16
2018
When: 10.30am
Where: Chamber, County Hall, Carmarthen
Agenda
WATCH THE WEBCAST
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND PERSONAL MATTERS
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
3. TO SIGN AS A CORRECT RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON THE 27TH JULY 2018
4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES (IF ANY)
5. QUESTION ON NOTICE TO THE PANEL FROM A.T., CARMARTHENSHIRE
“I was shocked to see that the panel is not representative of the society it serves. There is only one older white woman on the panel and the rest are older white men. Could a system be put in place to ensure that the panel is more representative of our society? This system should ensure that there are younger women on the panel, particularly mothers with childcare responsibilities, a panel member from BME, a panel member who is disabled and a panel member from the LGBT community. Why was it decided that the panel should be made up of County councillors, because these are overwhelmingly retired, white straight older males. We still have a very patriarchal
society where structural and institutionalised sexism and racism exist and this panel does nothing to try and address this. Where the majority of Panel members represent mostly one group of our diverse society means they are likely to exhibit unconscious bias against certain groups and this can contribute to poor decision making and discrimination against those groups of people.”
6. QUESTIONS ON NOTICE FROM PANEL MEMBERS TO THE COMMISSIONER:
6 .1 QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR KEITH EVANS
Youth Offending
“The Minister of Justice in a recent report indicated that the number of young people being found guilty of offences in Ceredigion has reduced significantly over the last 12 years, 75% down in fact. Figures for 2017 indicate that there were 37 first time offenders. Does the Commissioner have comparable data for the rest of
the Force Area? The Commissioner expends a considerable amount of money on schemes to support our Youth and prevent crime. If data indicates a similar reduction in the rest of the Force area and bearing in mind the huge pressure on budgets, will he be reducing the resources allocated to this area of work?”
6 .2 QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR KEITH EVANS
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS for 2017-2018
“Whilst it is accepted that it is impossible to predict with total accuracy the demands that may be placed on the force in the future especially from one-off tragedies and incidents, it could be argued that some of the budget forecasting for 2017-2018 was not as robust as it might have been. What steps is the Commissioner taking to ensure that such forecasting will be as robust as it reasonably can be in the future?”
6 .3 QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR KEITH EVANS
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS for 2017-2018
“A comparison of the assets and liabilities shown in the statement of accounts for 16/17 and 17/18 appears to show a significant weakening in the overall financial health of the budget. Is this part of a longer trend and if it is what steps is the Commissioner taking to reverse it?”
6 .4 QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR KEITH EVANS
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS for 2017-2018
“On page 69 of the statement of accounts, under the heading ‘segmental income’ was a figure of £1,067,000 from the ‘Resources Directorate’. Please could the Commissioner explain what this relates to? Is the Commissioner satisfied that every effort is being made to maximise the income streams that are available in order to reduce budgetary pressures and the burden on local tax payers?”
6 .5 QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR KEITH EVANS
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS for 2017-2018
“Given the current government’s attitude to the funding of the police service nationally, has there been any indication that the Home Office top up grant for pensions is under threat? Given the potential for pensions liabilities to place a significant burden on the budget, are such matters taken into account when authorising early retirement? What steps are being taken to reduce the risks that these issues pose?”
6 .6 QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR KEITH EVANS
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS for 2017-2018
“On page 81 of the statement of accounts in the column ‘total surplus assets’ there is an entry of £1,437,000 for ‘assets reclassified’. Please can the Commissioner confirm what this means and what assets they refer to?”
6 .7 QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR WILLIAM POWELL
“What is your understanding of the operational independence of the Chief Constable and how does this impact in practical terms on how you hold the Chief Constable to account?”
6 .8 QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR WILLIAM POWELL
“Please explain in particular how you hold the Chief Constable to account in relation to Serious & Organised Crime, Counter terrorism, special operations and covert surveillance activities.”
6 .9 QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR WILLIAM POWELL
“Please explain the governance structures that you have put in place and how you ensure that they are strategically aligned to the main risks that the force faces”
6 .10 QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR WILLIAM POWELL
“How do you monitor the strength of the connection between your Police and Crime Plan and what operational officers actually do on a day to day basis? How do you ensure that operational officers are aware of your priorities?”
6 .11 QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR WILLIAM POWELL
“How do you receive information from the force regarding its performance? Is it provided to you by the Chief Constable and his officers or do you and your officers have direct access to force management data. If the former , how do you satisfy yourself that the information you receive from the force is accurate?”
6 .12 QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR WILLIAM POWELL
“Please give examples of occasions where by holding the Chief Constable to account you have achieved positive
outcomes for the people of Dyfed-Powys. Are there any occasions where you feel your actions have not achieved the desired aims and if there are, what have you done to address this?”
6 .13 QUESTION FROM COUNCILLOR WILLIAM POWELL
“Having had an opportunity to attend and observe a meeting of the Police Accountability Board, I think it is fair to say that (like the meetings of this Panel) the level of public attendance is very low. Would the Commissioner therefore agree that in the interests of openness and transparency, it would be far more appropriate for such meetings to be webcast (and therefore accessible to the vast majority of residents) even if that is at the expense of limiting the number of suitable venues at which they can be held?”
7. QUESTIONS ON NOTICE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO THE COMMISSIONER:
7 .1 QUESTION FROM A.B.
“Is it time for our council tax to fund the police less and use it to fund private security companies to police our community instead, as I and my neighbours no longer have any confidence in the police at all, and no longer bother to report drug crime in our area?”
7 .2 QUESTION FROM E & C.
“How do you, as Police Commissioner, monitor the work of Dyfed-Powys Police, in enforcing the speed limits that are in place outside schools, such as our own at Talgarth?”
7 .3 QUESTION FROM C.D.
“What measures do you have in place as Police and Crime Commissioner to ensure that Dyfed Powys Police has a 'fit for purpose' policy to alert minors to the phenomenon of 'Stranger Danger?”
7 .4 QUESTION FROM C.D.
“How regularly are you as Police Commissioner updated by the Chief Constable on incidents of this kind - and how is the effectiveness of liaison and communication with LEAs, schools and local communities, in the event of incidents being reported?”
8. PANEL PRIORITY 3 - SCRUTINY OF THE POLICE AND CRIME PLAN
9. DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE COMMISSIONER
10. PANEL PRIORITY 2 - HOW THE POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER HOLDS THE CHIEF CONSTABLE TO ACCOUNT
11. PANEL PRIORITY 3 - SCRUTINY OF THE POLICE AND CRIME PLAN - CALL FOR EVIDENCE FROM CARMARTHENSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
12. EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC
THE REPORTS RELATING TO THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NOT FOR PUBLICATION AS THEY CONTAIN EXEMPT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH 12 OF PART 4 OF SCHEDULE 12A TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AS AMENDED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) (VARIATION) (WALES) ORDER 2007. IF, FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST TEST, THE BOARD RESOLVES PURSUANT TO THE ACT TO CONSIDER THESE ITEMS IN PRIVATE, THE PUBLIC WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM THE MEETING DURING SUCH CONSIDERATION.
13. COMPLAINT AGAINST THE POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER
