Agenda item

The Police and Crime Commissioner will update the Panel on the proposed precept and draft budget for 2016/17. The Panel is asked to consider the proposed precept of 3.4% and make recommendations.

Under Schedule 5 of The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 the Panel is responsible for reviewing the Commissioner’s proposed precept and making reports and recommendations. If the Panel does not accept the proposed precept the power of veto is provided under this Schedule. The power of veto can only be exercised with a two thirds majority, at least, of the current Panel membership, i.e. 14 members or more, voting in favour of a veto.

In the event of a veto the Commissioner must produce a revised precept by 15 February. A provisional meeting date of Thursday 18 February 2016 has been arranged for the Panel to meet to consider a revised precept and make reports to the Commissioner if required. The Panel does not have the power of veto over the revised precept.

Precept Option 2016/17

63.    The Panelconsidereda report fromthe Police and Crime Commissioner concerning the proposed precept(copyappended to the signedversionof the minutes).The precept represented an increase of £5 a yearon aBandD property which was within thethreshold that wouldtrigger the requirement for a referendum.A publicconsultationexercisehad been undertakenon the proposed precept andover two thirds of respondents hadsupported the increase.

64.    The Panelraised the followingissues duringthe discussion:

•  Theincreases in the reportingof childabuse,rape and domesticabuse raised the need for anincrease in the provisionof refuges.It was questionedifsuch priorities were assessed againstcounter-terrorismwhichcouldbe seen as a distraction to localpolicingpriorities.Counter-terrorism was funded nationally,£30million had been allocated as a transformation fund in the AutumnStatement tofundcounter-terrorism howeverclarityover these arrangements was requiredanda reportwas expected which would provide greater detailon funding.SussexPolice was responsible for armedofficers at Gatwick Airport.The proposed precept wouldsupport two investment areas; digital forensics andprotecting vulnerable people.

•  Theriskposed byemploymenttribunalcases was raised.There was a risk resulting from a recent rulingon overtime,holidaypay andentitlement; Bear

Scotlandv Fulton.

•  Therewas concern regarding the impacton Neighbourhood Policingof the savings requirements.The Commissionerwas working with theChief Constable to understand the impacton Neighbourhood Policing.

•  It was the perceptionof some members ofthe publicthat the consultation hadinformedlocal residents whereinvestment would be allocated rather thanallowing them aninputin determining fundingof significantlocalissues. Through the consultationexercise local residents had beenoffered the opportunity to makeadditionalcomments includingspecific mentionof local issues.The Commissioner was happy to speak to members of the public unhappy with the consultation arrangements.

•  Theinvestment priorityof protectingvulnerable people was welcomed to help address anincrease inserious sexualcrime anddomestic abuse reporting rates.It was recognised that theincrease in reportingrates

necessitateda greaterlevelof resources dedicated to the investigationof suchcrimes.

•  It was noted that reserves had reduced but assurance was requested that sufficient reserves existed to provide adequate contingency.There was assurance that the levelof reserves was appropriate to meet future

anomalies.

•  The use of performance dataindetermining policies and the operationalplan.

There was a data analystin the OSPCC whohad access to all performance andoperational dataand assessed the relevance of priorities and policies against this information.

•  ThePolicingTogether programme and howthis realise greaterlevels of savings. Work was on-going between the ChiefConstables ofSussexand

Surrey Police to investigate opportunities for greatercollaboration between the two Forces.Hampshire andThames Valley Police were also party to

Unconfirmedminutes –subject to amendment/confirmation at the next meetingof the Police and CrimePanel

discussionsanda recentexample ofcollaboration was the project to introduce Niche across all four areas.

•  ThePanelexpressedconcern regarding the late settlement notification and

theremaininguncertaintythatexisted regarding funding.There was clarity regarding the budgetfor the 2016/17yearwithonlychanges of1 or2 %

expected in the figures in the report.Medium term planning was less clear

with unknownelements including the levelof funding forcounter-terrorism.

•  LocalResidents didnotsupport the reductionof PCSOs anditwas queried how PCSOs couldbe reduced ata time whenAnti-SocialBehaviour was increasing.It was noted that the policyrelated to PCSOs has changed dramaticallysince 2004.There was acurrentconsultationoperatingon the

future of PCSOs andthe ChiefConstable was looking at additional roles and powers.The interestof local residents in PCSOs was understoodand the outcome of the consultationexercise would resultin a decisionon the future

of PCSOs.

•  It was questioned whether the role of theCommissioner was to simply increase the precept bythe maximumallowable amounteveryyear.The

Commissionerexplained thata significantelementof the role of the office

wasto ensure that victim supportserviceswere commissionedto ensure that adequate services existedin the local area for victims of crime. Setting the precept was alarge part of the role but theCommissioner was responsible

forsettingstrategy,holding the ChiefConstable to account,commissioning services and supporting the work ofCSPs.

•  The settlement received for the localareawas relativelypoor and the Commissioner was urged to senda stronger message to government that the area needs a better deal.The Commissionerexplained thatshe had delivered

strong messages to government about the settlement provided.

65.    ColinFitzgerald declareda personalinterest as anemployee ofSolace

Women’s Aid.

66.    The Panelmade the comments belowin the discussion whichcontinued below:

•   Support was expressed for the proposed fundingto supportwork to address

Domestic Abuse.

•   There was concern regarding the levelof savings proposedin the budget and the potentialimpacton localpolicing.PoliceForces were under considerable pressure to deliversavings andSussexPolice had receiveda good rating from HMIC regardingits financial future.Progress with the savings plans would be kept under constant review and assurances would be sought from the ChiefConstable that policingstandardswould be maintained.

67.    MichaelJones leftthe meeting at12.05p.m.and returned at 12.07 p.m.

68.    The Panelnoted the Revenue andCapitalBudget 2016/17.

69.    A motion was proposed andseconded to agree the proposed preceptof

3.4%. The motion was agreed bya majorityof members.

70.    Resolved– that the Panel:

1) notes the draft revenue budget,2016/17;the latestMedium Term

FinancialForecast; the latestsavings schedule to 2019/20; andthe

Unconfirmedminutes –subject to amendment/confirmation at the next meetingof

thePolice andCrimePanel draft capital budget for 2016/17 andcapital and investment programme to 2019/20; and

2) agrees the Commissioner’s proposed preceptof 3.4%.

71.    There was a brief adjournment at 12.08p.m.The meeting reconvened at

12.21 p.m.

72.    TonyNicholson andNormanWebsterleft the meeting at12.08p.m.