Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Apologies for non-attendance were received from Councillors Roberts.

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

None declared.

To receive communications from the Chair.

The Chair welcomed all those present to the meeting and reminded the Panel:

·       The meeting would be webcast live and participants would need to utilise their microphones. 

·       The meeting was the final scheduled Panel meeting in the municipal year 2022/23 and thanked everyone for their hard work.

To confirm the minutes of previous Panel meetings

RESOLVED that:

a)    The minutes of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel Confirmation Hearing held in public on 11 January 2023 be approved.

b)    The minutes of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel Confirmation Hearing held in private on 11 January 2023 be approved.

c)    The minutes of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel meeting held in public on 2 February 2023 be approved.

d)    The minutes of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel Confirmation Hearing held in public on 2 February 2023 be approved.

e)    The minutes of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel Confirmation Hearing held in private on 2 February 2023 be approved.

RESOLVED that: the minutes of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel Confirmation hearing held in public on 11 January 2023 be approved.

RESOLVED that: the minutes of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel Confirmation hearing held in private on 11 January 2023 be approved.

RESOLVED that: the minutes of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel meeting held in public on 2 February 2023 be approved.

RESOLVED that: the minutes of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel Confirmation hearing held in public on 2 February 2023 be approved.

RESOLVED that: the minutes of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel Confirmation hearing held in private on 2 February 2023 be approved.

Guide time: 1.15 – 1.45pm

RESOLVED that: The Panel notes the Northamptonshire response to recommendations from the HMICFRS inspection of vetting, misconduct, and misogyny in the police service.

The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) introduced the report and emphasised to the Panel that Police Officers should deliver the highest standard of behaviour and integrity. Identifying and eliminating unacceptable behaviour was vital and vetting procedures needed to be robust and effective.

The PFCC had provided additional investment to the Chief Constable for resources and a vetting management software system, which helped to attract and retain excellent staff and with the identification of individuals who did not meet the expected standards for a Police Officer.

The PFCC then introduced Ivan Balhatchet Deputy Chief Constable, Northamptonshire Police, to provide an outline of the work that the force had delivered under Operation Admiral. Liz Wilcox, Detective Chief Inspector, Northamptonshire Police, was also present to provide more detailed information on work in this area.

The Deputy Chief Constable advised that his role included the responsibility for Professional Standards within Northamptonshire Police.  Nationally, the standards of discipline and crime in Policing had been subject to media attention.   A team had been created to review Professional Standards within Northamptonshire Police.  The review included historic non-recent reports, criminal investigations, vetting, the disciplinary procedures, the number in the Professional Standards department, focus groups and surveys from staff. 

It was recognised there was a need to build confidence with victims of crime in order that they trusted in the confidentiality of the reporting system, and would report wrong-doing by Police Officers; to ensure allegations were taken seriously; and to ensure that the right people were investigating.

Public confidence in policing, particularly amongst women and girls, was currently low and Northamptonshire Police were actively identifying inappropriate behaviours within the force to rebuild public trust.

The Detective Chief Inspector explained that she had an objective investigatory crime background with the Metropolitan Police and had transferred to work on Operation Admiral, to look at professional standards, misconduct, crime and corruption in Northamptonshire Police.

The HMICFRS report had outlined 28 recommendations specific to the Police, all had been discharged in Northamptonshire.  One recommendation was rated ‘Amber’ as it required a change of legislation and codes of practice to vary the manner that the data stored within the Police National Database (PND) could be utilised.  Further work had been identified to improve and enhance the public service and the safety within the organisation.

The Director for Early Intervention, Head of Paid Service and Monitoring Officer, OPFCC had decided all OPFCC staff would undergo a PND check. Although exempt, the PFCC had considered it important for him also to be included in the checks.

The vetting systems had been reviewed and investment made in a new software system, Core-Vet, to improve data collation, records and the timeliness of the extraction of data from the systems.  Further improvements could be achieved by having a single vetting system, supporting a joined up approach that would help to ensure references were followed up and the force was employing the right people.

 To ensure that investigations had been thorough and conducted properly the team had completed a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 137.

Guide time: 1.45 – 2.15pm

RESOLVED that:

a)    The Panel notes the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s Estates Strategy Update.

b)    The Panel requests the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to present the new version of the Commissioner’s full Estates Strategy to the Panel in 2023/24.

The PFCC introduced the report and advised that delivering an effective and efficient estate for both Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service was particularly challenging in the current economic climate.  The PFCC went on to highlight the following points:

·      The OPFCC had carried out a review of the joint estate to assess affordability and suitability to provide best value. 

·       The proposed project for a joint garage hub in Earls Barton would not proceed due to a significant rise in development costs.  The building would be sold and consideration giving to alternative means of delivering a joint facility.

·       His ambition was for a 15 - 20 year estates strategy to ensure resilience for future PFCCs.

·       He would continue to progress plans for collaborative working reflecting the changing economic climate.

The Panel considered the report and members sought a greater understanding of the following matters during the course of their discussion:

·       The capacity to accommodate all staff in the current estate.

·       Plans regarding the sale of Kettering Police Station, which sat vacant, and the allocation of sale proceeds.

·       Ownership and future plans for Towcester Police Station.

·       List of property proposals for disposal, and how this would affect policing in those areas.

·       The location of the current fleet workshops.

·       The balance between disposal of assets and the impact of police presence in the community.

·       The potential to generate a benefit from assets that were surplus to requirements other than by disposing of them.

·       Marketing potential of Police Boxes.

·       The potential for the PFCC to share a final list of surplus assets with the Northamptonshire local authorities and to work together to identify potential future uses, for example, as sites for the construction of social housing.  

The PFCC made the following points during the course of the discussion:

·       Should all staff physically attend the work-place buildings would be close to capacity. 

·       The Estates Strategy would consider modern methods of working, capacity, condition of the buildings and their locations.

·       An outside property organisation had been engaged to assist with drawing up a master plan.

·       The draft Estates Strategy was awaiting approval by the Estates Board.

·       The police control room at Wootton Hall would need updating or a new building sought.

·       North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) owned part of Kettering Police Station, and the OPFCC had incurred significant challenges working with NNC to sell the property. Recently significant progress had been made and they could be in a position to be sold as a joint asset soon.

·       The appropriate percentage of the sale proceeds would be allocated to NNC.

·       Towcester police station was not currently on the market due to a challenge through the planning process relating to its previous use, which had held up the process.

·       The OPFCC was looking at a strategy to avoid situations that cause delays by taking a long-term view considering how buildings would be used in the future, including the  possible further development of existing sites, maximising the estate on land that was already owned, considering location, suitability of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 138.

Guide time: 2.15 – 2.45pm

RESOLVED that:

a)    The Panel notes the Police, Fire and Crime Plan Delivery Update.

b)    The Panel requests the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to present a report on the impact of implementing the Serious Violence Duty as part of the Panel’s future work programme.

c)    The Panel requests the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to present a report on the impact of delays in the Criminal Justice System as part of the Panel’s future work programme.

The PFCC presented the Police, Fire and Crime Plan Delivery update and highlighted the following points:

·        This update presented to the Panel provided a comprehensive review of recent work being undertaken to deliver the priorities set out in the Plan.

·        Northamptonshire had been chosen, as one of the 16 areas in England and Wales by the Home Office, to participate in a new crackdown on anti-social behaviour. This attracted additional funding of £2 million to support either new ’hotspot’ enforcement areas or a trial of a new ‘Immediate Justice’ scheme.

·    Successful Safer Streets funding bid had now attracted in excess of £3 million of funding to the county. The scheme had delivered 650 new doors, alley gates, security lighting for a number of property schemes and a major extension of North Northamptonshire's CCTV network.

·        A successful pilot scheme to support businesses in Northamptonshire to improve investigation of shoplifting and other retail crime would be established permanently and extended to the west of the county.

·        Reports to the Flare App had enabled data to be analysed, problems areas identified and follow up action taken.

·        The Chief Fire Officer had been tasked with ensuring the concerns raised in the HMICFRS report in relation to embedding values and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in the Fire and Rescue Service were addressed.

·        The update demonstrated the breadth of work done by the OPFCC.

The Panel considered the report and members raised questions on the following areas during the course of their discussion:

·        The quantity and scope of schemes and initiatives being undertaken and the risks of overlap with similar projects, for example between night time medical patrols in Kettering and the new SNOvan for the north of the county.

·        Whether adding a Star Rating to the Flare app would help with raising public awareness of the app and encouraging usage.

·        The 18 parishes that were awarded funding from the Road Safety Community Fund were mainly in the west.  Was there scope to do more in the north of the county: Irthlingborough was one area there with road safety issues.

·        Communities would find it helpful if in-person Joint Action Group (JAG) meetings were resumed.

·        Improved safety of nightlife once ID Scanning implemented. 

·        It may take time to see the results of some of the changes being made.

·        The increase prevalence of graffiti in the county.

·        The impact of more visible policing in the county was still not very apparent. 

·        The St George ward in Northampton had been allocated a second Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) but they had not been available for work since.

·        In 2022 a young man was attacked and threatened with a knife and no action had been taken by the police.  A similar incident recently had resulted in a fatality in Kingsthorpe.  A system review was required and action needed to be taken to protect and support the community.

·        Complaints from residents regarding drug dealing in Kingsley had been reported to the police but officers had advised that only 3 minor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 139.

Guide time: 2.45 – 3.00pm

RESOLVED that: Panel members send any questions on the Fire and Rescue Authority Finance Update to the Panel Secretariat to arrange for answers to be provided by the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

The Chair noted that the PFCC and OPFCC officers had needed to leave due to the delay in the meeting resulting from the adjournment.  Any questions on the report could be dealt with outside of the meeting.

RESOLVED that:

Panel members send any questions on the Fire and Rescue Authority Finance Update to the Panel Secretariat to arrange for answers to be provided by the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

Guide time: 3.00 – 3.15pm

RESOLVED that: Panel members send any questions on the Policing Finance Update to the Panel Secretariat to arrange for answers to be provided by the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

The Chair noted that the PFCC and OPFCC officers had needed to leave due to the delay in the meeting resulting from the adjournment.  Any questions on the report could be dealt with outside of the meeting.

RESOLVED that:

Panel members send any questions on the Policing Finance Update to the Panel Secretariat to arrange for answers to be provided by the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

Guide time: 3.15 – 3.45pm

RESOLVED that:

a)    The Panel notes the report.

b)    The Panel recommends that its work programme for 2023/24 should include the following matters:

·         A report from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner on the new version of the Commissioner’s full Estates Strategy

·         A report from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner on the impact of implementing the Serious Violence Duty

·         A report from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner on the impact of delays in the Criminal Justice System.

The Chair introduced the report setting out the work programme, which was based on the standard agenda item but reflected that this was the last meeting of the year.  The report therefore invited the Panel to highlight the items that it wanted the successor Panel to give consideration to including in the new work programme for 2023/24.  The Chair subsequently noted that scrutiny work on Early Intervention was ongoing and the Panel had also identified additional items of future business earlier in the current meeting.

The Panel considered the report.  In response to a question the Democratic Services Assistant Manager advised that the item in the work programme relating to the recruitment of independent co-opted members reflected that the term of the post was 4 years and recruitment would need to take place in the summer of 2024.  The Panel had previously sought a third co-opted member and was currently carrying a vacancy.

RESOLVED that:

a)   The Panel notes the report.

b)   The Panel recommends that its work programme for 2023/24 should include the following matters:

·       A report from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner on the new version of the Commissioner’s full Estates Strategy

·       A report from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner on the impact of implementing the Serious Violence Duty

·       A report from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner on the impact of delays in the Criminal Justice System.

Guide time: 3.45 – 4.00pm

RESOLVED that: the Panel notes the Complaints and Conduct Matters Update.

The Democratic Services Assistant Manager presented the report, which advised that one new complaint relating to the PFCC had been recorded during the period September 2022 – March 2023. This complaint had been subject to Informal Resolution by the Panel’s Complaints Sub Committee.

The Chair invited Panel members to raise any points relating to the report that they wished the Panel to consider.  Panel members suggested that it could be useful to include comparison statistics on numbers of complaints in future reports.

RESOLVED that:

The Panel notes the Complaints and Conduct Matters Update.

The Chair to advise whether they have agreed to any items of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There were no items of urgent business.