Key
points raised in the discussion:
- The Chief
Finance Officer of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office
(OPCC) introduced the item to the Panel and confirmed that for 2015
between the Police Group and OPCC there had been a total under
spend of £154,000.
- A Member of
the Panel asked for further information on carrying forward the
capital budget and if a time limit was put in place. The Officer
confirmed that there was no time limit and that the police had a
history of not spending the full budget allocation because of the
way capital projects had been managed. It was noted that the PCC
agreed to be more flexible with the capital carry over.
- A
discussion was undertaken around IT overspend and whether this
overspend was due to the implementation of a data centre. The Chief
Finance Officer explained that work in relation to the data centre
was charged to revenue and IT overspend was mainly due to staff
turnover and agency staff costs.
- The Panel
queried issues with staff retention and queried if there was any
possibility to increase staff incentives. The Chief Executive of
the OPCC confirmed that the police were reviewing the package of
benefits to officers, with a view to making sure officers stayed
with the force. She further explained that the Chief Constable
could pay a south east allowance but there were not enough funds to
do this without making cuts elsewhere.
- Panel
Members questioned why a significant amount of money was being put
into pay a pension deficit when it could be used to retain staff.
The Chief Finance Officer informed the Panel that payment into the
pension deficit was made from under spend against the budget and
would ultimately reduce the amount that would need to be paid
against the deficit in the longer term.
- The PCC
confirmed that it would seem that Surrey Police would be within
budget for this year and that additional savings would be achieved
through recruitment.
RESOLVED:
The Police and Crime Panel
noted the financial performance of the Surrey Police Group and the
Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.
ACTIONS/FURTHER INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED:
None.