The Chair welcomed everyone to the Panel’s first meeting of 2022 and reported that today’s Panel meeting would be webcast live to the public.

An extended welcome went to Gemma Hyland, Senior Communications Officer, OPCC. 

Apologies for absence were noted as above. 

None. 

To determine whether there are any additional items of business which by reason of special circumstances the Chair is of the opinion should be considered at the meeting; the reason(s) for such urgency to be stated.

None. 

To identify items where resolutions may be moved to exclude the public and press.  (For items marked * the public and press may be excluded from the meeting).

None. 

None. 

The Panel’s Rules of Procedure and the procedure for asking questions of the Commissioner and the Panel is available at: https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/sypcp

If any member of the public wishes to ask a question of the Police and Crime Commissioner at the meeting, they should be submitted in writing at least 5 working days before the meeting and be no more than 100 words in length.  They must not relate to an individual case, and must not repeat, or substantially repeat, any question that has been asked and answered at a meeting of the Panel meeting in the six months preceding the date of the meeting.

Questions should be submitted to Linda Noble, Service Improvement and Scrutiny Officer (Host Authority for the Police and Crime Panel) by email – lindanoble@barnsley.gov.uk

There were no public questions to the Police and Crime Commissioner.  

If any member of the public wishes to ask a question of the Police and Crime Panel at the meeting, they should be submitted in writing at least 5 working days before the meeting and be no more than 100 words in length.

They must not relate to an individual case, and must not repeat, or substantially repeat, any question that has been asked and answered at a meeting of the Panel meeting in the six months preceding the date of the meeting.

Questions should be submitted to Linda Noble, Service Improvement and Scrutiny Officer (Host Authority for the Police and Crime Panel) by email – lindanoble@barnsley.gov.uk

There were no public questions to the Police and Crime Panel. 

Matters Arising / Action Log

The Panel discussed and noted progress in respect of agreed actions captured on the Panel’s Action Log set out in Appendix A to the minutes. 

RESOLVED –

i)          That the minutes of the Police and Crime Panel meeting held on 13 December 2021 be agreed and signed by the Chair as a correct record. 

ii)         Noted that the Panel’s Action Log would be updated following discussion and agreement at today’s meeting. 

A report was submitted which provided Members with the Commissioner’s draft Police and Crime Plan (Plan) –‘Safer Streets More Police’ for 2022-2025. 

It was reported that the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 made provision for a new or returning PCC to draft and issue a new Plan, in consultation with the Chief Constable, to set the policing objectives for the local area.  The 2011 Act also provides for the Plan to be kept under review and variations issued, where necessary. 

The Commissioner reported that, as in previous years, the draft Plan was based on information and consultation from a range of sources, and reflected the same three priorities – Protecting Vulnerable People, Tackling Crime and Anti-social Behaviour and Treating people Fairly.  In addition, there were also some particular areas of focus in the coming year, such as: Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG); Drugs – and the gangs and serious violence associated with them; Better representation of the communities of South Yorkshire – male/female, ethnic minorities; and Road Safety and speeding. 

In addition to local priorities, the Commissioner said that he needed to ensure that the Government’s National Crime and Policing Measures were taken into account in the Plan. 

The Panel noted that the section on Child Sexual Exploitation may be further amended slightly, depending on additional information sought from South Yorkshire Police.

The Commissioner provided the Panel with a detailed overview of his draft Plan.  The Panel were made aware that, during 2022/23 there would be more new police officers in South Yorkshire funded from both national and local uplift. 

During the 2022/23 financial year, there would be 43.5 additional officer posts in the Barnsley district, 100 additional officer posts in the Doncaster district, 49 additional officer posts in Rotherham and 105.5 posts in the Sheffield district.  Overall, there would be more neighbourhood and responses officers in South Yorkshire to deal with crimes. 

The Commissioner invited the Panel to comment on the Plan’s contents in the form of a report, and make any recommendations by 18 February 2022, to enable the Plan to be published in a timely manner.

The Panel raised the following key points:

·      Mr Carratt asked the Commissioner to consider rephrasing ‘Priority 1 – Protecting Vulnerable People’ to ‘Working in Partnership to Protect Vulnerable People’ and to split this into children and adults. 

·      Mr Carratt asked the Commissioner to consider strengthening wording in the Plan with regards to commissioning work undertaken by the PCC to support victims and include details of the work undertaken by the Force to support victims of crime.

·      Mr Carratt also asked the Commissioner to consider the inclusion of high-level impact statements which could sit alongside some of the priorities. 

·      Councillor Garbutt referred to the ‘Introduction’ section of the Plan under the heading ‘Aim’.  He asked the Commissioner to consider the inclusion of the word ‘travel’ in the ‘Aim’ section.  This was due to the Commissioner including road safety in the Plan as a priority. 

·      Councillor Garbutt referred  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

A report of the Chief Finance Officer, OPCC was submitted to notify the Panel of the Commissioner’s proposed Council Tax precept for 2022/23.

The Commissioner referred the Panel to the proposal in the report at paragraph 2 (a).  He recommended that the Panel support a proposed annual increase in the policing element of the Council Tax (the precept) of £10.00 on a Band D property, which was levied to support:

·      The investment in the required infrastructure to ensure all officers are fully supported in their journey into the Force with further planned investment in both accommodation, Central Assessment and Practice Education (CAPE) assessment and tutoring support.

·      Enhancement of the operating model and investment in SYP priorities:

·      Maintaining the current levels of PCSO numbers at 126, and

·      Improving the assets e.g. technology and estates. 

The Commissioner provided the Panel with context to his proposal.  The Home Office police funding settlement for 2022/23 had announced additional funding of £795.8m, for policing areas, with 31% of this expected to come from increased Council Tax (£246m). 

The settlement gave Police and Crime Commissioners in England flexibility to increase the policing element of Council Tax precept locally up to a limit of £10 on a Band D property.  Government allocation calculations had assumed the maximum precept increase. 

The Panel noted that the core grant for South Yorkshire amounted to £233.8m, a cash increase of 5.8%, which covered the current cost of additional police officer uplift, national insurance increase, and contribution towards pay inflation. 

The Commissioner said that, based on the latest tax base estimates from the four Local Authorities in South Yorkshire, after a £10 increase, the Medium Term Resource Strategy (MTRS) included planned savings of £1.7m in 2022/23, with continued savings plans for the whole of the MTRS period.  Despite these savings, the use of £2.3m of reserves in 2022/23 would be required to balance the budget. 

The Commissioner highlighted that South Yorkshire Police also have a number of legacy costs to budget for, which were currently estimated to reach £121m by 2026/27, of which £18m would have to be paid by the Force. 

During 2022/23, the use of £0.2m would be required from reserves to balance the budget, and a combination of savings and use of reserves amounting to £11.3m throughout the CSR MTRS period. 

Referring to the Reserves Movement graph at Appendix B of the report, the Commissioner said that, looking ahead over coming years, there would remain a deficit over those years which would have to be funded from reserves unless the Government grant was more generous.  If no action was taken by the Savings Team, then the Force would run out of reserves by 2026/27. 

An online survey had been undertaken with the public in relation to policing priorities and the Council Tax precept.  A total of 1,042 responses had been received and the results showed that, 46% of respondents (479) were supportive of up to a £10 (Band D property) increase.  54% (563) were not supportive of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

A report of the Commissioner was presented to inform Members that the Commissioner is supported by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) in delivering his Police and Crime Plan, and in effectively discharging his wide range of legal responsibilities.  The OPCC has a Delivery Plan which outlines how this is undertaken each year. 

The report provided Members with an update on key PCC and OPCC activities against the new Delivery Plan since the Panel’s last meeting held on 13 December 2021. 

The report also provided Members with information on the decisions taken by the PCC since the Panel’s last meeting.

The key activities reported for the period under the headings within the OPCC’s new Delivery Plan were detailed in the report and noted by Members.

Councillor Garbutt referred to two recent reports in the media in relation to various aspects of policing, including Child Sexual Exploitation.  He sought assurances from the Commissioner that South Yorkshire Police was not one of the forces who had been listed as not having learned any lessons. 

M Buttery replied that Child Sexual Exploitation remained a specific area of focus for the Commissioner and was included in the new Police and Crime Plan.  Child Sexual Exploitation would be discussed at the March meeting of the Public Accountability Board, where the Commissioner rigorously holds the Force to account in this area. 

In addition, the Commissioner was awaiting the receipt of the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) independent investigation around non-recent CSE in the UK and Rotherham, together with the Independent Police Complaints’ Commission’s investigations in relation to the behaviour of officers working at the time. 

M Buttery provided assurances that there was no part of the Commissioner’s holding to account arrangements where CSE was not a high priority.  In addition, CSE was also considered at both public and private Force and OPCC meetings. 

The Commissioner reminded Members that Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) had rated South Yorkshire Police outstanding in the area of ethical leadership.  

In response to a question from Councillor Baum-Dixon, the Commissioner provided assurances that any recommendations arising from the two reports would be taken very seriously by himself and the Force. 

The Commissioner invited Councillor Baum-Dixon to meet with staff at the Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) Unit in Rotherham to obtain an overview of the work they undertake. 

Councillor Baum-Dixon welcomed the invitation. 

Councillor Milsom asked if the joint PCC and South Yorkshire Police Sustainability Strategy Action Plan could be included in the Update reports at future Panel meetings. 

M Buttery acknowledged the request and agreed to include information in future PCC Update reports. 

Professor James referred to the update in relation to Violence Against Women and Girls.  He raised concerns that, only one of the four Community Safety Partnerships had any reference to Violence Against Women and Girls in their planning and reporting. 

In addition, Professor James said that he had made an observation on previous occasions that many female offenders are  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

Councillor Knowles provided the Panel with a detailed update on the key issues and work currently being undertaken by the Safer and Stronger Doncaster Partnership Board.  It was noted that the Doncaster Community Safety Strategy had been signed-off by full Council ready for publication. 

Councillor Milsom reported that the Safer Sheffield Partnership had been restructured over the last year.  A relaunch of the Partnership was awaited with a new online presence and new ways of working between the various bodies.  A number of Community Safety Wardens had also been recruited. 

Due to the timings of the Barnsley and Rotherham Community Safety Partnership meetings, no updates were available for today’s meeting.   

RESOLVED – That Members of the Police and Crime Panel noted the feedback. 

The Panel noted the contents of a report of the National Association of Police, Fire and Crime Panels which presented the findings of a survey of Police, Fire and Crime Panels in England and Wales.  The report also collated other relevant information to foster good practice amongst Panels.

The results showed a very diverse range of approaches in respect of Panel size, independent co-opted membership, AGM dates, meeting balanced appointment objectives and Panel allowances.

In response to a question from Professor James in relation to the appointment of a Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, the Commissioner reported that recruitment had been delayed due to internal Labour Party issues.

M Buttery added that the Commissioner had received correspondence from the Home Office in relation to South Yorkshire’s resilience plans in the absence of a Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.  The Commissioner had been encouraged by the Home Office to involve the Panel.  A discussion would take place with L Noble after today’s meeting. 

RESOLVED – That Members of the Police and Crime Panel:-

i)          Noted the contents of the National Association of Police, Fire and Crime Panels survey results report. 

ii)         Noted that a discussion would take place after today’s meeting between M Buttery and L Noble in relation to the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner appointment. 

A report was submitted to update Members on current events – national, regional and local, together with future plans in respect of learning and development for the Panel. 

Suggestions for any other learning and development opportunities Members may have to support the Panel’s learning and development were welcomed. 

A summary of the events which had taken place since the last meeting together with details of proposed future events were set out within the report for Members’ information. 

The Panel was reminded that a virtual session with the Violence Reduction Unit had been fixed for Friday 25 February at 10:00 am. 

It was noted that arrangements would be made with the OPCC for Members to visit the Sexual Abuse and Referral Centre (SARC). 

RESOLVED – That Members of the Police and Crime Panel:-

i)          Noted the update.

ii)         Agreed to provide suggestions for future learning and development. 

A report was submitted to set out a schedule of meeting dates for the Police and Crime Panel in 2022/23.

RESOLVED – That Members of the Police and Crime Panel:-

i)          Considered and approved the 2022/23 meeting dates set out below:-

Monday 25 April 2022

Monday 6 June 2022 – Annual Meeting

Monday 18 July 2022

Monday 19 September 2022

Monday 5 December 2022

Friday 3 February 2023

Monday 24 April 2023

All meetings will take place at 1:00 pm with a pre-meeting for Members at 12:30 pm and be held in Barnsley Town Hall, unless stated otherwise.

ii)      Agreed to hold additional / extraordinary meetings / training events as and when appropriate / necessary.

Members considered the 2022/23 Work Programme and were reminded that they could submit issues for the Work Programme that fall within the Panel’s Statutory role in supporting and scrutinising the Commissioner. 

All issues would be given full consideration by the Chair, Vice-Chair and Commissioner at the pre-agenda planning meetings. 

Additionally, Members were encouraged to attend the meetings of the Commissioner’s Public Accountability Board (PAB) to increase their operational knowledge.  These were currently being held virtually and Members could obtain details to ‘dial in’ to the meeting from L Noble or A Shirt. 

Members were reminded that they could also submit questions for PAB through the OPCC, with 5 working days notice prior to the meeting. 

RESOLVED – That Members of the Police and Crime Panel noted the contents of the 2022/23 Work Programme. 

RESOLVED - That the next meeting of the Police and Crime Panel be held on Monday 25 April 2022 at 1:00 pm in Barnsley Town Hall.