Agenda and minutes
PDF 217 KBVenue: Woodhatch Place, Reigate, Surrey
Contact: Jake Chambers, Scrutiny Officer
Media
| No. | Item |
|---|---|
|
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
The Chairman to report apologies for absence. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from Cllr Tony Burrell, Cllr Danielle Newson and Cllr Shanice Goldman. |
|
|
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 28 NOVEMBER 2024
To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2024 as a correct record. Additional documents: Minutes: The Minutes were AGREED as a true and accurate record. |
|
|
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: None were received. |
|
|
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (Monday, 27 January 2025).
Note: A written response will be circulated to Panel Members and the questioner. Additional documents: Minutes: None were received. |
|
|
APPOINTMENT OF CO-OPTED INDEPENDENT MEMBER
To set out the process that has been followed in order to select a co-opeted independent member onto the Surrey Police and Crime Panel and to recommend appointment to the position. Additional documents: Minutes: Mrs Samantha Sheriff was appointed as a Co-opted Independent Member of the Panel. |
|
|
SURREY POLICE GROUP FINANCIAL REPORT FOR MONTH 8 OF FINANCIAL YEAR 2024/25
This report sets out the financial performance of the Surrey Police Group (i.e., OPCC and Force combined) as at the 30 November 2024with a forecast to the 31 March 2025. Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses: Lisa Townsend, Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Kelvin Menon, Chief Finance Officer and S151 Officer, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey (OPCC)
This agenda item was in fact taken after the ‘Draft Police and Crime Plan’ agenda item at the meeting. The order of the other agenda items remained the same.
Key points raised during the discussion:
|
|
|
DRAFT POLICE AND CRIME PLAN
This report introduces the draft Police and Crime Plan 2025-2028 for comment from the Police and Crime Panel. Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses: Lisa Townsend, Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Ellie Vesey-Thompson, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Alison Bolton, Chief Executive, (OPCC) Damian Markland, Head of Performance and Governance, (OPCC) Kelvin Menon, Chief Finance Officer and S151 Officer (OPCC)
Key points raised during the discussion:
Consultation 2. A member queried the consultation’s methodology and public participation and asked whether the survey’s respondents could be said to be statistically representative of Surrey as a whole, noting that over 75% of respondents were aged 50 and over. The member also asked how the PCC sought views from younger residents, as well as those with a range of other characteristics. The PCC explained that the consultation was widely promoted, including through her speaking with affected groups, in addition to online consultation. The Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (DPCC) referred to the first paragraph of the draft plan which references her own and the PCC’s feedback and experience from their past four years in their respective roles. The Surrey Youth Crime Commission, now in its third year, provided continuous feedback and was about to publish its second annual report, she stated, also noting that feedback from teachers and school representatives is gathered and factored into the report, many of whom were under 50.
|
|
|
PROPOSED SURREY POLICE PRECEPT 2025/26
The Police and Crime Panel is required to consider and formally respond to the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Proposed Precept for 2025/26. The purpose of this item is to allow the Commissioner to outline her proposals in more detail and answer any questions that panel members might have. Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses: Lisa Townsend, Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Ellie Vesey-Thompson, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Alison Bolton, Chief Executive, Officer of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) Damian Markland, Head of Performance and Governance, OPCC Kelvin Menon, Chief Finance Officer and S151 Officer, OPCC
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The PCC introduced the proposed precept. She stated that the precept consultation closed with 3,240 votes with a 59% to 41% percentage split in favour of the precept. Ten days prior, 2400 people had voted, with the percentage split the same at that point. She expressed disappointment at level of government funding and the fact that the recent grant increase covers only the pay rise from the previous year and so posed challenges. Furthermore, she noted that almost all PCCs were intending to raise their precept on local council tax by the maximum amount of £14, as expected by government, so Surrey was not an outlier.
Opening
2. A member asked how Surrey residents could be assured that the proposed precept increase and associated budget and capital spend was required to maintain financial stability, especially considering the context of financial hardship for residents and high national inflation. The member noted that the maximum amount proposed was somewhat ahead of current inflation, and the possibility of increases in transfers to reserves in the current year. The PCC explained that the precept increase contributed to current and future financial sustainability, and that the increase was required to ensure that the improvements set out in the Chief Constable’s plan could be delivered. The government grant increase was only enough to fund the pay increase for 2024/25, and it was assumed by them that council tax would fill the gap. She also added that an element of the precept would be needed to fund victim services.
3. The Chief Finance Officer added that the increase was above inflation, but that the impact of considerable historic inflation also has to be managed in that years of high inflation precept increases were below that rate. In the medium-term financial forecast projections, he explained that significant savings need to be achieved over the next 4 years and the precept increase was therefore needed to maintain the present level of services, drive improvements, and deliver financial sustainability throughout the medium term.
Funding
4. A member asked about the basis was for the claim that government had “[..] decided not to prioritise funding to reduce crime or support victims”, as mentioned in paragraph 9. The PCC explained that between the 2025 and 2026 funding allocations from the Ministry of Justice, there was a reduction of 4.2% in the grants provided for these services, despite rising demand among victims and increasing delivery costs. She added that Home Office funding for preventing VAWG was not renewed for 2025/26.
5. A member noted that the panel received a set of clarifications from the Panel’s Finance Sub-committee, including a clarification regarding the statement in paragraph 11 that ... view the full minutes text for item 8/25 |
|
|
PCC FORWARD PLAN AND KEY DECISIONS
This report provides information on the key decisions taken by the PCC from November 2024 to present and sets out details of the Office’s ongoing Forward Plan for 2025.
Additional documents: Minutes: Panel NOTED the report. |
|
|
COMMISSIONER'S QUESTION TIME
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 (Tuesday 28 January 2025).
Additional documents: Minutes: No further comments raised. |
|
|
COMPLAINTS RECEIVED SINCE THE LAST MEETING
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: The Chairman raised that two complaints had been received and considered by the Complaints Sub-committee.
The Panel NOTED the report. |
|
|
RECOMMENDATIONS TRACKER AND FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME
To review the Recommendations Tracker and Forward Work Programme. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman suggested that members undertook a Forward Work Programming workshop to identify items for scrutiny and consideration throughout the year.
The Panel NOTED the report. |
|
|
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next public meeting of the Police and Crime Panel will be held on Thursday 24 April 2025. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman noted the date of the next meeting was the 24 April 2025. Meeting ended: 1.06pm |