Agenda and minutes

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their decision 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.

 

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 9 August 2021

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

 

To provide an update on the development of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan, and to formally invite members to provide feedback on the draft of the Plan.

 

The Panel were advised that the PCC’s draft plan was on track to be published by October and any comments from the panel members should be received by the Service Manager for Assurance by 20 August 2021.  The Chair would respond on the plan to the PCC by 31 August.

To provide notification of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s preferred candidate for the role of Chief Constable for Dorset Police, and to seek confirmation of this proposed appointment, as required by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.

 

The Chairman outlined how the hearing would be conducted.  He explained that the Police and Crime (PCP)’s role was to seek assurance that the candidate met the criteria and the hearing was not to re-interview him.

 

The three areas of scrutiny that the PCP wanted to explore were:

 

1.    Did the candidate meet the criteria for the post as set out in the role profile?

2.    How were all references checked and classified as satisfactory?

3.    Did the candidate have the professional competence to carry out the role and the personal independence to carry out the role

 

The Chairman explained the powers of the panel were to, a) recommend the appointment, b) not to recommend the appointment or c) to veto the appointment.

 

Mr Scott Chilton, the candidate, was welcomed to the meeting.

 

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) introduced the candidate to the PCP members and outlined the experience and qualities he was looking for in his Chief Constable.

 

The candidate was then given the opportunity to introduce himself to the PCP and he gave a detailed resume of his career and background in the Police Force.

 

The Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) also spoke to the paper in respect of the process of the appointment, he confirmed the requirements from the PCC’s perspective, confirmed that Mr Chilton’s references had been checked and explained why Mr Chilton was the preferred candidate for the role.

 

Members of the PCP asked a number of questions of the PCC and the candidate:-

These questions and responses can be found onwards from 21:00 on the recording.

 

Did the candidate meet the criteria for the post as set out in the role profile?

Questions to the PCC:

 

Q        What assurance can you give the panel that your candidate met the role profile in order to be selected as the Ch Cons of Dorset? 

 

Did the candidate have the professional competence to carry out the role

Questions to the candidate:

 

Q        Why will Dorset Police follow you and what attracted you to Dorset?

 

Q        How is the Ch Cons going to ensure that all partners, with a role to play in reducing ASB, work together effectively to reduce ASB?

 

Q        Further to this how is the Ch Cons going to ensure that any future budget cuts, to any or all of the partners budgets, will be managed to ensure partners do not retreat into their silos with the outcome that the public overall do not receive the best possible service that could be provided by effective multi agency working even in the face of tight budgets.  

 

Q        What is your plan for resolving stop and search disproportionality in Dorset?

 

Q        How will ensure that the Dorset taxpayer gets value for money from your force?

 

Did the candidate have the personal independence to carry out the role?

Questions to the candidate:

 

Q        How will you handle the situation should the PCC give direction that steps into your operational domain?  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

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.

Decision

 

That the press and the public be excluded for the following item(s) 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).

It was the unanimous view of the Panel that they were ‘minded to’ support the appointment of Mr Chilton. The Panel were satisfied that he had met the criteria, demonstrated the competence and shown the personal independence to justify appointment.  

 

Having listened to the hearing and the ‘minded to’ decision from the Panel members, the Clerk to the Dorset Police and Crime Panel and Monitoring Officer for Dorset Council confirmed his decision.

 

Decision: that the appointment of Mr Chilton as Chief Constable was supported.

 

 

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.