The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting including the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner and representatives from his Office, members of the public and the media.  The Chairman took the opportunity to remind everyone of the upcoming Confirmation Hearing for the appointment of the Chief Constable which was scheduled to take place as an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday 21st February commencing at 11am.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Sarah Trotter (South Kesteven District Council).

The Chairman informed the Panel that last minute apologies had been received from the Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) who had been due to attend the Meeting.

Further to discussion, a Member requested if further information was available for the Deputy Chief Constable’s non-attendance and queried the level of representation at future Meetings. 

In response, the Democratic Services Officer informed Members that the Deputy Chief Constable had given her apologies due to unforeseen circumstances.    This was further confirmed by the PCC who explained that he had spoken to the Deputy Chief Constable that morning and was able to reassure Panel Members that it was the DCC’s absolute intention to attend today’s meeting when unforeseen circumstances had arisen.  

At this point in the meeting, Members were invited to disclose any relevant interests.

Chris Cook requested that it be noted that in relation to Item 16 he was an Independent Co-opted Member and would leave the meeting during that item.

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 17 November 2023 and the Minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting held on 30 November 2023.

The Minutes of the Panel Meeting held on 17 November 2023 and the Extraordinary Meeting held on 30 November 2023 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To confirm the actions following the Police and Crime Panel meeting held on 17 November 2023 and the Extraordinary Meeting held on 30 November 2023.

Members noted that the following actions were now completed:

·       Action Nos. 27 and 32 from the PCP Meeting held on 22nd September 2023.

·       Action No. 44 from the PCP Meeting held on 17th November 2023.

The Chairman informed Members that there were no communications.

There were no questions from the public.

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

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 February 2024 and was attached as Appendix A for the Panel to review, pages 37 to 52 of the Agenda refer.

The Commissioner took the opportunity to welcome the newest Member of the Police and Crime Panel and proceeded to invite questions from Panel Members on his latest report.  A copy of the questions and responses are attached at Appendix A to the Minutes.

RESOLVED:

That the update report on the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan be noted.

To consider a report from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire regarding the proposed Policing Precept 2024/25.

A report was presented to enable the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel, to review and make recommendations regarding the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposed Police Precept for 2024/25.  The Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire (the Commissioner) had proposed an increase in the Police Precept of £12.96 for Band D properties for 2024/25.  Details of the proposal were attached to the Report at Appendix A and Annexes A, B and C, pages 55 to 76 of the Agenda refer.

It was noted that under Schedule 5 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel (the Panel) must review the Commissioner’s proposed Police Precept and report on it.   The guidelines for this process were detailed within Appendix B to the report, pages 77 to 80 of the Agenda refers.

The Commissioner invited Julie Flint, the PCC’s Chief Finance Officer to deliver a presentation which would underpin the Commissioner’s Precept Proposal. 

The slides were divided under five main headings:

·         Police Grant Settlement

·         Expenditure Plans & Funding

·         Future Funding Landscape

·         Risk Management

·         Impact on Precept

It was advised that the Police Grant Settlement was confirmed in January 2024 and that Lincolnshire continued to receive a small proportion (less than 1%) of the overall funding that was available from the Government for policing.  This was a 0.83% share of the £9.1bn that was available nationally, equating to £75.9 million for Lincolnshire.

In addition, the overall grant funding coming in to Lincolnshire for 2024/25 was £89.8m which was an increase of £7.9 million from the previous Financial Year.  The Core Police Grant has increased by £4.3m for 2024/25 largely as a result of the Pay Award Grant, the Pension top-up grant had been increased by £2.4m which factored in the increase in pension contributions, a ringfenced allocation in connection with the Police Uplift Programme (PUP) has increased £1.2m which was a specific grant for maintaining the 1186 target for officer numbers, and the Government confirmed precept flexibility of up to £13 pa for a Band D property.

On expenditure plans and funding the Panel was shown a graph that outlined the provisional expenditure plans for Lincolnshire, which showed that the majority of the spend (45.5%) went on police officers, and the next biggest item (26.4%) was for police staff & PCSOs, then other costs including custody, fleet, premises, and regional collaboration at 24.1%, capital financing at 3.2% and the office of the Police & Crime Commissioner (0.8%).  The overall spending shown was £175.7 million currently planned.

Expenditure increases in 2024/25 were shown to include:

·         Pay Award (Sept 23) 7% for Police Officers and Staff - £7.8m

·         Police Officer Employers pension contribution increase (31% to 35.3%) – £2.2m

·         ICT services – cost pressures - £2m; service developments - £0.7m

·         Utilities increase - £0.15m

·         Fleet Management – Fuel, maintenance costs, contract increases £0.343m

·         External Training Courses £0.1m

Under funding, the Panel was shown the provisional funding based on the £12.96 precept.  A graph shown to the Panel detailed how 52.5% of funding was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

To consider a report on the work of the PCC in supporting the prevention and reduction of substance misuse in Lincolnshire.

The Chairman introduced the item, thanking the PCC and his team for the work they had completed on the report which had successfully informed on how the PCC supported services across Lincolnshire for the prevention and reduction of substance misuse, pages 81 to 92 of the Agenda refer.

N.B. Councillor Patricia Bradwell left the Meeting at 12.52pm.

Further to a discussion, it was agreed that the Panel request a confidential briefing on County Lines from Lincolnshire Police and that it be added to the Training and Development Programme for 2024/25.

Following which, it was

RESOLVED:

That the Thematic Report on the work of the PCC in supporting the prevention and reduction of substance misuse in Lincolnshire was noted.

The Chairman extended his thanks to the Commissioner and his team for their attendance today.

N.B. The Commissioner and his team left the Meeting at 12.54pm.

To receive information on complaints made against the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire during the period 1 November 2023 – 19 January 2024.

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 1st  November 2023 to 19th January 2024.  The Complaints Position Statement was attached as Appendix A, page 97 of the Agenda refers.

It was noted that no (zero) complaints were made against the Police and Crime Commissioner during the aforementioned period.

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

Following which, it was

RESOLVED:

That the Complaints Position Statement be noted.

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

Councillor Chris Burke, the Panel’s liaison to the National Association of Police, Fire and Crime Panels informed Members that the National Associated had met online in January 2024 to consider budgets and precepts, and that the governance of Crime Panels remained an ongoing discussion.

The Panel’s liaison continued to inform Members that discussions had centred on the Home Affairs Select Committee and it was observed that few Crime Panels had undertaken scrutiny of the fire and rescue services. In response, the Chairman advised Members that it was Police Commissioner’s that governed taking on the responsibility of Fire roles where the local authorities were in agreement.

The Panel’s liaison concluded that discussions of meetings examining the relationship between Ministers, Police and Crime Commissioners, MPs, the issue of Mayoral responsibilities and Devolution had also been topics of debate.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Burke for his attendance and valuable feedback on the National Association of Police, Fire and Crime Panels.

To approve the meeting dates for 2024/25 and consider the work programme for 2024/25.

A report was presented that detailed the work programme and proposed meeting dates for the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel for 2024/25.

The Democratic Services Manager informed Members that the work programme had been updated as the thematic Report on substance misuse had been provided sooner than anticipated.  It was further advised that a future item for the appointment of additional independent co-opted Members had been added to the work programme to occur after the report from ELDC’s Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) for independent Member allowances had been concluded and presented to Council in February 2024. 

The Panel’s liaison to the National Association of Police, Fire and Crime Panels informed Members that the considerations for additional independent co-opted Members had originated from a previous update he had provided which emphasised the importance for Panels to examine appointing additional independent Members and paying independent Members allowances.

The Chairman informed Members that they were required to formally approve the proposed meeting dates and that the report also included details of the Panel’s training and development programme.

Following which, it was

RESOLVED

That the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel schedule of meetings for 2024/25 be approved and that the work programme and training and development programme be noted.

To note the next scheduled Meeting of the Panel as 11am on Wednesday 21^st February 2024 and to confirm the next proposed programmed date as 11am on Friday 7^th June 2024.

The date for the next scheduled Meeting of the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel was noted as 21st February 2024 and the next programmed date as 7th June 2024.

To consider excluding the public and press for the following item and if appropriate for the Chairman to move:

That under Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the Meeting for the following item on the grounds that, if they were present, there could be disclosed to them exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended).

RESOLVED

That under Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that, if they were present, there could be disclosed exempt information as defined at paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of the Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended).

N.B.  Mr Chris Cook and Mr David Williams left the Meeting at 13.02pm.

To consider and approve the arrangements for the appointment of co-opted independent panel members.

COUNCILLOR GRAHAM MARSH (VICE CHAIRMAN IN THE CHAIR)

A report was presented by the Democratic Services Manager which provided details of the appointment of a Co-opted Independent Member to the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel. The Panel discussed in brief the appointment of a Co-opted Independent Panel Member.

N.B.  Mr David Williams returned to the Meeting 13.06pm.

RESOLVED

That the Co-opted Independent Panel Member be re-appointed for a further four year term.