Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on:

4 February 2020

24 September 2020

10 December 2020

4 February 2021

7 July 2021

12 August 2021 (informal)

23 September 2021 (informal)

9 December 2021 (informal)

The minutes of the meetings held on:

4 February 2020

24 September 2020

10 December 2020

4 February 2021

7 July 2021

12 August 2021 (informal)

23 September 2021 (informal)

9 December 2021 (informal

were agreed and signed as a correct record.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

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.

Please see attached guidance on Public Speaking

There were no statements or questions from Town and Parish Councils or the public at the meeting.

To set out the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposals for the 2022/23 budget, precept and the medium term financial strategy.

Following an explanation of the precept process from the Chairman, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) was invited to present his 2022/23 Budget, precept and medium-term financial strategy.

The PCC was very clear that his plan was based on the people’s priorities and what they wanted from the Force, these were to cut crime and Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), more visible and connective policing, to fight violent crime and high harms, fight rural crime, to put victims and communities first and to make every penny count for Dorset.  His vision was to make Dorset the safest county in the UK.  The PCC invited the Deputy Chief Constable to address the operational vision for Dorset.

The Deputy Chief Constable gave apologies from the Chief Constable as he was unable to attend the meeting and addressed the Force’s vision, purpose and priorities for the future. (00:13:25 on recording).

The PCC continued to address the budget report (00:26:31 on recording)

The PCC then invited his Director of Operations to give an overview of the precept consultation (00:29:40 on recording).

The Chief Finance Officer gave an update on the key points of the budget and a resume of the settlement which had been confirmed the date before the meeting.  This was an annual settlement and therefore contained certain estimates and forecasts.  In conclusion the panel members were advised that the Chief Finance Officer was content to assure that the budget was both adequate and robust. (00:34:33 on recording).

Following the budget report the panel members were invited to put forward questions. (00:43:36 on recording).

A copy of these questions and answers are attached as an appendix to these minutes.

Additional questions and responses can be found at (01:43:30 on recording).

The PCC was asked to provide more details regarding how he would measure success against the priorities in his Police and Crime Plan. He advised the Panel that that benchmarking would continue to be developed in the weeks and months ahead and that this would be shared with the Panel. The Chief Executive further commented that the OPCC would be happy to discuss this further with members, as happened previously.

Proposed by Cllr Dove, seconded by Cllr Haines

Decision: that the panel approve the PCC’s proposal to increase the precept for 2022/23 to £77,929,644, equivalent to a Band D charge of £265.58, an increase of £10 per annum or £0.83 per month (3.9%).

To receive nominations for the roles of Chair and Vice-Chair 2022/23.

Proposed by Mr McVie, seconded by Cllr Taylor

Decision: that Mr Mike Short be elected Chairman for 2022/2023.

Proposed by Cllr Fry, seconded by Cllr Taylor

Decision: that Cllr Dove be elected Vice Chair for 2022/2023.

To receive an update of progress against the Police and Crime Plan Q3 2021/22, to enable Panel members to scrutinise performance, seek assurance and assess outcomes achieved in the reporting period.

The PCC presented the Q3 Monitoring Report, he highlighted and reported on each of his 6 priorities:

The panel members were invited to ask questions of the PCC (02:46:39 on recording).

This paper provides an update on Priority Four in the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan – to Fight Rural Crime.

The PCC presented the report, reducing rural crime was one of his priorities.

The PCC noted that, for quite some time, Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team had consisted of just two people – and was pleased that he had secured a commitment from the Chief Constable to considerably increase the size of this team.

The PCC, and his Office, were working to develop the first Rural Crime Reduction Board and scope the Country Watch scheme. He looked forward to sharing developments in this area with the Panel in the coming months.

Panel members were invited to address the PCC in relation to the report. (03:58:58 on recording).

To receive an update from the Chair of the Police and Crime Panel Complaints Sub-Committee.

Mr McVie presented a spotlight scrutiny review of complaints against police and complaint reviews.  Overall, he was content with the process and that the Key Lines of Enquiry in the report had been addressed.  The panel were advised of the recent number of cases and the response timescales.

To receive a report from the Service Manager for Assurance.

Mr McVie advised the panel that there were no new or outstanding complaints.

Members were asked to ratify the current complaints protocol which was unchanged since last year and to appoint a Vice Chair for the sub-Committee.

Proposed by Mr Short, seconded by Cllr Dove

Decision: that the current complaints protocol was agreed.

Proposed by Cllr Dove, seconded by Mr McVie

Decision: that Cllr Haines be elected as Vice Chair for the PCP Complaints Sub-Committee.

Action: Cllr Dove asked Mr McVie to review the make up of the Complaints Sub-Committee.

To receive and review the PCP Forward Plan.

The Service Manager for Assurance presented the PCP Work Programme which was noted by the panel and would be reviewed at a future internal meeting in March.

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.