Agenda item

To put questions, if any, to the designated Members on the discharge of functions of the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and South Yorkshire Pensions Authority, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11(5).

There were 6 questions for the designated spokespersons:

1.    Councillor Baum-Dixon: Please could you give the council an update on the situation regarding the errors in the South Yorkshire Police accounts and forecasts, which we are led to believe could total almost £65m, including an overview of the error and why it happened, what steps are being taken to prevent this happening again and the potential impact upon policing in Rotherham?

Councillor Harper, Spokesperson on South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel, explained that the South Yorkshire Mayor had commissioned a review into the matter. The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and South Yorkshire Police were working with the Government to determine sustainable solutions. Work was also underway to determine the impact on services should savings be required. It would not be appropriate to speculate on the outcomes of the review and investigations.

In his supplementary, Councillor Baum-Dixon stated that this was a cross-party issue, and everyone needed to work together to stop it from happening again. Given that the auditors in this situation were Grant Thornton and Rotherham Council’s auditors were also Grant Thornton, Councillor Baum-Dixon suggested that the Audit Committee look into whether the Council still had confidence in Grant Thornton’s abilities to conduct a thorough audit of Council finances.

Councillor Harper confirmed that he was happy to work on a cross-party basis.

2.    Councillor Currie: What is the percentage of meetings you have attended since you were placed on the panel ?

It was confirmed that both Councillor Harper and Councillor Baum-Dixon had attended one out of the two meetings (50%).

In his supplementary question, Councillor Currie stated that Councillor Baum-Dixon had been on the Panel for a number of years. The £65m error was an accounting error and it should have been scrutinized by Members on the Panel. He asked if Councillor Baum-Dixon would resign?

As Councillor Baum-Dixon was not the Designated Spokesperson he was not asked to respond during the meeting.

3.    Councillor Ball: How much additional pressure will the increase in NI cause to the finances of SYP and will you provide a forecast of how much this will cost to implement these labour tax hikes?

Councillor Ball did not attend the meeting and, as such, would receive a written response.

4.    Councillor Ball: How much additional pressure will the increase in NI cause to the finances of SYFR and will you provide a forecast of how much this will cost to implement these labour tax hikes?

Councillor Ball did not attend the meeting and, as such, would receive a written response.

5.    Councillor A Carter: Do you think the £65 million black hole in South Yorkshire Police's Budget shows that the previous Police and Crime Commissioner, as well as the South Yorkshire Mayor have failed in their duty to local taxpayers?

Councillor Harper answered no to the question. He explained that it was too early to start blaming people. With regard to the South Yorkshire Mayor, he was not responsible for South Yorkshire Police at the time. The responsibility was with the then Police and Crime Commissioner.

Councillor Carter stated that this pointed to a failure of the overall Police and Crime Commissioner role; it did not bring the relevant expertise to the table. Whilst Councillor Carter was glad the role had gone, he did not believe that the South Yorkshire Mayor was in a position to fully scrutinise it. Councillor Carter asked what commitments Councillor Harper would give to say that the failures would not impact front lines services and staffing levels within the Police? Would it cost South Yorkshire taxpayers more money in the long term? 

Councillor Harper explained that both panel Members would commit to scrutinising what they were told, and the information provided. However, it was not within their power to control the Budget.

6.    Councillor Bennett-Sylvester: Can you please advise on what work is being done to scrutinise the reported £65m ""black hole"" in the policing Budget and potential impact on frontline services?

Councillor Harper reiterated that there was an investigation ongoing. He hoped some answers would be provided at the next meeting of the Panel in December 2024. Councillor Harper would feedback whenever he got some information.

In his supplementary, Councillor Bennett-Sylvester stated that it was a concerning situation and he asked if the scrutiny function itself would be reviewed in order to look at practices and make sure everything was as it should be? This would build confidence in the scrutiny function and prevent a similar situation.

Councillor Harper stated that the Panel Members he had met so far were serious, honest people who would not allow something similar to happen again. There would be increased scrutiny.