Items
No. |
Item |
1/22 |
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
The Chairman to
report apologies for absence.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
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2/22 |
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 24 NOVEMBER 2021 PDF 2 MB
To approve the
minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2021 as a correct
record.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The
minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2021 were agreed as a
true record of the meeting.
|
3/22 |
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
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:
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4/22 |
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
The deadline for public questions is seven
days before the meeting (28 January 2022).
Note:
A written
response will be circulated to Panel Members and the
questioner.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
|
5/22 |
PERFORMANCE MEETINGS PDF 221 KB
This report provides an update on the
performance meetings between the PCC and the Chief Constable that
have been held and what has been discussed in order to demonstrate
that arrangements for good governance and scrutiny are in
place.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Witness:
Lisa Townsend, Police and Crime Commissioner for
Surrey
Key points
raised in the discussion:
- The Police and Crime
Commissioner (PCC) noted that the first public and live broadcast
performance and accountability meeting with the Chief Constable was
held on 31 January 2022, and was available to watch online. The
next public, likely to be scheduled in May, would be held during
the evening to try and generate greater
public engagement. The PCC encouraged Panel Members to watch the
meeting and welcomed any feedback. Private performance meetings
would continue, considering matters including Force finances,
savings, and IT.
- A Panel Member
highlighted the low crime clear-up rate and asked what was
preventing its improvement, and noted a lack of detail in the
report. The PCC explained that the performance meetings were held
to challenge and she would look into adding more detail to future
reports. The Panel Member asked what rate would meet the
Force’s ambition of a top-quartile clear-up rate. The PCC
agreed to provide a response from the Chief Constable following the
meeting. The Chairman noted that the Panel were looking forward to
receiving a refreshed performance dashboard and requested that the
response from the Chief Constable included the steps to be taken to
achieve the target clear-up rate.
- A Panel Member asked
about the Force’s commitment to be carbon-neutral by 2030 and
the likelihood of achieving this. The PCC explained that the Force
had assured her that it could meet this target and brought
attention to the ability to redevelop the Mount Browne site in a
sustainable and carbon-neutral way. The Panel Member queried the
amount of money required to redevelop the site and highlighted that
police stations would need to be evaluated in the same manner and
against the same target. The PCC agreed and explained that the
Building the Future Board and Estates Board oversaw this
work.
- A Panel Member asked
for a timescale for the Force’s planned deep dive into
domestic abuse victim satisfaction and improvement of those levels.
The PCC noted that the topic was covered in the recent performance
and accountability meeting. The PCC did not have a timescale for
the project. A Panel Member shared his concern regarding domestic
abuse victim satisfaction and requested relevant data on the
satisfaction levels in the next performance and accountability
report to the Panel and explanatory wording if the levels did not
improve. The PCC explained that this information was included in
the Force performance report and would be shared with Panel
Members.
RESOLVED:
The
Panel noted and commented on the report.
Actions/further information requested:
- R1/22
– The OPCC to provide a response from the
Chief Constable regarding the target set for the clear-up rate in
percentage terms and actions to be taken to achieve the
target.
- R2/22
– The PCC to write to the Panel with further
information on the Force’s deep dive into domestic abuse
victim satisfaction levels.
- R3/22
– The OPCC to share the January 2022
Performance report with the Panel.
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6/22 |
PCC FORWARD PLAN AND KEY DECISIONS PDF 320 KB
This report provides information on the key
decisions taken by the PCC from November 2021 to present and sets
out details of the Office’s ongoing Forward Plan for
2021/2022.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Key points
raised in the discussion:
None.
RESOLVED:
The
Panel noted the report.
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7/22 |
COMMISSIONER'S QUESTION TIME PDF 404 KB
For the Panel to raise any issues or queries
concerning crime and policing in Surrey with the Commissioner.
Note:
The deadline for
Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the
meeting (31 January 2022).
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Witness:
Lisa Townsend, Police and Crime Commissioner for
Surrey
Kelvin Menon, Chief Finance Officer – OPCC
Alison Bolton, Chief Executive – OPCC
Ellie Vesey-Thompson, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for
Surrey
Key points
raised in the discussion:
- A Panel Member asked
for the total costs incurred by the abandoned project to move the
Force’s headquarters to Leatherhead and whether any value
could be retrieved for the benefit of the Force or the Leatherhead
community. The Chief Finance Officer (CFO) explained that the
responses to the Member’s questions were under question 46
and 47 of the supplementary agenda. The CFO explained that the
total spend on the project so far was £1.5 million, which had
been charged as revenue over a number of years. The senior
responsible officer had provided a list of areas where the
consultancy work could be reused. The Chairman noted the upcoming
visit to Mount Browne for Panel Members to receive an informal
briefing on the project.
- A Panel Member asked
about the review of Surrey Police’s CCTV strategy, as well as
the revenue and capital expenditure included in the proposed budget
for CCTV monitoring and infrastructure. The CFO responded that
there was £800,000 in the revenue budget for CCTV for the
whole of the county and there was nothing in the capital budget for
CCTV. Funding was not allocated on a district and borough basis and
the OPCC was working with district and borough councils to secured
funding for CCTV, such as from the Community Infrastructure Levy.
The PCC added that this topic was covered in the recent performance
and accountability meeting.
- A Panel Member
requested information on the use of CCTV by Surrey Police and
expressed his view that the Force’s contributions were not
proportionate to the investment of
district and borough councils. The PCC responded that there had
been conversations at the Surrey councils Leader’s Group
around CCTV, where it was a standing agenda item. The PCC explained
that the provision and funding of CCTV was not a cost to be borne
by the Police alone and a county-wide approach was required, with
the Districts and Boroughs leading it. The Vice-Chairman raised
that this was a burden which had been increasingly shifted onto the
Districts and Boroughs and there would be an advantage to having a
clear policy across Surrey between the Police and Districts and
Boroughs.
- A Panel Member
highlighted that other Police Forces around the country held a
register of residents who had ‘Ring Video Doorbells’
and personal CCTV. The PCC shared that Surrey Police did not
maintain such a register but frequently used both personal and
commercial CCTV footage and agreed with the usefulness of Ring
doorbell footage. A Panel Member asked whether there would be a
CCTV register, as he was aware of local issues around accessing
CCTV from different sources. The Chairman suggested that this point
could be raised at the Leader’s Group.
- A Panel Member asked
whether Surrey Police would operate a similar system to Kent Police
whereby ...
view the full minutes text for item 7/22
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8/22 |
COMPLAINTS RECEIVED SINCE THE LAST MEETING PDF 121 KB
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 in the discussion:
None.
RESOLVED:
The
Panel noted the report.
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9/22 |
RECOMMENDATIONS TRACKER AND FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME PDF 114 KB
To review the Recommendations Tracker and
Forward Work Programme.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Key points
raised in the discussion:
- A Panel Member
thanked Surrey Police for their breakdown of police officer
allocation by District and Borough and requested for the report to
be repeated to track progress.
RESOLVED:
The
Panel noted the report.
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10/22 |
SURREY POLICE GROUP FINANCIAL REPORT FOR MONTH 8 FINANCIAL YEAR 2021/22 PDF 740 KB
The
purpose of this report is to inform the Police & Crime Panel of
the Surrey Police Group (i.e. OPCC and Chief Constable combined) of
the financial position as at the 30 November 2021, as well as a
prediction for the situation at the end of the year.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Witnesses:
Kelvin Menon, Chief Finance Officer – OPCC
Alison Bolton, Chief Executive – OPCC
Key points
raised in the discussion:
- The CFO introduced
the report and highlighted that the revenue budget was predicted to
be underspent by £1.9 million (0.7%) by the end of the year.
This was largely due to police officer salaries being lower than
budgeted, due to the new recruits starting at the bottom end of
salary bands and the phasing of recruitment. If the underspend was
as predicted, it would be used to fund a number of one-off change
projects. The Force had predicted that it would meet the target for
uplift investment officer numbers by the end of the year. The CFO
noted that uplift was worked out by the increase in headcount
against a baseline set two years ago. Gross recruitment was higher
than it appeared in the report as the Police had to replace those
retiring as well as the uplift numbers. The capital budget was
forecast to be underspent largely due to the phasing of the
Building the Future and ICT projects.
- A Panel Member
queried the variance for Corporate Services capital expenditure.
The CFO explained that included within Corporate Services were
Building the Future project, estates, and vehicles. The majority of
the underspend in this area was due to the rephasing of the
Building the Future project. The Panel Member highlighted that
leasing would need to be recorded as a debt on balance sheets in
the future and queried the impact this would have on Surrey Police.
The CFO explained that this was to be introduced from the end of
this financial year and stated that the Police had few leases and
thus, this change would have a minimal impact.
- In response to a
question on other sites included in the Building the Future
project, the CFO explained that work on the other sites was paused
whilst deciding a strategic direction to prevent the incurring of
unnecessary costs.
RESOLVED:
The
Panel noted and commented on the report.
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11/22 |
OFFICE OF THE POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER FINANCIAL UPDATE FOR MONTH 9 FINANCIAL YEAR 2021/22 AND ESTIMATE FOR YEAR END OUTTURN PDF 433 KB
The purpose of this report is to inform the Police
& Crime Panel of the OPCC’s financial performance at
Month 9 for the 2021/22 financial year together with an estimate of
the year end outturn against budget.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Witnesses:
Kelvin Menon, Chief Finance Officer – OPCC
Alison Bolton, Chief Executive – OPCC
Key points
raised in the discussion:
- The CFO introduced
the report and explained that the OPCC’s budget was split
into operational costs and monies allocated for commissioning and
grants. The CFO highlighted that many Panels do not receive such
detailed information on their respective OPCC’s expenditure,
and this was provided to maintain transparency as established by
the former PCC. The CFO explained that there was an overprediction
in expenditure for the year end outturn, especially for the
DPCC’s salary.
- A Panel Member
queried what was meant by the ‘Member’s Attendance
Allowance’ as included in the report. The CEX explained that
was likely for the OPCC’s independent members or legally
qualified chairs, as the OPCC had a role in recruiting those
individuals.
- The Chairman queried
why the cost of ‘other contributions’ was at
£46,724 when it had a budget of zero. The CFO could not
recall what made up this cost so would report back to the Panel in
due course.
Actions/requests for further information:
- R6/22
– The Chief Finance Officer to provide further
information on ‘other contributions’ of the OPCC for
the 2021/22 financial year.
RESOLVED:
The
Panel noted and commented on the report.
|
12/22 |
OFFICE OF THE POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER'S BUDGET FOR 2022/23 PDF 533 KB
This
paper is provided to the Police & Crime Panel for information
only to give Panel Members information on the budget to fund the
Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for the
financial year 2022/23.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Witnesses:
Lisa Townsend, Police and Crime Commissioner for
Surrey
Kelvin Menon, Chief Finance Officer – OPCC
Alison Bolton, Chief Executive – OPCC
Key points
raised in the discussion:
- The PCC acknowledged
that any increase in any budget was not taken lightly but she
needed to ensure that the OPCC as an organisation was suitably
equipped to meet increased demand and deliver her and the
Office’s statutory functions. The increase in operational
budget would fund new posts where the OPCC was currently at its
weakest. Investment would mean those contacting the Office would
have their case dealt with in a timely manner, which was not always
the case currently. The PCC believed that greater work could be
undertaken with Criminal Justice System (CJS) partners, and this
would require a new role within the Office. Increasing the
visibility of the PCC and OPCC to the public was necessary to
further transparency and public understanding of their work and
thus, investment in a communications role was also proposed.
Commissioning services and giving grants to support victims
required additional resource to secure funding and achieve value
for money. The PCC highlighted that Surrey’s OPCC was
considerably smaller than other OPCCs in the region, with only
three being smaller within England and Wales.
- It was raised by the
PCC that the Office owed considerable amounts of overtime to almost
all staff members and the PCC shared her concern that this could
result in a loss of staff members. The PCC assured Panel Members
that the proposed increase in the operational budget for the OPCC
was to the benefit of both Surrey Police and residents and
following the increase would account for 0.5% of the total Police
budget. It was noted that £270,000 of the increase was to
fund new posts and the remainder was to meet other costs including
cost of living and pay increases for existing staff. The PCC
provided Panel Members with an overview of the work of the OPCC,
including new initiatives since her election. The services that the
OPCC commissioned were said to directly support vulnerable
residents within the community. The OPCC had successfully bid for
over £2.3 million of government funding, which included
£1.1 million for domestic abuse and sexual violence support
and had worked with partners to secure £2.8 million from the
Changing Futures funding.
- A Panel Member
recognised that there was a lack of understanding by the public
regarding the role and functions of the PCC and her Office. The
Panel Member disagreed with the idea that an increased budget for
the OPCC would take away from front-line policing services, when
rather, their work supported that of front-line services. The Panel
Member highlighted the importance of understanding where to go with
a concern about policing and receiving a response in a timely
manner. The Panel Member expressed his support for the OPCC budget
proposal. The PCC shared that since May 2021, the OPCC had received
2,222 contacts from residents and the average number of complaints
per month had ...
view the full minutes text for item 12/22
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13/22 |
SURREY POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER'S PROPOSED PRECEPT 2022/23 PDF 1 MB
The
Police and Crime Panel is required to consider and formally
respond to the Police and Crime Commissioner’s
Proposed Precept for 2022/23. 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 her proposed precept by
1 February 2022;
(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 2022;
(c)
If the Panel vetoes the precept, the Commissioner must have
regard to and respond to the Panel’s report,
and publish her response, including the
revised precept, by 15 February 2022;
(d)
The Panel, on receipt of a response from the Commissioner notifying
it of her revised precept, must review the revised precept and make
a second report to the Commissioner by 22 February 2022
(there is no second right of veto);
(e)
The Commissioner must have regard to and respond to the
Panel’s second report and publish her
response by 1 March 2022.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Witnesses:
Lisa Townsend, Police and Crime Commissioner for
Surrey
Kelvin Menon, Chief Finance Officer – OPCC
Key points
raised in the discussion:
- The PCC explained
that since being elected she had spent a significant amount of time
talking to police officers and staff to understand the pressures
they were under, as well as speaking to residents to understand
their priorities. The police officer uplift had been an enormous
success and Surrey were to recruit 249 of the 2,000 police offers
under the government initiative. The PCC noted that government
funding for policing had been increased for 2022/23; however, it
did not cover the total cost of increases in National Insurance
contributions and pay. Surrey Police received the lowest amount of
funding per head from government and as a result, funding from
council tax was extremely important. The government had also
assumed in its funding announcements that all PCCs would utilise
the maximum £10 increase in precept. The Chief Constable
supported an increase of £10 which was needed to sustain
current Police services, improve performance and deliver the Police
and Crime Plan. The impact on the Force of a lower precept was
discussed at the most recent performance and accountability
meeting. The PCC noted that there was a clear majority of responses
to the public consultation in support of increasing the precept by
at least £10. After consideration of the Chief
Constable’s comments, the result of the consultation, the
government funding assumption, and the need to sustain Police
services, the PCC believed there was no alternative but to increase
the precept by £10.
- A Panel Member
queried why the line on the OPCC’s reserves remained
unchanged in the proposal for 2022/23, despite stating that
£250,000 would be taken out of the reserves to fund the
budget increase. The CFO replied that it should have come out of
that line of the budget and that was the intention.
- A Panel Member stated
that he would support the full £10 increase of the precept in
order to sustain Police services that Surrey residents deserved.
The Panel Member noted the intention for transformational savings
in the medium and long term and hoped this would continue. The PCC
explained to the Panel that despite a government assumption that
the precept would be increased to £10 for the next three
years, she had made clear to the Force that it should not rely on
that assumption and that she expected to see significant
transformational savings. The Panel Member stated that he expected
to see more regular reporting on the Building the Future project,
as a significant amount of money was lost on the Leatherhead site.
The PCC agreed with the Panel Member and requested for an item on
the next agenda to include an update on estates.
- A Panel Member noted
that any local authority that was required to precept against the
council tax had difficult conversations regarding any increase,
whilst acknowledging that it was a fundamental source of income.
The Panel Member expressed that he ...
view the full minutes text for item 13/22
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14/22 |
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next public meeting of the Police and
Crime Panel will be held on 21 April 2022 (or if Precept vetoed
– 21 February 2022).
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The
Panel noted that its next public meeting would be held on Thursday,
21 April 2022.
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