Agenda item

12.05pm

For the first meeting of the Municipal Year, the Police and Crime Panel reviews its Rules of Procedure and Panel Arrangements. Consideration of the Rules of Procedure and Panel Arrangements also reminds Panel Members, particularly new Members of the role and functions of the Panel.

The Panel is requested to consider the following:

1.       That the Rules of Procedure and Panel Arrangements for the Thames Valley Police and Crime Panel “the Panel” be updated (as attached in Appendix 1 and 2) to reflect the changes arising from the decision to the representation changes for Buckinghamshire Council and Milton Keynes Council.

2)       That the Panel notes that with the appointment of the new Chair of the Panel, that a decision is required on the Host Authority for the Panel. (see paragraph 3). 

3)       That the Panel reconfirms the decision that future meetings take place at Buckinghamshire Council’s Gateway House in Aylesbury.

4)       That approval be given to the process to appoint two new Independent Members to the Panel. (see paragraph 5).        

5)       That the Panel considers the memberships of the Panel’s Complaints Sub Committee (7 Members) and Budget Task and Finish Group (5 Members) and confirm the appointment of the Members detailed below (para. 5) and appoint Members to vacancies as required.

6)       That the established Complaints Sub-Committee and Task Group be agreed with no changes to their terms of reference for the following year (subject to any legislative changes) (Appendix 3).

7)       That details of the Home Office grant received for 2021/22 for the operation of the Panel by the Host Authority be noted. (see paragraph 7)

The Panel was provided with a report which included updated Rules of Procedure and Panel Arrangements, details of the Complaints Procedure, required appointments to the Panel’s Complaints Sub-Committee and Budget Task and Finish Group and details of the Home Office grant for 2021/22.

Members were informed that since the last meeting of the Panel, the two Independent Co-Opted Members have resigned, and the Panel was asked to agree the process for appointing two new Independent Co-Opted Members.

Discussion took place on the Hosting of the Panel, and the Chair informed Members he would discuss the hosting arrangements with his Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer.

An expression of interest to Host the Panel was given by Buckinghamshire Council and it was agreed that any other expressions of interest to Host the Panel be submitted to the Chair and the Scrutiny Officer to the Panel.

A decision would be taken at the next Panel meeting on the hosting arrangements after discussions have taken place between relevant officers within the existing Host Authority (Oxfordshire County Council) and authorities who have expressed an interest in hosting the Panel.

RESOLVED – (1).   That the Rules of Procedure and Panel Arrangements for the Thames Valley Police and Crime Panel “the Panel” be updated (as attached in Appendix 1 and 2 to the report) to reflect the changes arising from the decision to the representation changes for Buckinghamshire Council and Milton Keynes Council.

(2)      That the Panel notes that with the appointment of the new Chair of the Panel, that a decision is required on the Host Authority for the Panel. It was agreed that this decision would be taken at the next meeting of the Panel after further discussions have taken place.

(3)      That the Panel reconfirms the decision that future meetings of the Panel continue to take place at Buckinghamshire Council’s Gateway House in Aylesbury.

(4)      That the Chair, Vice-Chair and Councillor Simon Rouse be appointed as the Members involved in the recruitment process for the appointment of the two new Independent Members to the Panel, with Councillor Karen Rowland also consulted throughout the process.            

(5)      That the following Members be appointed to the Panel’s Complaints Sub-Committee and Budget Task and Finish Group:-

Complaints Sub-Committee – (Councillor Balvinder Bains (Slough Borough Council), Councillor Peter Brazier (Co-Opted Member – Buckinghamshire Council), Councillor David Cannon (Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead), Councillor David Carroll (Buckinghamshire Council), Councillor Emily Culverhouse (Co-Opted Member – Buckinghamshire Council), Councillor Karen Rowland (Reading Borough Council) and Councillor Richard Webber (Oxfordshire County Council)).

Budget Task and Finish Group – (Councillor John Harrison (Bracknell Forest Council), Councillor Geoff Saul (West Oxfordshire District Council), Councillor Keith McLean (Milton Keynes Council), Councillor Eddie Reeves (Cherwell District Council) and Councillor Simon Rouse (Co-Opted Members, Buckinghamshire Council). 

(6)      That the established Complaints Sub-Committee and Task Group be agreed with no changes to their terms of reference for the following year.

7)       That details of the Home Office grant received for 2021/22 for the operation of the Panel by the Host Authority be noted.