Meeting documents

Apologies for absence were received from Bernie Davis, Christchurch Borough Council and Bill Pipe, Purbeck District Council.

Cllr Tim Morris from Purbeck District Council attended the meeting as a substitute for Cllr Pipe.

The Panel welcomed the PCC back to his position following his short period of absence and acknowledged the Deputy PCC’s cover and support during this period.  The PCC extended his own personal thanks for the support that he had received from the Panel, the Deputy PCC and the wider team.

On behalf of the Panel the Chairman offered congratulations to PC Chris Smith on receipt of the Queens Police Medal for his work on road safety and asked the Chief Constable to pass on the congratulations and recognition of this significant honour.

There were no declarations by members of disclosable pecuniary interests under the Code of Conduct.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2016 were confirmed and signed.

Matters Arising

Minute 35 – Strategic Alliance with Devon and Cornwall – The Chairman advised that an informal meeting had been arranged with the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Devon and Cornwall PCP on 7 February 2017 to consider the merits and scope of any future joint working.

Minute 36 – The First 100 days in office – In response to a question regarding the meeting with the Home Secretary, the PCC confirmed that this meeting was focussed around fraud issues and border security was not discussed. He had however requested a further meeting but was still awaiting a response. 

Minute 45 - 101 Service Improvement Panel – following a request from a member for a graph to show the percentage of skewed calls in order to see a true representation the Deputy PCC undertook to raise this with the Panel and to circulate outside of the meeting.  With regard to the timing of meetings, the Deputy PCC advised that the 101 Service Improvement Panel meetings were now scheduled in line with other scrutiny meetings on a 3 month basis. 

Minute 46 – Police and Crime Pan – Quarter 2 – The Chairman advised members that work would soon need to get underway to refine the quarterly monitoring reports and that a new format should be developed and agreed in time for the Panel’s meeting on 22 September 2017. This work would ensure that the quarterly monitoring reports were shaped to support and improve data to enhance the Panel’s scrutiny of the OPCC’s impact and effect.  Cllr Andrew Kerby and the Vice-Chairman, Mike Short, had already indicated a desire to take this work forward with the OPCC and with the support of officers.

Minute 47 – Police Overtime – In response to a question regarding whether the difference of £600k was up or down, the Chief Constable confirmed it had increased and whilst it was not bound to increase it was likely to.

Public Speaking

There were no public questions received at the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 21(1).

There were no public statements received at the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 21(2).

Petitions

There were no petitions received at the meeting in accordance with the County Council’s Petition Scheme.

To consider a report by the Police and Crime Commissioner. 

Members of the Panel are asked to review and make a report and recommendation (as necessary) to the Commissioner on the proposed precept.

The Panel considered a report by the Treasurer to the Police and Crime Commissioner which set out the proposed 2017-18 precept for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset.

The Treasurer highlighted the cost pressures faced by the Force, the funding allocations and that savings of £3.9m were required to balance the 2017-18 budget.  He noted that the overall position in that the Police Main Grant had been cut by 1.4% for 2017-18 which was a higher cut due to additional top-slicing for national projects.  He also made reference to the public consultation on the precept options that had been carried out which had showed a clear majority in favour of the option of increasing Council Tax and using the additional £1.04m to fund various policing priorities.

The Commissioner addressed members prior to taking any questions and his opening address is attached as an Annexure to these minutes.

The Chairman highlighted that the proposed increase would result in a £3.73 per week increase in council tax.  He also set out the total precept figures for each of the respective council tax bands, which ranged from £129.72 (Band A) to £389.16 (Band H) per annum.

Members of the Panel asked the following questions to the Police and Crime Commissioner, who responded accordingly:

1.               As highlighted in the report the Police Finance Settlement is for only one year 2017/18 whereas Local Authorities have been able to sign up to a four year finance settlement from Government covering the period 2016 to 2020. Can the Commissioner therefore outline the steps he has taken to lobby the Government for both a longer term settlement, which should enable the Commissioner to plan with more certainty, as well as a new police funding formula which Appendix 2 of the report (section 5.5) indicates should be worth up to an extra £4.4m per annum to Dorset Police?

Our written responses to the provisional settlement in both 2016 and 2017 have pressed for a multi-year settlement to be given for Police funding to aid with our Medium Term Financial Planning. The response back has been that the Home Office do not want to provide multi-year settlements whilst the new funding formula is being developed. On that front, we continue to lobby at every opportunity for the new formula to reflect adequately the policing needs of forces such as Dorset.

Following a question regarding whether any representations were being made for victims services to try and get funding for more than a year, the PCC advised that this was a different funding strand and agreed it was not ideal getting just one year’s funding for this.  In respect of top slicing the Treasurer advised that this was a Home Office decision

In response to a question about the ICT Police company system, the PCC advised that there were now 3 national programmes being rolled out and that this was a long term issue and not much had been delivered or changed in Dorset at the present time. The Chief  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56.

To consider a report by the Police and Crime Commissioner. 

Members of the Panel are asked to review the performance of the Police and Crime Commissioner against objectives in the Police and Crime Plan.

The Panel considered a report by the PCC which informed members of the progress against the Police and Crime Plan and Priorities 2013-17 for Quarter 3 2016-17. The PCC highlighted elements of performance against the Plan during this quarter. 

The PCC provided commentary for members on a few key areas of activity and highlighted the priorities in the Plan. 

Members of the Panel asked the following questions and received the responses below:

1.               Paragraph 2.1.1 identified particular areas where Dorset’s crime figures feature in the higher benchmarked statistics when compared to others (e.g. non-dwelling burglary; drug offences; theft of pedal cycles and theft from the person).  Can the PCC provide some insight as to any specific local ‘causes and forces’ that contribute to drive these and what actions are being taken to focus upon them to reduce occurrence?

The Chief Constable advised that non dwelling burglaries were those away from properties and featured in seaside shed/dwellings. Dorset were 33^rd nationally in reporting these type of break ins some Forces didn’t report on this. With regard to pedal cycles this could be that a high number of people had confidence in reporting these type of issues.

2.               Paragraph 2.1.6 – Anti Social Behaviour incidents have increased by 13% - What action is the Commissioner taking to better understand what is driving this increase?

The Chief Constable noted that the areas seen to increase tended to be in areas where population was highest and that a lot of the success was around good partnership working.  The member from North Dorset District Council highlighted that it was also the duty of the relevant Local Authority to deal with anti-social behaviour through their community safety partnerships.

Following a comment from the Chairman regarding victim satisfaction and the frustration of people being able to hand things into and contact the police, the Chief Constable advised that online capability was growing. Information was available online to tell members of the public what to do in relation to lost property etc and was an opportunity for people to make better contact with the Police.  In respect of lost property the Treasurer undertook to advise members outside of the meeting of the amount collected through the sale of lost property.

3.               Paragraphs 2.2.8, 2.2.10 & 2.2.11 of the report – The data shows that Domestic Abuse, Child Sexual Exploitation & Serious Sexual Offences are all increasing.  Does the Commissioner agree that these are all useful areas for focused scrutiny work?   

The Chief Executive to the PCC advised that there would be an opportunity in the next report to focus on the wider work.

4.               Can the Commissioner outline why the Support Services spend to date for Q2 was £2.9m, yet for Q3 it is shown as £436k?  There is no reflection of this change in the virements table.

Spend to date figures are always a snapshot at a point in time of expenditure incurred to date. In the case of support services figures reported in Q2 the timing of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

To consider a joint report from the Chairman of the PCP and the Chief Executive, Dorset County Council.

The Panel considered a joint report by the Chairman of the Panel and the Chief Executive, Dorset County Council which highlighted the 5 areas identified by members of the Panel for specific attention.  The Improvement Plan was an important element as it sought to improve the effectiveness and impact of the work of the Panel going forward.

The Group Manager for Governance and Assurance, Dorset County Council, felt the report demonstrated the Panel’s clear commitment to improvement. He specifically identified the additional duties that this plan would place on panel members if approved. Much of this work would need to happen outside of the formal meetings in order to deliver the desired outcomes and build on the good principles previously set. He felt this was the right direction of travel for members and, as members were supportive of the approach, he asked them to put themselves forward in order to progress the necessary work.

Resolved

That the content of the PCP Improvement Action Plan be supported.

Reason for Decision

To support and develop the effectiveness of the Police and Crime Panel.

To receive the Work Programme for the Panel.

The Panel considered and agreed its Work Programme for the remainder of 2017.

Areas going forward to include:

• Panel sub group to meet with the OPCC to review longer term financing settlements, formula funding, top slicing changes, with a view to joint lobby of government.
•  Fire arms spotlight scrutiny review scheduled to take place during February.
• Sub group to be formed to look at the format of quarterly reports going forward.
• With reference to the new Police and Crime Bill and the new powers that this would provide for the PCC, it was agreed it would be helpful for members to have a brief summary of the key points from the OPCC at its next meeting.
• The Deputy PCC to provide 101 statistics in graphical format, categorised by time bands taken to answer calls, as information for the Panel.
• Report from the PCC to the next meeting of the Panel to set out context and background to activity in place to address serious sexual offences, child exploitation and domestic abuse.

Members’ attention was drawn to a request from a member of the public, via the Police and Crime Panel’s website, to scrutinise traffic speeding in and around Sherborne.  The Group Manager for Governance Assurance, Dorset County Council, advised that he would respond to the member of public on behalf of the Panel and direct them to contact the Police regarding this matter.

The Chairman welcomed the attendance of a substitute member from Purbeck District Council at the meeting.  He asked that members submit the names of their substitute members to him in order to try to ensure full attendance at future meetings.

Noted

To answer any questions received in writing by the Chief Executive by not later than 10.00am on Tuesday 31 January 2017.

No questions were asked by members of the Panel.