Agenda and minutes

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.

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

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting on 10 October 2014

105.      The Panel noted the following corrections to the minutes; Andy Smith, Lewes District Council had been omitted from the list of attendees at the previous meeting and Brain Donnelly, Horsham District Council had been incorrectly listed as a member of Lewes District Council.

106.      Resolved – That subject to the corrections above the minutes of the meeting of the Sussex Police and Crime Panel held 10 October 2014 be confirmed as a correct record.

Items not on the agenda which the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent matters.

107.        The Panel received a report from the Office of the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (OSPCC) which provided details of the draft budget for 2015/16. Carl Rushbridge, Chief Finance Officer of the OSPCC introduced the report and advised the Panel of the current financial position which took account of the provisional finance settlement. The final settlement would be known in March and at this time final assurances on the budget could be provided. The report set out the level of spending and savings required; £57million worth of savings were required over the next four years. Sussex Police operated a star chamber programme in relation to realising savings, heads of department were tasked with identifying savings from across the budget as a whole.

108.        The Panel raised the points below in the discussion that followed:

·         The use of the term savings and if the term reductions could be employed in respect of the budget.

·         The salary of the Commissioner in light of the average wages of local residents. It was acknowledged that the Commissioner’s salary of £85,000 was a good salary and it was highlighted that the Commissioner did not claim expenses or allowances in order to reduce the cost of her position.

·         The collaboration between Surrey and Sussex forces and the differences in the financial position of the two forces was noted. The Panel asked if, in light of the distinction between Surrey and Sussex, if consideration of cooperation extended to other local forces including Hampshire and Kent. Confirmation of the split in resources and investment in collaboration between Surrey and Sussex Forces was requested. The Sussex force was involved in a regional group of local Forces including Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and Thames Valley which considered forms of cooperation between the Forces. The Commissioner explained that there were no constraints on collaboration with Surrey. The areas of collaboration between Sussex and Surrey, contained in the report, were outlined and it was explained that £5million in savings would be achieved through the arrangements with Surrey. The split between Surrey and Sussex Forces was 45/55 respectively.

·         The significant investment committed to the replacement of the current Airwaves System. The new system was a national contract that was led by the Home Office in a project that would run until 2019. It was recognised that the new system would produce savings but that transition costs may be significant which may not be reflected in funding received from the Treasury.

·         The Panel queried the Red/Amber/Green system to monitor the achievement of savings initiatives. Projects with a green rating were achievable, those with a red or amber rating required contingencies or alternative projects to introduce if the original savings proposal proved unfeasible.

·         The Sussex Target Operating Model (TOM) was referred to and when the Panel would be provided with a detailed briefing on the initiative. The TOM would be addressed by the Future Model of Policing Working Group that would be formed by members of the Panel.

·         The cost of the OSPCC was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

114.     The Panel received a report from the Clerk to the Panel which provided information on the work and outcomes of the Police and Crime Plan Working Group that had met in September and November 2014 to consider the draft refreshed Police and Crime Plan and the Budget.

115.      Resolved – That the Panel notes the report.

Police and Crime Plan Refresh and Update

116.      The Panel received a report from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner which provided the draft Police and Crime Plan, as updated ahead of 2015/16 and received a ‘to follow’ report to provide the terms of reference of the Police and Crime Plan Working Group. The revised Plan was introduced by Mark Streater who informed the Panel of the incorporation of a number of recommendations from the Working Group and the timetable for the publication of the new version of the Plan which would contain reference to the new Target Operating Model.

117.      The Panel requested that where the Plan mentioned consultation with local councils it should refer to District, Borough, Parish and Town Councils. It was felt that the sentence referring to the ned to treat victims according to their individual needs under the Public Confidence element of the Plan should be highlighted.

118.      Resolved – That the Panel agrees the Police and Crime Plan refresh and update for 2015/16 and agrees that the Chairman of the Panel writes to the Commissioner to outline the comments of the Panel.

119.    The Panel received and noted a verbal update from the Commissioner regarding the Commissioning of services for victims of crime. Following the tendering exercise the contract for the running of services for the victims of crime had been awarded to Victim Support.

120.        The Panel received and noted a verbal update from Mr Streater regarding HMIC’s investigation of the accuracy of crime data reporting at Sussex Police. The initial findings had indicated 83% compliance with the national recording of crimes standards. It has been determined that the errors associated with recording standards were the result of administrative errors and lack of training and did not show that the misreporting of crimes was intentional. Measures had been put in place since the publication of the report and as a consequence the accuracy of reporting had risen to 97%.

121.       Mr Ungar left the meeting at 12:01 and returned at 12:05.

122.     The Panel considered a report by the Clerk to the Panel which presented a proposal to establish a working group to consider plans relating to the Sussex Target Operating Model plans. Members of the Panel were asked to agree the terms of reference of the Group and the membership.

123.      It was suggested that the membership of the Working Group drawn from local District and Borough Councils should reflect the urban/rural divide in Sussex. A representative of Adur District Council had volunteered for the Working Group therefore a member of a rural District Council was sought to sit on the group.

124.      Resolved – that the Panel agrees the terms of reference of the Future of Policing Working Group and agrees the following membership:

·         Chairman of the Panel – Brad Watson

·         Vice Chairman of the Panel – Bill Bentley

·         An independent member – Sandra Prail (Graham Hill) as substitute

·         A District Councillor from East Sussex  - Claire Dowling

·         A District Councillor from West Sussex – David Simmons

·         A member of Brighton and Hove CC - TBC

125.       The Panel received and notes a report providing an update on complaints received in the last quarter and progress made on live complaints. No new complaints received by the Panel over the last quarter pertained to issues within the remit of the Panel.

126.    It was noted that the Chief Constable had received the Queen’s Police Medal and the congratulations of the Panel were offered on this honour.

127.     A member of the Panel asked the Commissioner about work with local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) relating to mental health initiatives and programmes. A good example of joint working existed in Hastings between the Police and the Hastings and Rother CCG. The Commissioner explained that work was on-going between the Police and CCGs and an update could be provided following the meeting.

128.     The Commissioner was asked about distinguishing local area police forces particularly when representatives of other forces were operating outside the boarder of their forces area. Policing needed to be flexible in order to respond to local demands. Crime was conduced across borders and therefore it was likely that local residents would occasionally see police from other forces operating in Sussex.

129.      The Commissioner was asked about the establishment of an Elder Commission. The Commissioner explained that there were plans for the establishment of an Elder Commission and that any local residents interested in joining the Commission should contact her office.

130.     Angharad Davies left the meeting at 12:30 PM.

131.    The Commissioner was asasked about the consultation that would be undertaken during the development of the Sussex Target Operating Model plans to address local concerns about changes to policing. The importance of effective communication with the public regarding the changes was emphasised by the Panel. The Commissioner explained that all partnerships would be consulted and that plans were being drawn-up relating to consultation and communication.

132.    Andy Smith left the meeting of 12.34PM, Rosalyn St Pierre left the meeting at 12:39PM.

133.    The Panel highlighted the concern of Parish Councils to any prospective loss of PCSO’s.

The meeting ended at 12:40PM.

Chairman