The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting including the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire and representatives from his Office, members of the public and the media.   

The Chairman also welcomed Martyn Parker, Detective Chief Superintendent at Lincolnshire Police who had been seconded to Lincolnshire County Council as its new Assistant Director for Public Protection.

The welcome was further extended to Councillor Paul Skinner, representing Lincolnshire County Council as a returning Member to the Panel.

At this point in the Meeting, the Chairman asked that Members joined him in a minute’s silence in respect of Councillor Ray Wootten who had recently passed away.  The Chairman added that he had worked with Councillor Wootten since 2012 on the Panel and stated that he was very dedicated to his role and passionate about making a difference in his local community and would be sorely missed.

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Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Jim Astill, South Holland District Council, Councillor Emma Bailey, West Lindsey District Council, Councillor Patricia Bradwell, Lincolnshire County Council and Councillor Graham Marsh, East Lindsey District Council.

At this point in the meeting, Members were invited to disclose any relevant interests, no such interests were disclosed.

To confirm the Minutes of the Panel Meeting held on 9^th June 2023.  (Attached).

To confirm the Open and Exempt Minutes of the Extraordinary Panel Meeting held on 18^th August 2023. (To be tabled).

The Open Minutes of the Panel Meeting held on 9th June 2023 and the Open and Exempt Minutes of the Extraordinary Panel Meeting held on 18th August 2023 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To confirm the actions.

Members noted that the two following actions were now completed:

·       Action no. 43 from the PCP Meeting held on 3 February 2023

·       Action No. 9 from the PCP Meeting held on 9 June 2023.

A copy of the responses was tabled and is attached at Appendix A to the Minutes.

The Chairman informed Members that there were no communications.

There were no questions from the public.

Report of Martyn Parker, Lincolnshire County Council Assistant Director Public Protection.

A report was presented to provide the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel with information in relation to the work undertaken by the Safer Lincolnshire Partnership (SLP) (previously known as the Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership).  Martyn Parker, Lincolnshire County Council Assistant Director Public Protection presented the report, Appendix A, pages 25 to 34 of the Agenda refer.

During discussion, reference was made to the good working relationship between the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and the SLP.  The Office of the PCC provided a high level of representation at SLP meetings at a strategic and operational level.  Members of the OPCC team engaged in regular communication with the team, supporting the SLP to progress workstreams.  Furthermore, the activities described in the report demonstrated some good examples of joint working for the benefit of communities in Lincolnshire.

The Assistant Director Public Protection invited Questions from Panel Members.  A copy of the questions and responses are attached at Appendix B to these minutes.

RESOLVED

That the report from the Safer Communities Partnership & Commissioning Manager be noted.

N.B.  Martyn Parker, Lincolnshire County Council - Assistant Director Public Protection left the Meeting at 11.17am.

To receive the Annual Report of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire (the Commissioner) provided his Annual Report in accordance with section 12 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (the Act).  The Commissioner’s Annual Report 2022/23 was attached to this report presented. Under section 28 of the Act the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel must review the Annual Report and make a report or recommendations on the Annual Report to the Commissioner.

The Commissioner invited Questions from Panel Members. A copy of the questions and responses are attached at Appendix B to these minutes.

RESOLVED

That the Democratic Services Manager be delegated, in consultation with the Chairman of the Panel, to formally report to the Commissioner the Panel’s response and recommendations to the Commissioner’s Annual Report.

To consider an update report from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire regarding delivery of the Police and Crime Plan.

N.B. Documents embedded within the report (Appendix A) will be provided separately.

The Police and Crime Commissioner (the Commissioner) introduced his latest report on the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan 2021-2025.  The report covered the period up to September 2023 and was attached as Appendix Afor the Panel to review, pages 91 to 102 of the Agenda refer.

The report asked the Panel to review a refreshed Police and Crime Plan 2021–2025 and to arrange for a report and any recommendations on the draft variation to be made to the Commissioner.

The Commissioner invited Questions from Panel Members. A copy of the questions and responses are attached at Appendix C to these minutes.

RESOLVED

That the Democratic Services Manager be delegated, in consultation with the Chairman of the Panel, to formally report to the Commissioner the Panel’s response and any recommendations on the draft variation.

N.B. Marc Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner, Joanne Davidson, Director of Strategy and Operations and Julie Flint, Chief Finance Officer left the Meeting at 12.41pm.

To receive information on complaints made against the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire during the period to 20 May 2023 to 1 September 2023.

A report was presented that provided details of the procedures in place for dealing with complaints made against the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire and an update on the number of complaints received during the period 20 May 2023 to 1 September 2023.  The Complaints Position Statement was attached as Appendix A, page 107 of the Agenda refers.

It was noted that none (zero) complaints were made against the Police and Crime Commissioner during the period 20 May 2023 to 1 September 2023.

No informal resolution of complaints had been required by the Monitoring Officer.

RESOLVED

That the Complaints Position Statement be noted.

N.B.  Malcolm Burch, Chief Executive, OPCC left the Meeting at 12.43pm.

To receive a verbal update on the work of the National Association of Police, Fire and Crime Panels.

Councillor Chris Burke advised Panel Members that he had attended his first meeting of the National Association of Police, Fire and Crime Panels (NAPFCP) on 18 July 2023.

The first item conveyed a thank you to the LPCP in relation to the procedure it followed when dealing with persistent critics of police and crime commissioners and how it suggested police and crime panels could deal with this.  In consultation with the Chairman, an email was put together to the NAPFCP describing the way in which this matter was approached, and Councillor Burke stated that he was happy to share this with Panel Members.

A further item from Bedfordshire put forward the idea of weaving different issues together under a number of headings, for example performance and sustainability, the policing plan and other areas that were normally operational.

A primary area of discussion was the police conference to be held in November 2023 and the planning around this.

Members were advised that the next meeting of the NAPFCP was to be held on 26 September 2023.

Councillor Burke further advised Members that he attended the Regional PFCP Network Meeting which was very illuminating, represented by most regions who provided quite a varied description of how they were dealing with their own issues, and the majority of which were highly critical of their PCCs.

To consider the arrangements for the appointment of a co-opted independent panel member.

Members received a report that provided details regarding the appointment of Co-Opted Members to the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel, pages 109 to 114 of the Agenda refers.

It was recommended that the Panel established a three Member Task Group to undertake the recruitment of a new independent co-opted independent Members(s) and Members were referred to the recruitment process detailed at Appendix A.

The Task Group would report to the 17 November 2023 Panel Meeting with its recommended co-opted independent member for the Panel to consider for approval.

At this point in the Meeting, a vote of thanks was proposed to the outgoing independent co-opted member, Mr George Krawiec who it was agreed had been an extremely positive asset to the Panel.  The Chairman asked that a letter be sent to Mr Krawiec conveying the Panel’s sentiments and thanking him for his contribution.

The Monitoring Officer referred to the recommendation with regards to the Panel establishing a three member Task Group and highlighted that there had been support from the Panel for this to become a four-member Task Group which was permitted.

The Chairman advised Members that he had spoken with the Vice-Chairman, Councillor Graham Marsh who had indicated that he was happy to lead the Task Group, following which it was Proposed and Seconded that Councillor Marsh would lead the Task Group.

It was further Proposed and Seconded that Councillors Chris Burke, Paul Skinner and Sarah Trotter be appointed to the Task Group.

RESOLVED

1.    That a four-member Task Group be established to undertake the recruitment of a new co-opted independent Panel member and for the Task Group to report back to the Panel Meeting on 17 November 2023 with its recommendations.

2.    That Councillors Graham Marsh, Chris Burke, Paul Skinner and Sarah Trotter be appointed to the Task Group.

To note the Panel’s meeting dates and consider the work programme for 2023/24.

A report was presented that detailed the Work Programme, meeting dates and Training and Development Programme for the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel for 2023/24, pages 113 to 116 of the Agenda refer.

The Assistant Director, Governance and Monitoring Officer outlined the key agenda items coming forward to the Panel and highlighted that the scrutiny of a strategic topic from the Police and Crime Plan at its next meeting in November was yet to be decided, (Appendix A, page 115 of the report refers). 

Following a brief discussion, the Chairman suggested a future topic around the subject of substance misuse (including drugs and alcohol) and considered it would be an interesting topic for the Panel in understanding the whole range of issues this covered across the country, and how this created criminality.

Members concurred with this view and considered it an excellent proposal, given that the issues around substance misuse across the county were live and developing. This topic was also very serious and affected all of our local communities.

The Chairman proposed that the Panel select this as its topic for their November Panel meeting.

Members of the Panel supported this proposal.

The Chairman asked the Assistant Director, Governance and Monitoring Officer to contact the Police and Crime Commissioner and/or the Chief Constable for Lincolnshire for a report and presentation on substance misuse across the county for the next Meeting.

Following which, it was

RESOLVED

1.    That the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel schedule of meetings for 2023/24 and Training and Development Programme for 2023/24 be noted.

2.    That the topic around substance misuse be added to the Panel’s Work Programme for the November meeting.

The programmed date for the next Meeting of the Panel is 17 November 2023 at 11:00 am.

The programmed date for the next Meeting of the Panel was noted as 11am on Friday 17 November 2023.