings to address this topic. She added that a

Unconfirmed minutes – subject to amendment/confirmation at the next meeting of

the Police and Crime Panel

new campaign would be starting in October in order to recruit more police

officers from BME communities.

• The Panel asked for the timescales in relation to the police restructure

concerning police constables and sergeants. The Commissioner confirmed

that as this was an operational question she would get a response outside of

this meeting.

• The Panel asked a question concerning the commissioning of victim services.

The Commissioner explained that she would continue to help fund projects

for victims, and to secure further funding.

• The Panel asked the Commissioner for an update on the 101 service,

specifically any access problems and performance measures that were

available. The Commissioner advised that progress was varied, and that

perhaps the target that had been set was too high. She reminded the Panel  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

50.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Police and Crime Panel will take place on Friday 20 January 2017 at County Hall, Lewes.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

62. The next meeting date of 20 January 2017 was noted.

The meeting ended at 1.55p.m.