Agenda and minutes

To receive as a correct record the minutes of the Panel meeting held on 24^th June 2021.

The minutes of the Panel meeting held on 24th June 2021 were received as a correct record.

The representative of the Chief Executive of Knowsley MBC (Host Authority) reported that no declarations of interested had been submitted by Panel Members.

To consider the report of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

In support of this item, the Commissioner will deliver a presentation which will refer to the development of a new Police and Crime Plan.  The Panel’s views will be sought on the draft priorities.

The Panel considered the report of the Police and Crime Commissioner which provided the Panel with the opportunity for its views to be taken on board by the Commissioner in the development of her new Police and Crime Plan 2021-2025.

The Commissioner introduced the report and provided a presentation to the Panel, which outlined her proposed three pillars and associated priorities for inclusion in the plan, which were explained to be as follows:

·         Pillar 1: Fighting Crime, Proactive Policing

Associated Priorities: Serious and Organised Crime, and Local, Visible and Accessible Policing

·         Pillar 2: Supporting Victims, Safer Communities

Associated Priorities: Supporting Victims, and Safer Communities

·         Pillar 3: Driving Change, Prevent Offending

Associated Priorities: Early Intervention and Prevention, and Fair and Effective Criminal Justice System

The Commissioner also outlined information regarding her own visibility, responsiveness and accountability within her role, when acting alongside the key partners that supported the delivery of the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan.

In response, the Panel raised the following comments and queries:-

(1)          A Panel Member noted that the pandemic had exacerbated issues such as deteriorating mental health, and drug and alcohol addictions, which the Force had been obliged to deal with in playing its role. Panel Members highlighted the Commissioner’s intention to strengthen early intervention with support from partners. Clarity was therefore sought on how the Commissioner envisaged this to be achieved given the challenges partners had in terms of capacity, which had been evident throughout the pandemic.

The Commissioner stated that some early intervention projects were Police led, with assistance from partners. The Violence Reduction Partnership was highlighted to be a key example of this approach being utilised, and that work had been undertaken by the partnership in terms of early intervention, which the Commissioner expressed she would be happy to share with the Panel.

In terms of mental health specifically, the Commissioner noted that there was an established mental health triage system, which involved a partnership with mental health nursing staff and mental health specialists who attended incidents alongside the Police, when necessary, to ensure appropriately trained persons were present. The Commissioner also noted that within custody suites mental health practitioners undertook assessments to determine if it would be advantageous to divert the offending person away from the criminal justice system and toward a healthcare setting.

The Commissioner stated that a core aspect of her role would be challenging government, outlining that she intended to raise issues concerning resources to tackle issues such as mental health, especially with consideration that mental health services were particularly stretched. The Commissioner stressed that the recruitment of more Police Officers was of significant importance, but also the funding for public services, and in particular, mental health services to ensure early interventions could be adequately resourced and therefore actioned. The Commissioner stated that partners were being consulted to ensure all aspects had been considered and welcomed the Panel’s thoughts also. 

(2)          A Panel Member welcomed the information within the Commissioner’s presentation, noting that this had provided greater clarity on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11a

To consider the report of the Chief Executive of Knowsley Borough Council (Host Authority).

The Panel considered the report of the Chief Executive, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (Host Authority), which highlighted the decisions made and published by the Commissioner in the period since the agenda for the Panel’s March meeting was published on 10^th March 2021.

In this respect, the report highlighted eleven decisions of a “significant public interest” and seven decisions in the “other decisions” category during this period.

The Panel raised the following comments/queries:-

(1)          Key Decision: 013/2021 Victims’ Services – Uplift to the Ministry of Justice Victim Services Grant for 2021/22

A Panel Member sought clarification regarding the methodology for the distribution of funding to each local authority in the City Region from the Victim Services’ Grant. It was highlighted that Liverpool City Council received double the funding of the other local authorities in the City Region, who all received half the amount that Liverpool City Council were granted. 

The Chief Finance Officer of the OPCC provided the Panel with assurance that the grant funds allocated had been agreed in consultation with the local authorities concerned. However, it was communicated that more details around the methodology for distributing the funds from the Victim Services’ Grant would be communicated to the Panel following the meeting.

The Commissioner emphasised that the allocation of funding from the Victim Services’ Grant had been distributed in line with previous arrangements.

(2)          Key Decision 020/2021: Police Property Act Fund - Budget Monitoring 2020/21 Outturn

A Panel Member highlighted that there had been an overall underspend of £0.108m in 2020/21, and it was therefore queried if the Commissioner had plans to purpose the surplus funds. For example, a Panel Member referenced whether the surplus funds could be utilised to appoint a Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Commissioner informed that a review was under way in terms of her office’s budget and noted the virtues of having some flexibility in the budget to respond to emerging issues. The Commissioner informed that she would be appointing a Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner during her term, and this would be factored into the review of their budget.

(3)             A Panel Member queried if there was a role within her office that had the responsibility for monitoring performance against their Police and Crime Plan.

The Commissioner stated that monitoring the impact of the Police and Crime Plan was overseen by various members of her team as opposed to a singular dedicated officer at present but this was an area of support that could change as a result of the review of her office.

 RESOLVED –

(i)           That the decisions made by the Commissioner since the Panel’s previous meeting be endorsed, and;

(ii)          That clarification be provided to the Panel regarding the distribution of funding to each local authority in the City Region from the Victim Services’ Grant.

To consider the report of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Panel considered the report of the Police and Crime Commissioner, which set out her consideration of the outstanding recommendations and issues raised at previous Panel meetings. The Commissioner invited comments from Panel Members.

The Commissioner stated there had been an expression of interest from the Panel at a previous meeting regarding a review that had been undertaken in relation to the Drug Intervention Programme. She confirmed that relevant information regarding this review had subsequently been shared with the Panel.

The Commissioner made reference to the review of community safety funding, which she explained would take place in the near future and committed to coming back to Panel Members who had expressed an interest regarding their involvement at the appropriate time.

RESOLVED - That the Commissioner’s responses to the Panel’s recommendations and comments, as set out in the report submitted, be acknowledged.

To consider the report of the Chief Executive of Knowsley Borough Council (Host Authority).

The Panel considered the report of the Chief Executive, Knowsley MBC (Host Authority), which:-

(a)        presented a draft work programme for its consideration and comment; and

(b)        set out proposed dates and start times for the Panel’s remaining meetings in 2021/2022.

The Scrutiny and Procurement Manager introduced the report and highlighted that flexibility was built into the work programme to add items of significant interest during the year.

The Commissioner referred to meetings scheduled for December, January and March which had suggested scheduling for the monitoring of the Police and Crime Plan. The Commissioner asked whether the Panel were happy to receive information around each proposed “pillar” at each of the referenced meetings this municipal year, with a view to focussing on the six priorities specifically over the course of the next municipal year.

Panel Members expressed they were happy with the proposed approach.

The Scrutiny and Procurement Manager expressed that this could be accommodated.

RESOLVED - That the work programme for 2021/22 be approved.

Minutes 9 to 13 received as a correct record on 2^nd day of September 2021.

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Chairperson of the Panel

(The meeting closed at 12.05pm)