Agenda and minutes

A briefing session for Panel Members will be held from 10.15 – 10.30 am prior to the arrival of any invited attendees or witnesses to the meeting.

The Panel discussed the items that were to be considered at the meeting. 

The Chair agreed that additional matters that were raised and discussed would be dealt with under ‘Any Other Business’.

To consider the attached report

Resolved that:

Councillor Richard Young be re-appointed as Chair and Mr Melvin Jehu be re-appointed as Vice Chair of the South Wales Police and Crime Panel.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Jayne Cowan and Councillor Rhys Lewis.

Members are reminded of their personal responsibility to declare any personal and prejudicial interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992 relating to Council Tax, the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and the Members Code of Conduct

Note:

(a)  Members are reminded that they must identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest and

(b)  Where Members withdraw from a Meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chair when they leave

Councillor Bernie Bowen-Thompson declared a personal interest as Chief Executive for Safer Wales as they receive funding from the Commissioner’s Office.

Mel Jehu declared a personal interest as a non-executive trustee with Safer Merthyr Tydfil as funding is received from the Commissioner’s Office.

A member of the Panel raised concern at the lack of detail in minute no. 58 (Precept Budget Report and Medium Term Financial Strategy).  In this respect an additional document which provides detailed information on this matter and which is published on the South Wales Police and Crime Panel website page has been added to the Minutes of the 3^rd February 2021. 

Item 55 – A member of the Panel enquired regarding progress on the request for the Panel to have a list of performance measures.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 3^rd February 2021 be accepted as a true record. 

The Report on the Proposed Precept 21 – 22 be added as a supplement to the 3^rd February 2021 Minutes.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 27^th April 2021 be accepted as a true record.

To consider the attached report

The Commissioner invited Emma Wools to speak and thanked her for her contribution as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.

Emma Wools provided a brief background summary of her career and experience leading up to her position as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.

Resolved that:

Emma Wools be re-appointed as the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.

To receive a presentation from the Commissioner

The Commissioner provided a detailed verbal presentation in support of the Police and Crime Plan.  Particular emphasis was made on the following matters:

·         Equality for all people

·         Volunteering

·         Values, Visions and Ambitions for the next three years

·         Six election pledges

·         Election Statement May 2021

·         Neighbourhood Policing and Community Safety

·         Step into Sport

·         Joint work with Local Authorities

·         Police Complaints and Standards

·         Finance

The Chair thanked the Commissioner for the report and invited questions from the Panel.

The following questions were raised by Panel and answered in detail by the Commissioner:-

·         The report mentions the importance of partnerships including voluntary, community and third sector, the document doesn’t appear to reflect this, and focuses more around statutory partnerships.

The Chair suspended the meeting at 12.25 to allow members to add additional car parking tickets to their cars.

The Chair resumed the meeting at 12.45 p.m.

·         With regard to finance and the effective use of finance, what will you do to ensure the financial burden doesn’t remain with the taxpayer for future precept increases?

·         When there is a serious incident, such as at Mayhill, what do you think the reasonable expectation of this Panel should be to ensure as far as possible that this does not happen again and what responses should local communities expect?

Resolved that:

The content of the report be noted.

To consider the attached report

Resolved that:

The content of the report be noted and questions be gathered and provided to the Commissioner’s Office.  The Commissioner’s Office to prepare a Paper answering these questions together with a detailed description of the experiences during the pandemic for the next Panel Meeting.

To consider the attached report

Following discussion with the Panel it was:

Resolved that:

The following scheduled meeting dates (as listed below) be agreed with an amended start to the meeting time being 10.00 a.m.

1^st June 2021

14^th September 2021

7^th December 2021

27^th January 2022

26^th April 2022

8^th June 2022 (AGM)

M Jehu left the meeting at 1.08 p.m.

The Chair raised the following matters under Any Other Business:

Mayhill Incident

The following comments/questions were raised and answered in detail by the Commissioner:

·       Community spirit/good deeds done by the people of Swansea

·       Clarity sought on the ‘whys and whereofs’ of what went on, what changes to priorities you may have, and ideas of prevention.   

·       Flavour of the report - How you work with operational police for future incidents.

·       Regaining public confidence.

·       Publish Terms of Reference for the Inquiry and to advise the public that a response is coming.

·       Where are we with the Inquiry to be held, do we have a date?

·       Deprived and high crime area - were there any advance warnings?

Mr Jenkins, Cardiff

Simon Jones detailed a letter received from Mr Jenkins raising questions and complaints and in particular one question that he feels was unanswered at a previous meeting on 8^th December 2021 (Do you feel that the expense of this case was money well spent?).

The Commissioner and L Jones provided an updated response to this question advising that matters have to be dealt with without fear or favour when dealing with what are often very vigorous legal challenges.

S Jones to provide a written response to Mr Jenkins.

Quality of Risk Assessments/MAPPA (Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements)

Following the Khan  Review/Inquiry on London Bridge and the implications for the MAPPA processes, in terms of learning, what, if anything should we be asking our local MAPPA meetings?  Could you instigate with your colleagues in other agencies an earlier than we usually expect from the MOJ, learning, changing procedures or updating current auditing arrangements?

The Chair thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting.