Agenda and draft minutes

To elect a Chair for the meeting.

Proposed by Cllr Canavan, seconded by Cllr Flagg.

Decision: That Cllr Bown be appointed as Chair for the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence were received at the meeting.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 28^th September 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2023 were confirmed and signed.

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.

There was no public participation.

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.

Proposed by Cllr Bown, seconded by Cllr Woode.

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 1 of schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The Sub-Committee was convened to consider an appeal following an informal investigation of a complaint against the Police and Crime Commissioner, undertaken by the Monitoring Officer for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Service Manager for Assurance outlined the background and description of the complaint.

As part of their role in determining an appeal, the sub-committee discussed the following points in detail:

·         how the complaint has been managed and responded to through the complaints protocol, including written communication to the complainant and PCC;

·         any written evidence of an informal resolution;

·         any further written comments from the complainant and the PCC submitted to the Sub-Committee;

·         whether to invite the PCC to attend a subsequent meeting to answer questions about the complaint

Decision:

1.    That the complaint had been managed correctly and in accordance with the Complaints Protocol, with the exception of timeliness.

2.    That one element of the complaint had not been resolved and that the Sub-Committee issue an explanatory letter to the complainant setting out the escalation route.

3.    That no change be made to the complaints protocol and that a complaints timeliness KPI be reported quarterly to the Police and Crime Panel.

4.    That changes to the Dorset Council complaints procedure be noted for future reference.