Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2022

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2022 were confirmed and signed.

The Service Manager for Assurance updated the panel on the following actions from the previous meeting:

Action: PCC to report back as part of the Q3 report with the response to the issues raised relating to theft outside of the home; 

The PCC encouraged members of the public to come forward with any concerns.

Action: PCC to send further details relating to the summer safety survey to panel members.

The PCC gave an update of the results of his survey. From 2650 respondents, 58% felt Dorset one of safest/the safest county and the data corresponded with the aims of the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan

Action: PCC to report back on the force’s Gold Group findings on 101 and emergency response. 

The PCC was still in dialogue and would report back at next panel meeting.

Action: PCC to provide panel members with the measures of success and a slide would be sent in advance of the next meeting. 

The PCC explained that this was in context of the local implementation of the “From harm to hope drug strategy”  There were additional meetings scheduled in February and March and he would report back at the next Panel meeting.

Action: A paper on the value of the Restorative Justice Service had been added to the Forward Plan.

Action:  PCC to provide details of funding for speed cameras.

The PCC reported back with installation and ongoing maintenance costs.

Action: PCP Complaints Sub Committee to hold an informal virtual meeting to review the protocol.  

Outstanding.

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.

The Director of Legal and Democratic and Monitoring Officer confirmed that Councillors on the Panel were able to take part and vote on the Budget Precept.

Representatives of town or parish councils and members of the public who live, work or represent an organisation within the Dorset Council area are welcome to submit up to two questions or two statements for each meeting. Alternatively, you could submit one question and one statement for each meeting.

All submissions must be emailed in full to elaine.tibble@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by 8.30am on Monday 30 January 2023. When submitting your question(s) and/or statement(s) please note that:

· no more than three minutes will be allowed for any one question or statement to be asked/read.

· a question may include a short pre-amble to set the context and this will be included within the three minute period.

· please note that sub divided questions count towards your total of two.

· when submitting a question please indicate who the question is for (e.g. the name of the committee), Include your name, address and contact details. Only your name will be published but we may need your other details to contact you about your question or statement in advance of the meeting.

· questions and statements received in line with the council’s rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the agenda.

· all questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting.

Dorset Council Constitution - Procedure Rule 9

Councillor Questions

Councillors can submit up to two valid questions at each meeting and sub divided questions count towards this total. Questions and statements received will be published as a supplement to the agenda and all questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting.

The submissions must be emailed in full to elaine.tibble@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk by 8.30am on Monday 30 January 2023.

Dorset Council Constitution – Procedure Rule 13

There were no statements or questions from Town and Parish Council or members of the public.

To set out the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposals for the 2023/24 budget, precept and the medium term financial strategy.

The Chairman reminded the Panel Members of the voting rules for the Budget Precept and the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) presented the report.

The PCC gave an update on the reduction in crime in various areas and the continued work to ensure every penny counted.  This included the lobbying of Central Government over the unfair funding formula.  The recommendation to the panel was to approve a £15 (Based on Band D property) increase to ensure that the Force could continue delivering for Dorset and recruit an extra 15 officers in addition to those secured via the national Police Uplift Programme.

The Chief Constable was invited to address the Panel (00.23.45 on recording). He expressed his gratitude for the support of the Panel on the 2022/23 Precept and the achievements made with the support of the PCC.

He explained that Anti-Social Behaviour had reduced by 30% in Dorset.  Nationally violence against a person had increased following Covid but Dorset’s percentage increase was around half the national increase in percentage terms.

The crime rate in Dorset was the 6^th lowest in the country, having improved from 10^th in the last 18 months and there had been a 65% reduction in County Lines.

The Chief Constable set out some headlines in relation to inflationary pressures. Dorset was 42^nd out of 43 forces when it came to national funding and national work was ongoing to address the funding formula.

Attached as appendix 1 2022/23 Precept letter from Chief Constable to PCC.

The PCC invited the OPCC Chief Finance Officer to give a detailed outline of the financial paper (44:05 on recording).

The Chief Finance Officer set the scene for the current financial challenges.  The settlement contained within the report had been confirmed and the Panel was given an update on the recent changes to the budget together with an explanation of the report contents.  The Chief Finance Officer was able to confirm positive assurance on both reserves and robustness of the budget.

The PCC had undertaken a public survey to see how the residents felt about the precept.  The Director of Operations detailed the results of the survey (50:15 on recording).

The Panel Members were given the opportunity to put forward their questions to the PCC.  (54:47 on the recording).

In summary Panel Members were advised that:

A lower precept increase would result in a reduction in the number of officers and inability to maintain the uplift numbers.

It was important to maintain the safety of the Dorset residents and the PCC clarified that over half of the properties in Dorset were Band C or below and would have a proportionately lower increase than the Band D £15 increase.  The precept also comprised a small part of the Council Tax bill.  Dorset was one of the lowest funded forces in the country and the PCC had been working hard to address this with the National Funding Formula Group.

The biggest risk assumption for 23/24 was the pay award.  The Chief  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

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 welcomed Temporary Assistant Commissioner Pearson (T/AC Pearson), the preferred candidate for the position of Chief Constable and outlined the process of the confirmation hearing.

The PCC introduced T/AC Pearson and played the video used for the recruitment process.

The Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer of the OPCC – outlined the process, the post criteria and background to the appointment (02:14:36 on recording), and thanked those officers of the OPCC who worked very hard across the Christmas period to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion.

T/AC Pearson was invited to introduce herself to the Panel Members.  T/AC Pearson gave the panel some information about herself, why she wanted to be Chief Constable for Dorset and what had bought her to the county.  She was keen to assure that Dorset was in a good place with solid foundations which she wanted to work and improve on (02:26:01 on recording).

Panel Members were then given the opportunity to put forward questions to the PCC and T/AC Pearson (02:29:42 on recording).

The Chief Executive (OPCC) confirmed that the candidate met the criteria for the post as set out in the role profile. 

T/AC Pearson responded to questions confirming that she had the professional competence together with the personal independence to carry out the role.

Proposed by, Mr Mike Short, seconded by Cllr Bobbie Dove

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).

The Panel members retired to make their decision.

Proposed by: Cllr Bobbie Dove, seconded by Cllr May Haines

Decision: That the appointment of Ms Amanda Pearson to the role of Chief Constable was approved.

Cllr Howell abstained from the vote.

Cllr Les Fry left the meeting

To receive nominations for and appoint to, the roles of Chair and Vice-Chair 2023/24.

Proposed by Cllr Bobbie Dove, seconded by Cllr David Taylor

Decision: that Mr Mike Short be elected as Chairman for the June 2023/24 year.

Proposed by Cllr Sherry Jespersen, seconded by Cllr May Haines

Decision: that Cllr Bobbie Dove be elected Vice-Chairman for the June 2023/24 year.

To receive the Q3 Monitoring Report.

The PCC provided an overview of progress against the Police and Crime Plan (PCP) and reported that crime and incidents were going down.

Together, with the Priority Leads, updates on the 6 priorities were discussed and scrutinised.

·       Cut crime and anti-social behaviour

·       Make policing more visible and connected

·       Fight violent crime and high harm

·       Fight rural crime

·       Put victim and communities first

·       Make every penny count

Actions from discussions:

ACTION – For the PCC: Update on Operation Soteria Bluestone at the next meeting and deep dive into Domestic Abuse later in the year.  (Workplan)

ACTION – For the Police and Crime Panel: Consider adding the new Serious Violence Duty legislation to the Forward Workplan

ACTION – look at encouraging male victims of Domestic Violence to come forward.[BS1] 

To receive a verbal update from the Chairman of the PCP Complaints Sub-Committee.

The Chairman of the PCP Complaints Sub-Committee advised that there was one complaint that had originally been dealt with by the Chief Executive.  The complaint had been re-written and included other forces.  The Service Manager for Assurance (Dorset Council) and the Chief Executive (OPCC) were dealing with this.

To receive and review the PCP Forward Plan.

The Service Manager for Assurance updated the Panel on changes identified in the workplan.

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 additional exempt business.