Agenda and minutes

*Councillors R Berry, S Hirst, A James, S Serridge and P Wilson replaced Councillors P Gibson, M Ranson, M Thomas, A Barnes and A Bradley respectively.

Officers in attendance:

Ian Fisher - County Secretary and Solicitor – Lancashire County Council

Roy Jones –Assistant County Secretary – Lancashire County Council

Christine Durber – Deputy Chief Executive – Lancashire Police Authority

The Panel is asked to appoint a Chairman for the remainder of the 2012/13 Municipal Year

The Panel received two nominations for the appointment of Chairman of the Panel for the remainder of the 2012/13 municipal year.

The Panel was reminded that only the 15 appointed Panel members would be eligible to vote on this matter.

On being put to a named vote, it was:

Resolved:-  That Councillor Kate Hollern be appointed as Chairman of the Panel for the remainder of 2012/13.

The Panel is asked to appoint a Vice Chairman for the remainder of the 2012/13 Municipal Year.

The Panel was asked to appoint a Vice Chairman for the remainder of the 2012/13 municipal year.

Resolved:-  That Councillor Simon Blackburn be appointed as Vice Chairman of the Panel for the remainder of 2012/13.

(report attached)

Roy Jones, Assistant County Secretary presented a report on the membership and Terms of Reference of the Lancashire Police and Crime Panel.

The Police and Crime Panel had been established for Lancashire on the basis of a joint committee comprising 1 councillor from each local authority within the Lancashire Police area with 2 co-opted independent members and, subject to approval by the Secretary of State, up to 3 additional co-opted members.

The Panel was asked to agree to the appointment of the 3 additional co-opted members to serve on the Panel.

It was noted that a further two independent co-opted persons would also be appointed to serve on the Panel and that all Panel Members would have equal voting rights.

Discussion took place on the proposed Panel arrangements set out in Appendix A to the report and in particular the cost to be borne by constituent councils.  One member maintained that the cost had been underestimated and that this could prove to be a distraction for the Panel. It was suggested that these concerns be conveyed to the Home Secretary. 

Resolved:-

i)  That the membership and Terms of Reference as set out in the report be noted.

ii)  The panel arrangements and the procedure rules as set out in
Appendix 'A' to be the report be noted.

iii)  That subject to the approval of the Home Secretary, Councillors Neil Mottershead, Liz Oades and Malcolm Thomas be appointed to serve as additional co-opted members on the Panel.

iv)  That the County Council's Standing Orders, where they relate to the operation of and proceedings for Committees, be adopted by the Panel as the default Standing Orders for the Panel.   

v)  That the concerns of the Panel, in respect of the costs to be borne by constituent authorities, be conveyed to the Home Secretary.

The Panel is to be given a brief overview of the new governance arrangements for Policing and the key issues for the Panel.

A PowerPoint presentation on the key functions of the Lancashire Police and Crime Panel was made by Roy Jones who was accompanied by Christine Durber, the Deputy Chief Executive of Lancashire Police Authority.

The Panel was advised that their primary purpose was to scrutinise the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and operate as a critical friend offering challenge and support.

The key functions of the Panel would be to review and report on the PCC's Police and Crime Plan and annual report and to review and make recommendations on the PCC's level of precept.

The Panel noted that it would also have the power to:

·  review Chief Constable and other senior appointments;

·  scrutinise the key strategic decisions made and actions taken by the PCC;

·  consider and resolve complaints against the PCC and Deputy PCC; and

·  make reports or recommendations to the PCC on the discharge of his/her functions.

The Panel was reminded that the PCC elections would be held on 15 November, 2012 and that the successful candidate would take up office at midnight on the 21 November, 2012.

The Deputy Chief Executive informed the Panel that the Lancashire Police Authority would transfer into the office of the PCC following his/her election. The Panel noted that there would be a reciprocal duty on all partners i.e. the Chief Constable, local authorities, the criminal justice system, community safety partnerships etc and the PCC to work together to ensure the partnership was both efficient and effective.

The Panel thanked the officers for their presentation and requested that a copy of the PowerPoint presentation be circulated to all Panel members following the meeting.

Resolved:-  That the presentation be noted.

(report attached)

The Assistant County Secretary presented a report setting out details of the Policing Protocol Order 2010 which related to how the Police and Crime Panel would work with others.

The Panel was informed that they must have regard to the Policing Protocol issued by the Home Secretary which outlines the ways in which the Home Secretary, the Police and Crime Commissioner, the Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Panel, should work together.

The Protocol makes provision about the ways in which these relevant persons should exercise, or refrain from exercising, functions so as to encourage, maintain or improve working relationships (including co-operative working); and limit or prevent the overlapping or conflicting exercise of functions.

The Panel's attention was drawn to paragraph 8 of the Protocol which calls on all parties to establish and maintain effective working relationships.  It was expected that the principles of goodwill, professionalism, openness and trust would underpin the relationship between them and that all parties would do their utmost to make the relationship work.

Resolved: That the Policing Protocol Order 2010 be noted.

(report attached)

A report was presented on the required arrangements for the appointment of two independent members of the Panel.

The Panel noted the guidance produced by the Local Government Association on how Police and Crime Panels should go about appointing independent co-opted members.  This included the establishment of a Selection Panel to appoint the independent co-opted members.

It was agreed that the Selection Panel would comprise of the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Councillors Peter Rankin, Julie Cooper and Michael Ranson.

The Panel was informed that once appointed, the two co-opted Independent persons would have equal voting rights.

Resolved: That the arrangements for the appointment of the two co-opted independent members, including the establishment of a Selection Panel, be approved.

(report attached)

A report was presented on a proposed programme of meetings for 2012/13 together with a suggested Work Plan for the Panel.  The suggested work programme followed the statutory remit and functions of the Panel and the expected activities that it would undertake in its first year of operation. The suggested meeting dates had been selected to meet required statutory deadlines and processes, and particularly in relation to the Panel's function in respect of the PCCs budget and proposed precept.

Following discussion, it was agreed that future meetings of the Panel would be held both in the daytime and the evening at various venues across the County.

Resolved:  That the programme of future meeting, as set out in the report now presented, be approved.

(report attached)

A report was presented on the way in which the work of the Police and Crime Panel could be promoted in the future.

In order to give the Panel a distinct identity it was proposed that a definite brand, incorporating a specific colour scheme and logo be established which each individual local authority could then use when promoting the Panel.  It was also proposed that the primary means of promoting the work of the Panel should be done through the establishment of a webpage/website. This would be created, to sit on the County Council's Website (as host Authority) to reflect the distinct identity of the Panel. 

The Panel was also asked to consider whether they felt it would be appropriate to webcast the Panel meeting at County Hall.

Resolved:   That

i)  The report be noted

ii)  A definite brand, incorporating a specific colour scheme and logo be established.

iii)  A webpage/website be created, to sit on the County Council's Website to reflect the distinct identity of the Panel.

iv)  Consideration of whether to webcast the meetings of the Panel at County Hall be deferred.

There were no items of urgent business.

The date of the next meeting is to be agreed by the panel in accordance with item 7 on the agenda.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Panel would be held on Monday 1st October 2012 at 10.00 a.m. in Cabinet Room C at County Hall, Preston.