The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting, including new Member Councillor Steve Hunt.

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).

RESOLVED - That agenda Item 17 entitled ‘Presentation on the Transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner Functions to the South Yorkshire Mayor’ be considered in the absence of the public and press.

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 Andrew Shirt, Council Governance Officer (Host Authority for the Police and Crime Panel) by email – andrewshirt@barnsley.gov.uk

There were no 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, Council Governance Officer (Host Authority for the Police and Crime Panel) by email – andrewshirt@barnsley.gov.uk

There were no 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 September 2023 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 of the Panel’s Support Officer highlighted that at the meeting held on 23 November 2023 Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council resolved that Councillor Steve Hunt would replace Councillor Ashley Peace as its representative on South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel, due to Councillors in Sheffield changing political party, which has impacted on political proportionality across South Yorkshire.

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

i)            Noted that Councillor Peace’s membership of the Panel ceased on 23 November 2023.

ii)          Noted the appointment of Councillor Hunt to the Panel by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council as its meeting held on 23 November 2023.

iii)         Appointed Councillor Hunt to the Budget Working Group.

A report of the Police and Crime Commissioner was brought to the Committee to provide members with an update on the key PCC activities and decisions, and key OPCC activities against the OPCC’s Delivery Plan.

Dr Billings ran through the main points of the report for the Committee and explained that from his perspective the transfer of functions was handled well, and the transition was running as smoothly as possible.

F Topliss added that the results of the Priorities Survey would be brough to the Committee in the next meeting, members were encouraged to push the survey through their social media pages. So far, the survey had been running for two weeks and there were over 2000 responses.

Members queried the role of the Panel once the transfer of functions had taken place. M Buttery explained that the work involved with supporting the panel was part of the programme’s legislation, the PCC Panel were in place to provide an overview alongside support, meaning the same statutory obligations would apply.

W Carratt asked if the new combined authority mayor could choose to scrap optional boards without the panel’s notification.  M Buttery explained that the Legal Governance Group had taken the view that there wasn’t need for any specific changes to be made to any of the boards.

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

i)           Noted the contents of the report.

ii)          Asked questions on the matters contained within the report, given it explains how the PCC has over this period delivered his Police and Crime Plan and discharged the wide range of his legal responsibilities, and the decisions he has taken which are of public interest.

The report aimed to provide Members with information about how the police and partners as well as the Office of the PCC (OPCC) are working to achieve the outcomes and priorities set out in the Police and Crime Plan for South Yorkshire.

Dr Billings explained that one of the main focus’ was on protecting vulnerable people alongside the police providing the right care at the right time. The final phase would relate to those with mental health issues and having crisis points in public places for those who may need it.

W Carratt asked who was responsible for the mental health response vehicles, Dr Billings explained that it was the NHS.

A conversation arose around burglaries and the figures shown in the report. Councillor Hunt asked if there were any specific hotspot areas. K Wright explained that district breakdowns were not available as the percentages were high across all areas daily, weekly and monthly.

Dr Billings agreed adding that the high percentages related to deprivation and poverty, patrolling those areas was proving effective alongside targeted work on criminal gangs.

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

The report highlighted the consolidated financial position for the period 1 April 2022 to 30 September 2023.

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

A Shirt provided Members with the Learning and Development Update which included current events, together with future plans in respect of learning and development for the Panel. Members were encouraged to provide suggestions for any additional learning and development updates.

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

i)           Noted the update.

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

A Shirt provided Members with the 2023/24 Work Programme for information and explained that Members could nominate topics that fall with 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 meeting of the Commissioner’s Public Accountability Board (PAB) to increase their operational knowledge of how the PCC holds the Chief Constable to account.

RESOLVED - That Members of the Police and Crime Panel noted the contents of the 2023/24 Work Programme.

RESOLVED – That the next meeting of the Police and Crime Panel be held on Monday 5 February 2024, at 1:00 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Church Street, Barnsley, S70 2TA.

RESOLVED – That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and the public interest not to disclose information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.

Members of the Police and Crime Panel were presented with an update on the transfer of the PCC functions to the South Yorkshire Mayor.

RESOLVED - That Members of the Police and Crime Panel noted the update.