Agenda item

The attached reports provide Panel Members with oversight of the budget to fund the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for the financial year 2017/18 and also Surrey Police Group’s and the OPCC’s financial performance at Month 9 for the 2016/17 financial year.  

Key points raised during the discussion:

1. The PCC introduced the report outlining the budget proposed for the Office of the PCC by informing Members that a substantial amount of funding was received from the Government to deal with Victim Services and that this was entirely separate from the budget.

2. The PCC was pleased to report that in setting the 2017/18 budget for the OPCC he had achieved a saving compared with the previous year’s budget. This was due to the reshaping of the budget by reducing staff members and putting a sharper focus on services for residents, especially vulnerable residents.

3. The Panel noted that some funds had been put to one side for contingencies. These include plans for the Estate Strategy and the possibility of Fire and Rescue Service governance changes.

4. The Treasurer informed the Panel that another increased cost the PCC would be expecting would be from employing a Sergeant to run the Volunteer Cadets Force.

5. It was also highlighted that the PCC was setting up a grant for the Community Safety Board (CSB) in the sum of £50,000. This would allow the CSB to effectively pump prime any projects or plans that will improve community safety across Surrey.

6. It was further noted that the PCC is including within the OPCC budget a total of £75,000 for consultancy and project work, which would give the PCC sufficient resource to provide adequate support for new areas of activity.

7. Despite these increases the Office budget would still achieve a gross saving of £31,370. 

8.  A Member requested more information regarding the rise in audit fees. The Treasurer explained the Joint Audit Committee determines the audit programme and the rates are charged on a daily rate basis. The number of days fluctuating according to the number of days that are authorised by the Joint Independent Audit Committee, who will increase audit coverage where there are identifiable areas of concern which can lead to higher fees.

9.  Following the discussions around auditing, the Panel noted that Surrey Police’s internal and external auditors were separate firms. Members were advised that Surrey Police internal auditors were RSM Tenon and their external auditors were Grant Thornton.

10. A Member expressed positive feedback on the increase of funding for the Community Safety Fund and queried whether the process for bids on this fund would be the same as the previous year. The PCC advised that the system for allocating grants has changed, which is now operating under a two tier system. Any applications for amounts under £5,000 was simple and could be applied for online. However amounts over £5,000 would mean identifying partners and looking to work with them longer term.

11. The PCC’s office was commended for reducing expenditure and achieving savings for the year. 

12. It was noted that the HMIC publish statistics on the performance of OPCC offices across the Country. In comparison to other forces the Surrey OPCC did reasonably well. However not every office recorded or measured their costs in the same way which made comparisons difficult.

13. It was stated that only 8% of the communication budget has been used and the PCC was asked whether he was satisfied with this. Members were informed at this stage that the PCC was comfortable with the level of communication with residents. The PCC welcomed any invitations from members and was keen to attend if his diary permitted.

14. There was a discussion around ‘In the know’ system and how this had replaced the old neighbourhood watch communication system. The Chairman indicated that it would be useful to have an item on the new system at the next Panel meeting. The PCC noted this suggestion and agreed to have this added to the Forward Work Programme.

15. It was highlighted that in previous years Surrey Police employed retired Police Officers. A Member asked whether these Officers were recognised in the staff head count or as Police Officers. The PCC confirmed that these Officers were included as Police staff.

RESOLVED:

The Panel noted the budget updates.

ACTIONS/FURTHER INFORMATION TO BE RPOVIDED:

R2/17- For an item on the new community messaging system ‘In the know, Surrey and Sussex’ to be added to the next Panel meeting agenda.