Councillors and committees

Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Victoria White or Andrew Baird 

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Items
No. Item

14/14

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

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    The Chairman to report apologies for absence.

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    Minutes:

    Apologies were received from Independent Member Anne Hoblyn, Borough Councillor Colin Davis, Assistant Police & Crime Commissioner Shiraz Mirza and Assistant Police & Crime Commissioner Jane Anderson.

     

15/14

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING pdf icon PDF 55 KB

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    To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2014 as a correct record.

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    Minutes:

    The minutes were agreed as an accurate record of the meeting.

     

16/14

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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    To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests from Members of the Panel in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

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    Minutes:

    None received.

17/14

PUBLIC QUESTIONS

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    To receive any public questions.

     

    Note:

    Written questions from the public can be submitted no later than seven days prior to the published date of the annual or any ordinary public meeting, for which the Commissioner will be invited to provide a written response by noon on the day before the meeting, which will be circulated to Panel Members and the questioner.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    None received.

18/14

SURREY POLICE & CRIME COMMISSIONER'S PRECEPT SETTING PROPOSAL FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2015/16 pdf icon PDF 552 KB

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    The Police and Crime Panel is required to consider and formally respond to the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Proposed Precept for 2015/16.

     

    Note:

     

    In accordance with the Police and Crime Panels (Precepts and Chief Constable Appointments) Regulations 2012:

     

    (a) The Commissioner must notify the Panel of his proposed precept by 1 February 2015;

     

    (b) The Panel must review and make a report to the Commissioner on the proposed precept (whether it vetoes the precept or not) by 8 February 2015;

     

    (c) If the Panel vetoes the precept, the Commissioner must have regard to and respond to the Panel’s report, and publish his response, including the revised precept, by 15 February 2015;

     

    (d) The Panel, on receipt of a response from the Commissioner notifying it of his revised precept, must review the revised precept and make a second report to the Commissioner by 22 February 2015 (there is no second right of veto);

     

    (e) The Commissioner must have regard to and respond to the Panel’s second report and publish his/her response by 1 March 2015.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Key points raised during the discussion:

     

    The Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) briefly introduced the report providing Members with the rationale behind his decision to seek an increase in the precept to £215.89 for a Band D property equating to a rise of 1.99% on the 2014/15 precept of £211.68.

     

    ·         The Panel was made aware that market research conducted by the OPCC to assess public support for a referendum there is certainly not enough support among Surrey residents to hold a referendum to raise the precept above the 2% cap. The PCC, however, stressed that he would continue to argue the case for raising the precept above the 2% threshold and may seek a referendum in the future if research suggested support among the Surrey public for his proposal. The Panel endorsed the PCC’s decision not to pursue a referendum in setting the precept for 2015/16 and suggested that any future proposals to hold a referendum should be accompanied by a detailed business case which includes the costs incurred by holding a referendum.

     

    ·         Panel members suggested that the PCC focus his attention on securing fairer funding from central government by highlighting the need for a review of the police funding formula. The PCC gave details of efforts made to implore the Home Office to rethink the outdated formula which includes drawing the Home Secretary’s attention to independent research demonstrating that the force is under-funded by central government to the tune of £6 million annually. The Panel was further advised that attempts have been made to garner support on the issue from Surrey MPs but that these approaches have gained little traction.  Panel members committed to stand in support of the PCC’s efforts to secure fairer funding for Surrey Police by making contact with the Home Secretary and lend the Panel’s collective voice to the call for an urgent review of the police funding formula

     

    ·         Concern was expressed that Woking residents have not been afforded the opportunity to articulate their views on the precept proposals put forward by the PCC and asked why Woking’s Police & Crime Summit is not taking place until March. The Panel was informed that the schedule for each summit is contingent on the availability of officers and Members in the district and boroughs and that ideally all of the summits would have taken place before the PCC was required to submit his proposal for the precept rate. It was stressed, however, that the summits were just one of many methods used to gauge public support on the issue and that Woking residents were given the opportunity to make their views on the subject known through the wide-range of market research conducted.

     

    ·         Panel members noted that the precept increase required to maintain current levels of service is 12% and enquired about the additional savings which have been earmarked to meet the budget gap created by a 1.99% precept increase. The deficit was confirmed at £6.9 million for 2015/16 excluding inflation and any money lost through top-slicing. The PCC drew  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18/14

19/14

POLICE AND CRIME PLAN UPDATE pdf icon PDF 116 KB

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    To consider the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposed update to the Police and Crime Plan.

     

    Note:

     

    In accordance with the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act

    (2011), before issuing or varying a Police and Crime Plan, a Police and

    Crime Commissioner must:

     

    (a) Prepare a draft of the plan or variation;

    (b) Consult the relevant chief constable in preparing the draft plan or

    variation;

    (c) Send the draft plan or variation to the relevant police and crime

    panel;

    (d) Have regard to any report or recommendations made by the panel

    in relation to the draft plan or variation;

    (e) Give the panel a response to any such report or recommendations;

    (f) Publish any such response.

     

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Key points raised during the discussion:

     

    A brief introduction to the report was provided by the PCC who indicated that some limited updates to the Police and Crime Plan are proposed around additional areas of focus which have been included in response to feedback from the public and in consultation with the Chief Constable.

     

    ·         Further information was sought by the Panel on the effectiveness of local policing boards. The PCC conceded that local policing boards have not yet proven to be as effective as they could be, but that a new mechanism of receiving feedback from the boards was in the process of being implemented to help inform the strategic direction of the police.

     

    ·         Particular concern was expressed by Panel members regarding the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), who inquired about the steps being taken by police to protect women in Surrey from FGM. The PCC highlighted that he shared the Panel’s anxieties about the proliferation of FGM and that the police are working closely with partners to tackle views that give rise to this practice. Training is also being given to police officers to give them the tools to deal with FGM cases.

     

    ·         Panel members raised the online crime reporting project being piloted by Surrey Police suggesting that it discriminates against those who don’t own a computer or have access to the internet. The PCC advised the Panel that the 101 phone service will remain operational and that online crime reporting may actually aid the 101 service due to a reduction in the volume of calls being made.

     

    ·         The Panel enquired about the possibility of Surrey Police capitalising on the proliferation of ‘go-pro’ cameras being worn by drivers and cyclists that are capturing incidents of dangerous driving. The Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner (DPCC) confirmed that the DriveSmart board is in the process of exploring mechanisms through which these cameras can help improve safety on Surrey’s roads by giving greater bite to efforts by the police to take action against dangerous driving in the county. The DPCC further highlighted that the OPCC has allocated an additional £40,000 worth of funding to the ‘Safe Drive Stay Alive’ programme to improve community awareness around the potential implications of dangerous driving. A report will be distributed to the Panel indicating decisions made by the Drivesmart board in regard to how footage from public operated cameras can be used by the police.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    None

     

     

     

     

     

     

    RECOMMENDATIONS:

     

           That the Police and Crime Panel comment on the draft Surrey Police and Crime Plan Update for 2015.

           To note the support for ‘Safe Drive Stay Alive’ from the OPCC and to suggest that it be explored to be extended to adults in future.

     

    ACTIONS/ FURTHER INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED:

     

           That the OPCC distribute to the Panel a report indicating decisions made by the Drivesmart board in regard to how footage from public operated cameras can be used by the police.

    PANEL NEXT STEPS:

     

    None

     

20/14

DEPUTY AND ASSISTANT POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONERS' OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE REVIEW pdf icon PDF 97 KB

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    The report sets out details of work that Jeff Harris, Shiraz Mirza and Jane Anderson have been undertaking and the outcomes they have achieved since the meeting of the Police and Crime Panel on 12 December 2014.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Key points raised during the discussion:

     

    ·         The DPCC provided the Panel with a brief update on some of the work he has been doing since the last meeting (12 December 2014) and indicated that he had undertaken extensive work with the Amber Foundation which protects and provides opportunities for vulnerable children in Surrey. A short summary was also given regarding the DPCC’s efforts to extend the Junior Citizens programme to all of the Districts and Boroughs in the County. Panel members were asked to promote the programme amongst their colleagues on local councils to help ensure it is rolled out county-wide.

     

    ·         The Panel picked up on some of the work being conducted by Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner (APCC) Jane Anderson and asked whether workshops for victims of domestic abuse taken place as indicated at the meeting of the Panel on 12 December 2014. Speaking on behalf of the APCC, the Acting Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Panel confirmed that these workshops have indeed taken place and that a report would be compiled and submitted to the Panel.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.    To note the report.

    RECOMMENDATIONS:

     

    None

     

    ACTIONS/ FURTHER INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED:

     

    That the OPCC compile information about the domestic abuse workshops for circulation to the Panel.

     

    PANEL NEXT STEPS:

     

    None

     

21/14

COMPLAINTS RECEIVED SINCE THE LAST MEETING pdf icon PDF 67 KB

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    To note complaints against the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner received since the last meeting of the Police and Crime Panel.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Key points raised during the discussion:

     

    None

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.    To note the report.

    RECOMMENDATIONS:

     

    None

     

    ACTIONS/ FURTHER INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED:

     

    None

     

    PANEL NEXT STEPS:

     

    None

     

22/14

RECOMMENDATIONS TRACKER AND FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME pdf icon PDF 141 KB

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    To review the Recommendations Tracker and Forward Work Programme.

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    Minutes:

    Key points raised during the discussion:

     

    None

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.    To note the report.

    RECOMMENDATIONS:

     

    None

     

    ACTIONS/ FURTHER INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED:

     

    None

     

    PANEL NEXT STEPS:

     

    None

     

23/14

VERBAL UPDATE ON ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS INCLUDING DEEPCUT

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    Verbal strategic update on ongoing investigations including Deepcut.

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    Minutes:

    Key points raised during the discussion:

     

    The PCC advised the Panel that the Coroner is continuing the inquiry into the events at Deepcut barracks and that £1 million from the Surrey Police reserve fund has been made available to support this inquiry.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    None

     

    RECOMMENDATIONS:

     

    None

     

    ACTIONS/ FURTHER INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED:

     

    None

     

    PANEL NEXT STEPS:

     

    None

     

24/14

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

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    The next meeting of the Police and Crime Panel will be held on Tuesday 21 April at 10.30 am.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    It was noted that the next meeting of the Police and Crime Panel would be on 21 April 2015.