Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED: That Councillor Bernard Peters be appointed Chairman of the Panel for the ensuring year.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Richard Cox be appointed Vice Chairman of the Panel for the ensuring year.

Councillors Bernard Peters, Bryan Jones and Richard Cox declared that they had worked with Helen Fisher as a local Councillor.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Panel meetings held on 1^st and 15^th February 2021 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

The Panel were reminded that they were required to appoint two independent co-optee members.

Mr Darbys term of office came to an end in May 2021 and a formal recruitment process had been followed which concluded in interviews being held on 15 June 2021.

The Interview panel comprised Mr Walker, Councillor T Holmes and Councillor B Peters.

A number of candidates were interviewed and the Panel were asked to formally appoint Mr Adrian Bowen as co-optee member.

The position was for four years and would start following ratification of the Panel.

The Panel expressed their thanks to Mr Darby who had been a member of the panel since 2012 and was the previous Vice Chairman.

RESOLVED:

a)    That Mr Adrian Bowen be appointed as independent Co-optee for a period of 4 years.

b)    That the Chairman writes to Mr Darby to thank him for his membership of the panel for past 9 years.

To meet the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner.

The Chairman welcomed Mr Adams to the Panel and his new role as Police Fire and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire.  Ben Adams introduced himself to the Panel and explained that his key objective was to keep Staffordshire residents safe.  Although this was the early days of his term of office, he envisaged that this priority would include:

·       Visible policing

·       Improving regional relationships with partners such as West Midlands anti- terrorism

·       Balancing the need to deal with changing crime methods and visible policing

·       Sharing assets

·       Recognising and addressing different challenges in different localities

·       Working with communities

·       Providing tools and training to both Police and Fire staff, to enable them to effectively deal with situations they face.

A new Police and Crime Plan would be shared with the panel and Mr Adams was looking forward to being held to account for its delivery.

The Panel thanked Mr Adams for his presentation and after a number of questions the following information was noted:

·       It was felt that the current balance between enforcement of Covid-19 regulations and encouraging the public to ‘do the right thing’ during periods of lockdown and social restrictions, was working well. 

·       There had been a recent rise in 999 calls with the easing of lockdown regulations. 

·       The number of domestic violence calls would be reviewed and brought to the panel if required. 

·       The impact of Covid on people’s mental health and any increased need for police services would be assessed.

·       The recent recruitment of Police officers/Cadets and Specials reflected the diverse population of the county.

·       Community Safety Partnerships would be promoted, and partnership working would be essential in improving services.

·       Response times for Police in some areas of the county was felt to be too slow, particularly in rural villages.  Response vehicles were being positioned in places where they could respond quickly, and this was reviewed regularly.

·       Inconsiderate parking and enforcement were an issue in some areas, particularly around schools.  There was a range of powers available to different bodies and it was hoped that discussions with the County Council could take place to improve the situation.

·       It was felt that PCSO’s were less visible in some localities and this caused concern to the public.  It was noted that the number of PCSO’s had reduced slightly from 220 to 200 but they were being deployed where they were most needed.  The aim was for more flexibility.

·       The 101 system and its speed in responding to calls was raised and it was reported that this was a priority area as all public contact and information was essential in sharing information effectively.

RESOLVED: That the Commissioners Police and Crime Plan be considered at the next meeting of the Panel.

Questions to the Commissioner are invited from members of the public who live or work in Staffordshire.  Notice of questions must be received by no later than three clear working days before the Panel meeting.  More information on where and how to submit a question can be found at https://bit.ly/34arVDw

The Panel had received two questions from members of the public, one from Mr Dodd concerning the number of complaints made against Staffordshire Police and the second from Mr Curry concerning speeding in Burntwood.  Both questions were listed in the report and the Commissioner had provided written responses.

Mr Dodd and Mr Curry had been invited to the meeting but were both unable to attend.  The agenda and written response had been forwarded to them.

The Panel thanked the Commissioner for his response but felt that they would benefit from training on the complaints system for both Police and Fire service.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the questions and responses be noted.

b)    That training be provided to the Panel on the complaints process for both Police and Fire Services.

a)      Firefighters Pensions (injury awards)

https://staffordshire-pfcc.gov.uk/cms/wp-content/uploads/SCF-D-202122-001.pdf

b)  Princes Trust Peer Mentoring Pilot

https://staffordshire-pfcc.gov.uk/cms/wp-content/uploads/SCP-D-202122-002.pdf

Details were submitted of decisions published by the Commissioner since the last Panel meeting.

·       Firefighters Pensions (injury awards)

·       Princes Trust Peer Mentoring Pilot

No further questions were asked on the two items.

RESOLVED – That the decisions be noted.

The Panel received the annual report which provided information on the Home Office Grant allocated to the host authority which was intended to meet the costs of the administrative support and management services of the panel.  The Grant allocation for 2021/22 had not yet been received.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Panel received the annual report which provided information on the number of complaints referred to the panel which relate to the personal conduct of the Commissioner and/or his Deputy.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Members of the Panel questioned/sought the views of the Commissioner on the following issues and received the responses indicated:

RESOLVED – That the responses be noted.

The next meeting of the Panel would be held on 25 October 2021.  The Chairman and Commissioner would work together to allocate items discussed earlier in the meeting to an appropriate meeting.

RESOLVED – That the dates future meetings be noted.

The Panel adjourned at 15.05pm for a comfort break and reconvened at 15.15pm.

Briefing note and background information attached.

(a)  To receive representations from the Police and Crime Commissioner on the criteria to be met by the proposed appointee

(b)  To question the proposed appointee on her skills, experience and ability to meet the criteria for the post.

The report of the Secretary to the Panel informed members that, in accordance with Schedule 1 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 the Panel was required to hold a Confirmation Hearing following receipt of formal notification by the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner of his wish to appoint his Deputy Commissioner.

The report explained that guidance on the role of the Panel recommended that through questioning of the candidate they consider her ‘professional competence’ and ‘personal independence’.

Presentation by and questions to Helen Fisher

Helen Fisher briefly summarised her business and political career which included Councillor for Burntwood Town Council, Lichfield District Council and Staffordshire County Council. 

The Panel questioned Helen Fisher on various issues including how she would support the Commissioner, how she would measure her own success, how she would bring about change and if she intended to be a visible presence or work behind the scenes.

In response Mrs Fisher replied that she would provide the support that the Commissioner needed and that it was a little early to say the precise role she would take.  She was a good communicator and intended to talk and listen to the public and help to engage with them and develop services to meet their needs.  Mrs Fisher gave examples where she had acted independently during her time as a Cabinet member at the County Council and had also enabled members to provide their own solutions to local highway problems through delegated funding.

The Panel thanked Mrs Fisher and went on to consider the appointment of Temporary Chief Constable before adjourning to consider both appointments.

When the meeting was reconvened, the Chairman informed the Commissioner of the Panels decision. 

RESOLVED – That the Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire be informed that this Panel unanimously agreed that:

a)    The Commissioner proceeds with the appointment of Helen Fisher as the Deputy Police Fire and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire.

(a)  To receive representations from the Police and Crime Commisssioner on the criteria to be met by the chosen candidate for the post of Interim Chief Constable.

(b)  To receive a presentation by, and to question, the preferred candidate on his skills, experience and ability to meet the criteria for the post.

The Secretary to the Panel reported that, in accordance with Schedule 8 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 the Panel were required to hold a Confirmation Hearing following receipt of formal notification by the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner of his wish to appoint his preferred candidate, Emma Barnett, to the post of Temporary Chief Constable for Staffordshire.

The report explained that guidance on the role of the Panel recommended that through questioning of the candidate, they consider her ‘professional competence’ and ‘personal independence’. To assist, the Panel had been provided with documentary evidence of the process followed by the Commissioner when recruiting to the post and selecting his preferred candidate. 

As the post was temporary, the timescales for a permanent appointment had also been provided.

Presentation by and questions to Emma Barnett

Ms Barnett briefly summarised her career in the Police Service having served in a number of Force areas ranging from inner City Birmingham to Counties.    She had been appointed as Assistant Chief Constable in 2016 and Deputy Chief Constable in 2020.

The Panel questioned Ms Barnett on various issues including visible policing, performance measures, demands of the pandemic, sharing and gathering information/intelligence.

In response, Ms Barnett stated that it was important that the police were visible but there were different ways to communicate with the public and share information.  Team working and partnerships were crucial.  Dealing with the Covid crisis had been difficult at times and understanding the new ‘normal’ and dealing with the effects of the pandemic would be challenging.  Partnership working at all levels was viewed as essential for creating efficiencies and sharing information.  There was also a constant need to be aware of the effects of Covid and the pressures it had put on staff both physically and mentally.

At 16.05 pm the Chairman adjourned the meeting to discuss the appointments of both Deputy Commissioner and Temporary Chief Constable.

At 16.20pm the meeting was reconvened. 

RESOLVED – That the Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire be informed that this Panel unanimously agreed that:

a)    The Commissioner proceeds with the appointment of Emma Barnett as the Temporary Chief Constable for Staffordshire.