Cllr Pickering was elected to replace Cllr Cherryholme as the Vice-Chair for 2022/23.

The Panel noted that Cllr Haleem continues her second year in office as Chair to the Panel, in accordance with rule 1.1 of the Police and Crime Panel Rules of Procedure.

The Chair Cllr Haleem welcomed everyone to the meeting, including new Members Cllr Downing and Cllr Moyes.

Cllr Haleem expressed the Panel’s gratitude to the Members who had left the Panel this year.

Thanks went to Cllr Cherryholme who had been the Panel’s Vice-Chair from 2021 and to Panel Member Cllr Lodge.  The Panel also thanked Independent Member Professor James. 

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.

Cllr Haleem declared that she had recently been offered the role of CEO for Ashiana.  Cllr Haleem was hoping to commence in role at the end of July 2022. 

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 Andrew Shirt, Senior Members Services Officer (Host Authority for the Police and Crime Panel) by email – andrewshirt@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 Andrew Shirt, Senior Members Services Officer (Host Authority for the Police and Crime Panel) by email – andrewshirt@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 the 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 25^th April 2022 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 presented setting out the membership of the Police and Crime Panel for the municipal year 2022-23.

The membership of the Panel for 2022-23 was noted as follows:-

RESOLVED - That Members of the Police and Crime Panel noted the membership of the Police and Crime Panel 2022-23.

The Commissioner provided the Panel with an update on the concerns which had been raised by Rotherham Councillors regarding Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) in Rotherham. 

The Panel were reminded that Rotherham Councillors had questioned if South Yorkshire Police and Rotherham MBC officers were doing as much as they could to help both victims and potential victims of CSE.  And furthermore, to ensure that CSE victims were being recognised, identified and supported, with all crimes being investigated and taken to Tribunal etc. 

Due to the concerns raised by Rotherham Councillors, this had led to Rotherham MBC commissioning a review of their services. 

Following the April Panel meeting, the results of the review had been published. 

The Commissioner was pleased to report that the main concerns expressed by Rotherham Councillors were reported to be unfounded and there was no anxiety on the part of the reviewers around this.

The review spoke warmly and well of the partnership arrangements in place between South Yorkshire Police and Rotherham MBC.  In addition, the review had highlighted that good working practices were being followed by the Force. 

The Commissioner said that it was a good review, and he was very satisfied with the outcome. 

The Commissioner requested the Panel to note the position, due to it being a concern for all Panel Members. 

Cllr Baum-Dixon highlighted that the review had also made several suggested recommendations for continuous improvement. 

In relation to the Monitoring Delivery of the Police and Crime Plan - Quarterly Report, Cllr Garbutt commented that he had concerns around the rise in recorded domestic abuse cases and also the fall in domestic abuse crime arrest rates.  He asked the Commissioner to provide his comments. 

The Commissioner replied that he would wish to see high arrest rates wherever possible.  His principal concern was whether arrest rates were being maintained for high-risk vulnerable people, which he understood were currently at over 90%, as more victims come forward and feel confident to report domestic abuse.  Furthermore, the Force continued its efforts to make reporting easier, by providing the facility to report crimes online.

Cllr Garbutt requested reassurance around the meaning of ‘high-risk’ victims and how the measurement of ‘high-risk’ is applied across the Force.  Furthermore, he asked if the OPCC was confident that the measurement of ‘high-risk’ was applied appropriately by everyone concerned. 

S Baldwin provided the Panel with reassurances that the measurement of ‘high-risk’ victims was being applied appropriately by everyone concerned in the Force. 

It was explained that high-risk victims are assessed at two points.  Firstly, at the initial incident response, which is assessed by an officer who attends the incident.  High-risk victims are also prioritised when calls are received into the Force’s Control Room, where the vulnerability of those victims and circumstances are assessed thoroughly against a framework. 

In addition, the Force also has a secondary Risk Assessment Team who undertake thorough research of all the available information to appropriately risk assess and then onward refer those victims to social care or other support  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

A report of the Police and Crime Commissioner was presented to provide Members with the Delivery Plan from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) which explained how the OPCC is contributing to delivery of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s (PCC’s) Police and Crime Plan for 2022-2025. 

The Panel noted that, as in previous years, the PCC had asked that the OPCC, and those he commissions (including the Chief Constable) to provide delivery plans to explain how each organisation intends to contribute towards delivering the priorities and areas of focus within the Police and Crime Plan.  In addition, the PCC also required assurance as to how each organisation would monitor and report on progress.  It was expected that the content of the delivery plans would be proportionate to the level of funding provided to each organisation.

The OPCC had developed the Delivery Plan at Appendix B to the report to respond to the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan.

The Delivery Plan also explained the work the OPCC will undertake to support the PCC and his two statutory officers in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities.

Appendix A to the report provided the Panel with a ‘Plan on a Page’ and supporting narrative at Appendix B. 

The Panel noted that the PCC had maintained the same overall aim for South Yorkshire: to be a safe place to live, learn and work.  The PCC had also retained the same three strategic priorities of:

·     Protecting vulnerable people

·     Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour

·     Treating people fairly

M Buttery highlighted that the Delivery Plan for 2022-24 contained several new areas of focus, including:

·        Responding to the PCC Review, Fire Reform White Paper and the Levelling up Agenda;

·        Understanding the strategic response and what is working in the area of Violence against Women and Girls, Road Safety and Treating People Fairly; and

·        Pursuing appropriate external funding.

Cllr Garbutt referred to page 8 of the report entitled ‘Road Safety’.  He highlighted that, parking was not included within the report and asked if consideration could be given to its inclusion.  He also highlighted that road users are not just car drivers and asked that this be referenced in the Plan. 

Furthermore, he reported that Sheffield has one of the highest rates of children’s deaths and serious injuries from road accidents.  He asked if details could be included in the Plan in relation to how partners are going to address this.

M Buttery highlighted that there was a key distinction between the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan, which set out the Commissioner’s priorities and areas of focus. 

It was confirmed that road safety featured in the OPCC’s Delivery Plan setting out the work which would be undertaken by the OPCC in supporting the Commissioner, as opposed to being the law enforcement agency.  In addition, South Yorkshire Police had its own Delivery Plan which had been presented to the Commissioner. 

The Panel were informed that the Commissioner has a convening role but has no powers for dealing with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

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 25 April 2022.

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

Cllr Davison reported that one of the objectives of the Sheffield Local Area Committees (LACs) was to analyse domestic abuse and the abuse of vulnerable people.  He asked how the LACs could be informed of the work being undertaken by Commissioner.

M Buttery replied that a question had been raised with the Force’s Senior Command Team at the last Public Accountability Board around how the LACs areas of focus could feed into the priorities of the Community Safety Partnerships. 

Following discussion, it was suggested that the LACs be responsible for obtaining the information they require from the Force/OPCC.   Cllr Davison agreed to provide feedback to the LACs. 

RESOLVED – That Members of the Police and Crime Panel noted the contents of the report and commented on any matters arising.

A report was submitted to present the draft Police and Crime Panel’s Annual Report 2021-22 for Members’ consideration and approval.

Members noted that, whilst it was not a requirement of the legislation for Police and Crime Panels to produce an Annual Report, it was recognised best practice that Panels will report on its activities and other key information.

In 2020 the Panel had made a decision to only provide printed copies of the Annual Report to libraries across South Yorkshire, and those Town and Parish Councils without an email address. South Yorkshire Councillors, South Yorkshire MPs and Town and Parish Councils with an email address would receive an electronic copy of the Annual Report.

A copy of the Annual Report would also be published on the Panel’s website.

The indicative costs for the production of the 2021-22 Annual Report were set out in paragraph 2 of the report and would be met from the Home Office Grant funding provided to administer the Panel.

Members were requested to provide comments on the contents of the Annual Report to A Shirt by Friday 24 June 2022, following which design work would be undertaken in-house to produce the report.

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

i)           Agreed to consider and provide comments on the draft 2021-22 Police and Crime Panel Annual Report by Friday 24 June 2022.

ii)          Agreed to allocate funding to print the required number of copies for distribution as detailed within the Executive Summary of the report.

A report of the Clerk to the Panel was presented to inform Members that the Lead / Link Member arrangement has been cited as best practice for Police and Crime Panels across the country as an alternative model of delivering effective support and scrutiny for the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The arrangement provides for additional capacity for Members to explore, in more detail, key elements of the Police and Crime Plan priorities.  As outlined in the report to the Panel on 1 July 2019, the Lead / Link model varies from region to region dependent on the number of members on the Panel, and the capacity to support extra meetings / activity.  What is important is that the model works for both the Panel and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).

At the Panel meeting held on 7 June 2021, Members agreed to continue with the Budget Working Group and Performance Sub-Group with the following Lead Members, but to review on an annual basis:

· Budget Working Group – Cllr Haleem 

· Performance Sub-group –Professor James (Lead Member) and Cllr Garbutt (Deputy Lead Member)

However, following the District Council Annual meeting there had been some changes in the membership of the Panel which had resulted in vacancies as set out in paragraphs 7 and 9 of the report.

Following discussion, the Panel agreed that Cllr Davison be appointed to the Budget Working Group. 

The Panel agreed that Cllr Garbutt be appointed as Lead Member for Performance, with Cllr Haleem appointed as Deputy Lead Member for Performance.

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

i)           Agreed that the current arrangements for the Budget Working Group and Performance Sub-Group continue.

ii)          Agreed to appoint Cllr Davison to serve on the Budget Working Group. 

iii)         Agreed to appoint Cllr Garbutt as Lead Member for Performance.

iv)        Agreed to appoint Cllr Haleem as Deputy Lead Member for Performance.

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.

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

i)           Noted the update.

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

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.

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 18 July 2022, at 1:00 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Church Street, Barnsley.