Agenda and minutes

https://moderngov.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=154&MId=4642&Ver=4

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2020

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2020 were confirmed as a correct record. It was noted that Cllr Pipe had been removed from the Police and Crime Panel (PCP) and replaced by Cllr Jespersen.

To receive any declarations of interest.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

To receive questions or statements on the business of the committee

from town and parish councils and members of the public. Public

speaking has been suspended for virtual committee meetings during

the Covid-19 crisis and public participation will be dealt with through

written submissions only.

Members of the public who live, work or represent an organisation

within the Dorset/BCP Council area, may submit up to two questions or a

statement of up to a maximum of 450 words. All submissions must be

sent electronically to elaine.tibble@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by the

deadline set out below. When submitting a question please indicate

who the question is for and include your name, address and contact

details. Questions and statements received in line with the council’s

rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the

agenda.

Questions will be read out by an officer of the council and a response

given by the appropriate officer at the meeting. All questions,

statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of

the meeting.

The deadline for submission of the full text of a question or

statement is 8.30am on Monday 7 December 2020.

There were no public statements or questions.

To receive an update of progress against the Police and Crime Plan Q2 2020/21, to enable Panel members to scrutinise performance, seek assurance and assess outcomes achieved in the reporting period.

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) presented an update of progress against the Police and Crime Plan to enable the panel to scrutinise activity and assess the achievement of outcomes.  The PCC elaborated on the key indicators within the four pillar areas, (Pillar 1 - Protecting People at Risk and Harm, Pillar 2 - Working with our Communities, Pillar 3 - Supporting Victims, Witnesses and reducing Reoffending and Pillar 4 - Transforming for the Future).  The panel was then given the opportunity, to ask questions relating to the report.

Panel questions focused on:

·       Burglary numbers

·       ASB and Covid 19

·       Domestic Violence

·       Police Complaints data and call handling

·       Force Management Statement

·       Dorset Police’s carbon footprint

·       Recorded hate crime

·       Road safety improvement

·       Stop and search

·       Restorative justice service

·       The effect of the uplift of police officers on the budget including the increase in maternity and adoption leave

·       Treasury Management Strategy

·       Savings made through the Alliance with Devon & Cornwall.

The panel asked the following Finance questions at 01:16 hrs:

·       Can the OPCC please outline what changes there have been since the 2019/20 Treasury Management and Investment Strategy with respect to the PCC’s cash flows, borrowing and investments, and the associated risks? 

·       Excluding PFI, what is the is the annual cost of debt and how is it being funded? 

·       Why were payment and employment costs not more effectively forecast/managed, as within three months they have changed by £964k? 

Actions:  in relation to the work on the Alliance, including the significant number of business areas which are now delivered in collaboration across Dorset Police and Devon & Cornwall Police, the PCC confirmed these aligned business areas had delivered savings and he would provide an update on this at the next panel meeting. 

The Chairman of the PCP requested that the recently reviewed Treasury Management Strategy be placed on-line.

To receive a verbal update from the Police & Crime Commissioner.

The PCP received a verbal update from the PCC on Covid 19 issues and the force’s work in keeping the public safe. 

Panel questions

·       What had changed since the last briefing and what effect has that change had on the way the OPCC is conducting business and holding the Ch Cons to account?

·       Could the OPCC outline how the Government’s Surge Funding for Covid had been utilised and how he had ensured that the taxpayer obtained VFM?

·       During the first three months of lockdown, the National Domestic Abuse helpline reported more than 40,000 calls.  Could the PCC re-confirm how his office had worked with partners in order to ensure help and support was given to anyone needing to break free from an abusive relationship?

To receive a verbal update and presentation from the Treasurer.

The OPCC Chief Finance Officer shared a PowerPoint presentation detailing an overview of how the force had used this year’s precept and uplift (agreed in February 2020) to benefit the residents of Dorset.

The Corporate Director for Finance and Commercial (Dorset Council) also gave an update on where Dorset Council was with next year’s Council tax base setting exercise.

The PCC had lobbied the government several times regarding police funding systems in the past.  Local MPs have raised the issue again in Parliament.

Key Lines of Enquiry: the PCP sought assurance that the PCC:

·       Had implemented the direction from the Minister for Policing and the Fire Service, ensuring:

o   The recruitment of the County's allocation of additional officers stayed on track.

o   Investment in tackling county lines drug dealing, fraud and cyber-crime and continued to bear down on online child sexual exploitation and abuse.

o   Investment in the reduction of neighbourhood crime (through accessing the Safer Streets Fund) and driving down acquisitive crimes.

o   That, on behalf of the Dorset taxpayer, continued efficiency savings in 2020/21 would be sought.

o   That National and Regional procurement programmes would enhance buying power, increase standardisation and improve value for money for the people of Dorset.

·       Would hold the Chief Constable to account for Police operational execution of the Police and Crime Plan, especially the delivery on:

o   Tackling county lines drug networks.

o   Reductions in serious violent crime.

o   Rural crime prevention & detection.

o   Improvements to youth justice.

o   Hate Crime.

·       Continued:

o   To improve financial clarity and assurance to the panel; including seeking successful outcomes from the Chair of the Capital Strategy Group.

o   To lobby for a fair and equitable distribution of national funds to Dorset Police.

o   To develop the cost of the "Dorset Police demand model" in order to inform future budget debates.

Actions

Request as part of budget preparations for next year, the OPCC Treasurer to provide robust plan on how to resolve the capital programme: Including Police HQs etc.

Item on workplan, to report to the panel where the uplift of officers has gone to meet the needs of hidden crime and public re-assurance. (Chief Constable to report to Panel in February).

12:21 – 12:26 Comfort break.

To receive an update on Dorset Police’s approach to officer and staff health and wellbeing, to include an overview of the impact of COVID-19 on employee absence. 

The OPCC Director of Operations presented the report to the Panel highlighting the changes brought about by the Covid pandemic and progress to date in an unusual year.

Key Lines of Enquiry:

·       How current performance figures compared currently to the Baseline figures set out in the Health and Wellbeing Strategy report?

·       What impact had the strategy and impact had on local sickness data?

·       What impact had the Covid response had on the strategy and resultant performance?

·       Had there been any significant changes to the Wellbeing activity shared in Sept 19?

·       What was the PCC’s assessment on the 21 PCC funded initiatives one year on?

·       How had engagement levels with the health and wellbeing pulse surveys changed, and had there been an improvement in response levels?

·       What progress had been made in harmonising the force’s approach with Devon & Cornwall and what benefits had this presented?

·       What lessons for improvement had been learned, for 2021?

Proposed by Cllr Dove, seconded by Cllr Taylor

Decision: that in accordance with procedural rule 8.1 the meeting was extended to conclude the business on the agenda.

Action:

OPCC Director of Operations to circulate the pulse survey well-being graphic to the panel members.

To receive an update on the Police and Crime Commissioner’s work to continue to seek appropriate responses to the fraud and cyber-crime threats most affecting the people of Dorset.

The Chief Executive OPPC presented the report for Fraud and Cyber Crime, setting out the context for activities and the structures for tackling these issues.

The Chief Executive OPPC re-iterated the importance of members of the public to report all fraud and Cyber Crimes to the Police.  A PCC Cyber Crime awareness webinar had been held; this had been recorded and was available to view on the PCC’s Youtube channel.

Key Lines of Enquiry:

·       Cyber Crime fraud was a global crime. Could the PCC please outline how his office dovetailed into the national response?

·       How was the Dorset PCC working with Devon and Cornwall PCC in order to ensure that the Alliance provided effective fraud/Cyber Crime prevention and detection?

·       How did the PCC hold the Ch Cons to account in order to ensure that the Dorset Police Cyber Crime Unit provided value for money (based on performance, cost and time)?

·       How was the PCC seeking to improve local cyber-crime reporting (by removing the stigma/embarrassment) in order to gain a bedrock of intelligence to combat this exponentially growing crime?

·       How was the OPCC ensuring that his Office and Dorset Police were “data secure”?

·       What advice had the OPCC given to Dorset Businesses in order to ensure cyber resilience in legacy assets?

·       What action had the PCC taken in order to protect the vulnerable from fraud/Cyber Crime.

·       What support had the PCC given to Dorset victims of Cyber Crime?

Action:

Note for the FWP - new PCC to look at regional prevention.

To receive a verbal update from the Chairman of the Police and Crime Panel Complaints Sub-Committee.

The Panel received a verbal update from the Chairman of the Police and Crime Panel Complaints Sub-Committee for two complaints that had been received.

Nomination for a new member for the sub-committee.

Proposed by Cllr Taylor, seconded by Cllr Dove.

Decision: that Cllr May Haines be appointed to the Crime Panel Complaints Sub-Committee.

To receive and review the PCP Forward Plan.

The Forward Plan was outlined and noted.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.

There was no exempt business.