Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor B Bowen-Thomson and S James Co-opted Member.

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

M Jehu Declared his Interest in Item 10 - Police and Crime Commissioner – Annual Report as he is a Trustee of Safer Merthyr Tydfil and the Organisation receives funding in relation to Domestic Violence from the Commissioners Budget.

To consider the attached report

Resolved that:

Councillor B Bowen-Thomson be appointed as Chair of the Committee.

To consider the attached report

Resolved that:

M Jehu Co-opted Member be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Committee.

In the absence of the Chair, M Jehu as Vice-Chair took the Chair.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Meeting held 29 June 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Meeting held 26 April 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

To consider the attached report

Simon Jones referred the Panel to the ‘South Wales Police and Crime Panel Work Programme and Future Meeting Dates’ report and updated the Panel on the Committee dates as outlined in Paragraph 2.4.

He also advised of a series of informal Meetings for Panel Members that he would be arranging in due course.

Resolved that:

(a)   The Meeting dates up to and including the Annual Meeting in 2023 be agreed

(b)  The Work Programme up to and including the Panel’s Annual Meeting in 2023 be prepared by the Panel.       

To consider the attached report

Simon Jones referred the Panel to the ‘Police and Crime Panel Annual Report’.

Resolved that:

The South Wales Police and Crime Panel Annual Report be noted.

Items nine and ten on the agenda were taken as one item.

To receive a verbal presentation.

The Chair welcomed Alun Michael South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Emma Wools Deputy South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Lee Jones Chief Executive and Peter Curran Treasurer to the Meeting.

Alun Michael addressed the Panel and referred to the lack of funding in relation to Capital City Uplift and outlined the campaign that was being undertaken to address this.

Mr Michael then referred to a previous letter the Panel had written supporting Capital City Funding and invited the Panel to write again in support of this matter.

Emma Wools, Lee Jones and Peter Curran then addressed the Panel and gave details of their roles and backgrounds.

Mr Michael then led the Panel through the South Wales Police and Crime Plan 2022-26 and gave details in relation to:

·        Priority 1 – We will reduce and prevent Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour to keep people safe and confident in their Homes and Communities

·        Priority 2 – We will involve and empower our Communities, working with Partners in Local Government, Health, Fire and Welsh Government, the Third Sector and Education to deliver Services that people need

·        Priority 3 – We will work and protect the most vulnerable in our Communities, understanding causes and taking prompt positive action as issues arise

·        Priority 4 – We will work to make the local Criminal Justice System efficient and effective to meet the needs of Victims and reduce re-offending

·        Priority 5 – We will ensure that South Wales Police continues to be a high performance force in terms of the Operational response to Crime, Threats, Harm and the Detection of Offenders

·        Priority 6 – We will spend your money wisely, playing our part to protect the Environment and support our people to provide the best possible Policing in your Community

·        Enabling Delivery – Organisational, People, Operational, Partnership

·        24 Hours in South Wales Police – Public Service Centre Calls, Public Safety Welfare Calls, Missing Persons, Assaults, Sexual Offences, Reports of Anti-Social Behaviour, People through Custody, Domestic Related Incidents

·         Offenders Managed under Mappa, Children Supported on the Child Protection Register, Repeat Victims of Domestic Abuse Engaged with

Mr Michael then extended an invite to the Panel to visit the Public Service Call Centre.

·        Financial Challenge

·        Policing South Wales

·        Engaging Communities

·        Tackling Violence against Women and Girls

·        What our Partners are Telling Us

·        What the Public are Telling Us

·        Our Priorities

Mr Michael referred to How to deal with and drive Community Safety, the Role of Police Community Safety Officers (PCSO’s) and Neighbourhood Policing.

Mr Michael also gave details in relation to the funding for PCSO’s and the responsibilities of the Role.

Details were also given in relation to Community Safety and the Crime and Disorder Act together with the Apprenticeship Levy.

Mr Michael then suggested to the Panel that if there were any areas that they wished to Scrutinise to advise him of these areas.

Emma Wools then gave an update to the Panel in relation to Tackling Violence and the Joint Strategy in South Wales and collective initiative  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To consider the attached report

This item was considered as part of the previous item.

To consider the attached report

Alun Michael referred the Committee to the South Wales Independent Custody Visiting Scheme and Animal Welfare Scheme Annual Report 2021-2022 and stated that if the Panel wished to consider any matter further in this report to advise his Office and this could then be done.

Lee Jones then led the Panel in detail through the report and advised that a visit could be arranged for the Panel to undertake a visit to the stabling and kennelling facilities.

The Chair then thanked Mr Jones for the report and update to the Panel and stressed the importance of Independent Custody Visitors.

Resolved that:

The South Wales Independent Custody Visiting Scheme and Animal Welfare Scheme Annual Report 2021-2022 report be noted.

To consider the attached report

Peter Curran gave an overview to the Panel of the Commissioner’s Financial Responsibilities together with an update on the 2022-2023 In-Year Finances as follows:

·       Financial Responsibilities

·       Legal Context – Police Reform and Social Responsibility (PRSR) Act 2011

·       Key Assurances – Medium Term Financial Strategy, Treasury Management Strategy, Annual Budget and Precept Proposal, In Year Management of Finances, Year End Financial Statements, Financial Control and Risk Environment

·       Key Documents and Reports – Medium Term Financial Strategy, Annual Consolidated Statement of Accounts, Financial Monitoring Reports, Comparative Statistics, Survey on Budgets, Precepts and Reserve Levels

·       Commissioner’s Finances – Analysis of Key Financial Indicators

·       Cost of PCC Officers per head of Population

·       Commissioned Services Income Generated

·       Gross Commissioned Services Expenditure Per Head of Population

·       Funding and Investments for 2022/23

Mr Curran also gave details on the 2022/23 Financial Position of South Wales Police.

Resolved that:

The Updated Financial Positions and Associated Issues be noted.

Capital City Funding

Resolved that:

A letter of support be constructed to support the Commissioner in this matter.

The Chair advised that there was no other business deemed urgent.