Agenda and draft minutes

Resolved:-

That, subject to the inclusion of the attendance of the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire and Mr Allan Rainford (Chief Finance Officer to the PCC), the minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2017 be approved as a true and correct record.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chair indicated that there were no items for consideration on the agenda that would require the exclusion of the press and public from the meeting.

The Chair indicated that there were no items requiring the urgent consideration of the Panel.

The Chair reported that no public questions had been submitted for the Panel.

The Chair reported that no questions had been received from Panel Members for the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Consideration was given to a new draft of the Police and Crime Plan for the period from 2017-2021, which was presented by the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire.

It was reported that the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 made provision for the Commissioner to issue a new plan as soon as possible after elections, in consultation with the Chief Constable and any recommendations from the Police and Crime Panel, to respond to issues and priorities which could emerge during the life of the Plan.

The Commissioner reported that he had listened to the views of a wide range of stakeholders, including community groups, local authorities and the voluntary sector and had identified that all had shared a similar view around wishing to be safe and feel safe. There had been a consensus to retain the existing priorities for South Yorkshire:

·         Protecting vulnerable people

·         Reducing crime and anti-social behaviour

·         Enabling fair treatment

The Commissioner indicated that there had been a recognition of the need to change emphasis in some of the outcomes in order to reflect new and evolving policing and crime demands, identified through consultation with the public and partners, as well as results from needs and threats assessments.

It was reported that the Commissioner had included seven requirements in the plan:

·         For South Yorkshire Police to intervene earlier with vulnerable people to prevent them becoming repeat victims or victims of more harmful crime.

·         For South Yorkshire Police to work alongside partners, other agencies and the community and voluntary sector to develop a plan showing how they will prevent and protect vulnerable people from further, more harmful crimes

·         For the public of South Yorkshire to be satisfied that their views and opinions on the policing of their local area have been listened to and considered by South Yorkshire Police and they understand the reasoning behind local policing decisions that are made in their community

·         For the public of South Yorkshire to have trust and confidence in the way they contact South Yorkshire Police and when they make contact to be satisfied that they will be listened to, taken seriously and kept informed throughout any investigation, including being told about the result of any action taken.

·         For South Yorkshire Police to demonstrate how they will respond to regional and national policing requirements detailed by the Home Secretary in the Strategic Policing Requirement

·         For South Yorkshire Police to demonstrate effective prevention and action to tackle those areas of crime and anti-social behaviour listed in the Strategic Intelligence Assessment (SIA) that have been assessed as Very High Risk

·         To secure an efficient and effective use of resources on behalf of the public of South Yorkshire, ensuring value for money of policing services.

In presenting the Plan for comments by the Panel, the Commissioner reiterated his ambition to remove the silo working approach within South Yorkshire Police and establish a joined up approach to delivering of policing in the force area.

The Panel welcomed the overall presentation of the Plan  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

Consideration was given to a report which proposed an amendment to the Panel’s Rules of Procedure to include a protocol in respect of the filming and recording of Panel meetings by the press or public.

It was reported that The Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014 had permitted entry to meetings of specified local government bodies for the purpose of reporting and to allow the results of reporting to be published or disseminated. As the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel was a joint committee of the constituent local authorities established under section 28 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, it was covered by the regulations.

The report proposed the adoption of a protocol to give clear advice as to how filming practices which could be construed as disruptive to the purposes of the meeting, for example, audible commentary, moving around causing general disturbance and other potentially intrusive behaviour) could be avoided.

Resolved:-

1.    That the report be noted.

2.    That the Rules of Procedure be amended to incorporate a Protocol as an appendix to make provision for the filming and recording of Panel meetings by the press or public.