Agenda and minutes

1.         This meeting is to be webcast. Members are reminded of the need to activate their microphones before speaking.

2.         The Chairman will read the following announcement:

“This meeting will be webcast live to the Internet and will be archived for later viewing. Copies of recordings may be made available on request.

By entering the chamber’s lower seating area you consenting to becoming part of the webcast.

If you wish to avoid being filmed you should move to the public gallery or speak to the webcasting officer”

The Chairman reminded everyone present that the meeting would be broadcast live to the Internet, and that the Council had adopted a protocol for the webcasting of its meetings.

(Head of Research and Democratic Services)  To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

The Panel noted there were no substitute members.

(Assistant to the Chief Executive). To declare interests in any items on the agenda.

In considering whether to declare a personal or a prejudicial interest under the Code of Conduct, Overview & Scrutiny members are asked pay particular attention to paragraph 11 of the Code in addition to the more familiar requirements.

This requires the declaration of a personal and prejudicial interest in any matter before an OS Committee which relates to a decision of or action by another Committee or Sub Committee of the Council, a Joint Committee or Joint Sub Committee in which the Council is involved and of which the Councillor is also a member.

Paragraph 11 does not refer to Cabinet decisions or attendance at an OS meeting purely for the purpose of answering questions or providing information on such a matter.

No declarations of interest were made.

To agree the notes of the last meeting held on 8 January 2013.

The notes of the 8 January 2013 meeting were agreed as a correct record.

To receive a short presentation from the newly elected Police and Crime Commissioner, Mr Nick Alston and to take questions from those present.

The Chairman introduced the newly elected Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, Nick Alston. He was there to give a short presentation on his first few months in, and his aspirations for, his term in office and to answer any question from Panel members. Accompanying him was Chief Superintendant Andy Prophet and Chief Inspector Ed Wells.

Mr Alston thanked all those present for turning out to see him. He told them that he was presently in the middle of a two day selection process, appointing a Chief Constable for Essex.

It had been 11 weeks since his selection and this was a new ere, although much would stay the same as Essex had a good Police force; though he admitted that they should engage a bit more with the public.

We noted that his father had been a Deputy Chief Constable and he grew up in a police household. He had a science background and had worked in the Ministry of Defence, and then with an investment Bank as their global Head of Security. He retired two years ago.

He noted that this was an opportunity for the newly elected PCC to make a difference. People should have more say in how they were policed.

He joined the Conservative Party to be their candidate for the post and spent six months learning about the Police and crime across Essex.

He noted that this district had a very good partnership working, with their Safer Communities Team being one of the best and most active SCP he had seen.

Top of his responsibilities as a PCC was holding the Chief Constable to account on our behalf. He also had to set and update the four year Police and Crime Plan; set the budget precepts for policing; engage with the public and communities; and allocate grants and commission services. He was also responsible for giving the victims of crime a stronger voice.

He stated his intention to:

1)                  make sure we had policing across Essex that met local priorities;

2)                  make sure that the Police Service was as prompt and professional as it could be;

3)                  encourage/require partnerships in crime reduction; and

4)                  to commit to be a visible and influential leader and make a difference

and he had been trying to do these things, as he had promised in his manifesto, since he had been elected.

He promised that he would try and go to each district in Essex twice a year in a meeting like this one. It would give us the opportunity to hear from the district commander, afford the opportunity to pass on concerns to the police and vice-a-versa. He would be coming back to the District on 23 May 2013 to hold a public meeting.

He had noted that:

• Rural communities felt disenfranchised (although most crime happened in urban areas), so he had set up a rural forum;
• Businesses also felt disenfranchised and business prosperity was crucial for the area, and he has also set up  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.