Agenda and minutes

(1)     The Head of Democratic Services (KCC) welcomed Members to the inaugural meeting of the Shadow Police and Crime Panel (PCP).  There were a number of questions within the agenda papers but there was the potential for further meetings of the Shadow PCP to take place if Members wanted more time to consider the issues after their discussions.

(2)     It was important at this meeting to elect a Chairman, to agree on the size of the panel and how Members wanted to approach the balanced appointment objectives of the panel.

(1)     The Head of Democratic Services asked for nominations for Chairman of the Shadow PCP

(2)     Councillor Clarkson proposed and Councillor Mrs Johnston seconded that Mr Hill be elected Chairman.

(3)     Councillor Fleming proposed and Councillor Burden seconded that Councillor O’Brien be elected Chairman. 

(4)     The two nominations were put to the vote and Mr Hill was elected Chairman of the Shadow Panel.

(5)     RESOLVED that Mr Hill be elected Chairman and that Councillor O’Brien be elected Vice-Chairman of the Shadow Panel.

(1)       The Head of Community Safety and Emergency Planning (KCC) presented to the Committee on Preparing for Police and Crime Commissioners and Police and Crime Panels (presentation attached at Appendix)

(1)    Members of the Shadow PCP agreed to defer the agreements of the Terms of Reference, Panel Arrangements and Rules of Procedure to the next meeting of the Shadow PCP.  It was requested that the document within the agenda pack be amended to show which areas were statutory and otherwise.

(2)    Members discussed the proposed membership of the Panel.  Regarding the political balance objective of the panel it was decided that Independent Members should not be included in the proportionality calculations unless they had formed a group.  

(3)    Members agreed that the Panel should consist of 18 Members.

(4)    Members asked that a formula be provided for the next meeting of the Shadow PCP setting out Panel membership.  It was suggested that the Leader of every authority should be able to appoint one member (14 members) and of the four remaining members one seat should be given to Medway Council in acknowledgement of geographical balance leaving three to help meet the political balance objective. 

(5)    Membership of the panel should be determined annually every May.

(6)    Members discussed the two Independent Members that the PCP was required to co-opt.  The Shadow PCP agreed that a public advert should be drafted to attract the right candidates to fill experience, knowledge and skills gaps.  Proposals for the selection procedure would be provided for the next meeting of the Shadow PCP.

(7)    Members agreed that the Term of Office of PCP Members should be one year but renewable and Independent co-opted members should be 4 years.

(8)    Regarding a code of conduct for the PCP members; it was hoped that a Kent wide code could be adopted and a report would be provided for the next meeting of the Shadow PCP.  It was suggested that Members of the PCP would be bound by their own authorities’ code of conduct and Independent Members could perhaps sign up to the Nolan Principles (The Seven Principles of Public Life).

(9)    Members agreed that a communications protocol should be drafted and submitted to the next meeting of the PCP, this should include the issuing of press releases and who should speak to the media on behalf of the PCP.

(10)          Members queried how future agendas would be published; they were currently published on KCC’s website.  A link to the agenda would be provided to all Kent District Councils and Medway Council to enable them to publish the agenda on their own websites if appropriate.  There was also a suggestion of a dedicated website for the PCP, this would be explored further.

(11)          Members raised a query about the quorum of a meeting of the PCP and it was agreed that one third of the total membership was appropriate.

(12)          It was suggested that Kent County Council be named as the accountable or host authority rather than the lead authority in documentation relating to the PCP.

(13)          Further work was required to agree a funding mechanism for the PCP if the expected Home Office funding was insufficient or  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.