Councillors and committees

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2DN

Contact: Angela Guest 

Media

Items
No. Item

1/19

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

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    The Chairman to report apologies for absence.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Apologies were received from Councillors Margaret Cooksey, Ken Harwood, Pat Frost and Mr David Fitzpatrick-Grimes.

     

    The Vice-Chairman was in the Chair.

2/19

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING pdf icon PDF 104 KB

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    To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2018 as a correct record.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    The Minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2018 were approved as a correct record.

3/19

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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    All Members present are required to declare, at this point in the meeting or as soon as possible thereafter

    (i)            Any disclosable pecuniary interests and / or

    (ii)           Other interests arising under the Code of Conduct in respect of any item(s) of business being considered at this meeting

    NOTES:

    ·         Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest

    ·         As well as an interest of the Member, this includes any interest, of which the Member is aware, that relates to the Member’s spouse or civil partner (or any person with whom the Member is living as a spouse or civil partner)

    ·         Members with a significant personal interest may participate in the discussion and vote on that matter unless that interest could be reasonably regarded as prejudicial.

     

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    There were none.

4/19

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:

    There was one public question from Mr King.  This and the response were:

     

    Will the PCP please request to PCC Munro that he resigns his post with immediate effect?

     

    Response:

    The Commissioner is an elected representative and the Police & Crime Panel does not have the power to request or enforce a resignation. 

     

5/19

POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER'S PROPOSED PRECEPT FOR 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 397 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 2019/20. The purpose of this item is to allow the Commissioner to outline his proposals in more detail and to answer any questions that Panel Members might have.

     

    Following consideration of the Commissioner’s proposed precept, the Panel must either:

     

    a)     agree the precept without qualification or comment;

    b)     support the precept and make comments or recommendations concerning the application of the revenues generated; or

    c)     veto the proposed precept.

     

    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 2019;

     

      (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 2019;

     

      (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 2019;

     

      (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 2019 (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 response by 1 March 2019.

     

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Key points raised during discussion:

     

    1. The Commissioner presented his report to the Panel and stated that the precept would be set at the maximum increase permitted without a referendum. The precept would amount to a £24 increase for Band D homes.  There had been an unprecedented response to the consultation of just under 7,000.  75% of those that responded supported the increase. The increase would mean an extra 100 police officers or operational staff would be recruited.
    2. The Commissioner spoke of the short term cost of moving Surrey Police HQ to the centre of the county but explained that this would mean major efficiencies in the medium and long term.
    3. The Commissioner also spoke of the re-evaluation of officers pensions which he had argued should be paid out of central taxation.  The Government had provided some cushion for the increase this year, but next year the Commissioner would have to fight again.
    4. The Panel raised several queries and the Commissioner responded:

    a)    that Specials had the same powers as the police and received proper training and management.  PCSO’s are not trained in the same way as Specials as PCSO’s only do what they are legally allowed to do within the powers delegated to them by the Chief Constable

    b)    that audit services were procured externally every five years and not provided in-house.  He thought that the fees were reasonable given the complicated nature and size of the budget.  It was also explained that costs for internal audit had reduced from last year as it was now an internal provider from a Hampshire local authority.

    c)    the 100 extra officers would include PCSO’s and would mean a doubling of numbers on neighbourhood teams.

    d)    He did not expect to have any problems with recruitment

    e)    IT improvements would cover all areas both frontline and backroom

    5.    There was some discussion around police cars being parked up at stations and seemingly going nowhere, especially at weekends.  The police would be asked for an explanation, but the PCC explained that this reflected the fact that officers worked shift patterns.

    6.    There was much discussion around CCTV and the Panel asked for detail around the investment to support CCTV.  The Commissioner explained that there was to be a major review of CCTV including new technology to obtain digital evidence.  He noted that in Sussex, all areas were covered by one central control room, based at Police HQ.  He would like to see Surrey local authorities adopt a similar model.  The Commissioner noted the CCTV issues raised regarding Guildford not having the manpower to cover it.

    7.    The Finance Officer explained that the police officer pension scheme was unfunded and that the Government has asked the government actuary to consider what employers should be paying if the scheme was a funded scheme.  This was an unexpected additional burden on police budgets and the Commissioner had fought for the extra cost to be paid by the Government. 

    8.    The Panel asked for a detailed quantitative report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5/19

6/19

OFFICE OF THE POLICE & CRIME COMMISSIONER'S BUDGET FOR 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 296 KB

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    The Panel are asked to note the report.

     

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Key points raised during discussion:

     

    The Panel received a report for information on the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner budget for the financial year 2019/20.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    The Panel noted the report.

     

    Actions/Further information to be provided:

     

    None.

     

7/19

BUDGET UPDATE pdf icon PDF 512 KB

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    The Police & Crime Panel is invited to note and comment on the financial performance of the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner for Surrey as at Month 8 for the Financial Year 2018/19.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Key points raised during discussion:

     

    1.    The Panel considered a report that detailed the financial position as at 30 November 2018 of the Surrey Police Group. 

    2.    A Member asked if the Commissioner had considered self-insurance with regard to insurance of vehicles.  The Commissioner stated that this had been considered but that the method chosen was the most cost effective.

    3.    A Member asked about overspend and underspend in the areas of specialist crime and local areas to which the Commissioner responded that this was a bookkeeping issue.

    4.    There was discussion around mobile data terminal refresh for which there appeared to be no budget.  The Finance Officer explained that money had been transferred and the Commissioner reiterated the need for the capital budget to be moved more flexibly.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    The Panel noted the report.

     

    Actions/Further information to be provided:

     

    None.

     

8/19

RECRUITMENT OF CHIEF CONSTABLE pdf icon PDF 151 KB

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    The Chief Constable of Surrey Police, Nick Ephgrave, left the Force on 18 January 2019.  This report sets out details of the recruitment process and likely timescales.

     

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Key points raised during discussion:

     

    The Panel received a report that set out details of the recruitment process and likely timescales for the post of Chief Constable.  The Panel would need to confirm the appointment.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    To note the report.

     

    Actions/Further information to be provided:

     

    That a Panel meeting be arranged for the confirmation of the appointment of Chief Constable.

     

9/19

FEEDBACK ON PERFORMANCE MEETINGS pdf icon PDF 140 KB

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    This report provides an update on the meetings that have been held between the Police & Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable and what has been discussed in order to demonstrate that arrangements for good governance and scrutiny are in place.   

     

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Key points raised during discussion:

     

    The Panel received a report on management meetings between the Commissioner and Chief Constable.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    To note the report.

     

    Actions/Further information to be provided:

     

    None.

10/19

COMMISSIONER'S QUESTION TIME pdf icon PDF 69 KB

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

     

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Key points raised during discussion:

     

    1.    Several questions had been previously submitted by Cllr Reeve.  These and the responses are attached as Annex A.  The Member explained that his concern regarding the weight of the armour was more about deployment than health & safety in that the vehicles used could not carry all of the equipment.  The Commissioner responded that he was satisfied that the police were looking at that.

    2.    The Panel requested the Commissioner’s comments on an article on the Get Surrey website regarding closure of cases within 24 hours.  The Commissioner responded that he had provided a report to the last meeting of the Panel explaining the number of cases closed and why they were closed.

    3.    A Member referred to the Her Majesty’s Inspectorate report on Surrey Fire & Rescue Services that were noted as inadequate and asked the Commissioner if the details were known to him before he made the decision not to take on the governance.  The Commissioner responded that there was no hard evidence available at the time of his decision but anecdotal evidence was not good.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    To thank the Commissioner for his responses to questions.

     

    Actions/Further information to be provided:

     

    None.

11/19

COMPLAINTS RECEIVED SINCE THE LAST MEETING pdf icon PDF 65 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 discussion:

     

    The Chairman explained that the outstanding complaint PCP0032 was to be heard that afternoon.

     

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    The report was noted.

     

    Actions/Further information to be provided:

     

    Outcome of this afternoon’s Complaints Sub-Committee to be reported to the next meeting of the Panel.

12/19

RECOMMENDATIONS TRACKER AND FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME pdf icon PDF 59 KB

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    To review the Recommendations Tracker and Forward Work Programme.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Key points raised during discussion:

     

    Members expressed their disappointment to the Commissioner that they did not receive a public copy of the Chief Constable’s presentation and asked him to push for it. 

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the Forward Plan and Tracker be noted.

     

    Actions/Further information to be provided:

     

    The Commissioner would make enquiries about the Chief Constable’s presentation and ask the new Chief Constable for a presentation on their priorities.

     

13/19

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

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    To note that the next scheduled meeting will take place on 11 April 2019.

     

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    It was noted that the provisional meeting arranged for 18 February would now be cancelled as the PCC Precept had been accepted.  *Therefore the next meeting would be held on Thursday 11 April 2019.

     

    *subsequent to the meeting this date was changed to Friday 5th April in order to accommodate the confirmation of the new Chief Constable.