Agenda and minutes

No questions had been received.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Michelle Buttery, Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, which confirmed the resignation of the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire, Shaun Wright, from office on the 16^th September, 2014, rendering the office of Police and Crime Commissioner vacant.

Section 62(1)(a) of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 required a Police and Crime Panel for a police area to appoint an ‘Acting Commissioner’ in these circumstances.

Under the 2011 Act, the decision for the Police and Crime Panel as to who should be appointed as Acting Commissioner made clear that that person should be a person who was already a member of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s staff at that point in time (Section 62(2) of the 2011 Act). 

There were four options open to the Police and Crime Panel for ‘Acting Commissioner’ at this point in time:-

1.         Tracey Cheetham, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, who was willing to be considered for approval by the Panel.  She had tendered her resignation on the 1st September, 2014 and her one month’s notice would expire on 30^th September, 2014. 

2.         Michelle Buttery, Chief Executive and Solicitor, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire, a non-political appointment for this short, transitional period of time.  The Chief Executive had ruled herself out on the grounds that her own role as Monitoring Officer would be compromised if appointed as Acting Police and Commissioner.

3.         Steve Pick, Section 151 Officer/Treasurer (Chief Finance Officer under the 2011 Act) on a temporary contract since November 2012 (through the South Yorkshire Joint Secretariat arrangements prior to his current temporary contract).   Mr. Pick was willing to be considered for approval by the Panel and this option would offer the Panel a non-political appointment for this short, transitional period of time.

4.         A person yet to be appointed by the Police and Crime Commissioner on a temporary contract, but who could be so appointed under delegated authority conferred on the Chief Executive and Solicitor and on the Chief Finance Officer under the Commissioner’s and Chief Constable’s current scheme of delegation within the Joint Corporate Governance Framework.

The Police and Crime Panel sought clarification on the four options and in doing so were happy to dismiss Options 2 and 4.  Further information was sought on the current position with regard to Mrs. Cheetham and her eligibility under the terms of her notice, which were accepted.

The Chairman welcomed Mrs. Tracey Cheetham and Mr. Steve Pick individually to the meeting and invited them both gave an account of how they were best placed to take forward the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner in the interim period leading up to the election on Thursday, 30^th October, 2014.

The Panel asked a range of questions to ascertain their suitability and experience in order to fulfil the role of Acting Police and Crime Commissioner and listened carefully to the responses received primarily  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

Deborah Fellowes, Scrutiny Manager, advised the Police and Crime Panel on the status of the current work programme, especially in light of the budget and precept process for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

It was, therefore, suggested that the work programme be submitted to the next meeting of the Police and Crime Panel in early November and that the meeting date in October be delayed until the new Police and Crime Commissioner was in office.

Resolved:-  That the position be noted and the proposals put forward be approved.