Agenda and minutes

A webcast of the meeting can be viewed here.

The Chairman advised the Panel that the Police and Crime Commissioner was not present at the meeting, for personal reasons, and would be represented by his Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (Engagement and Lobbying), Mr Oliver Bryan.

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to declare any interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made.

The Panel considered a report of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) which outlined the PCC’s revised precept for the 2026/27. A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 2’, is filed with these minutes.

The Chairman outlined that, at the Police and Crime Panel meeting held on 4 February 2026, the PCC had presented a proposed increase to the 2026/27 precept by £11 for a Band D property. After reviewing the proposal, the Panel had resolved to veto the PCC’s proposed precept on the grounds that it had been too low. The PCC had been issued with the relevant statutory notice, setting out the veto and the reasons for it. Consequently, under Regulation 5(3)(b), the PCC had been required to submit a revised precept higher than the proposal originally considered. In a report published on 10 February 2026, the PCC, having considered the Panel’s veto report, had proposed to issue a revised council tax precept of £15 for the 2026/27 financial year for a Band D property. The Panel had the opportunity to make comments and recommendations on the revised precept, although it no longer had the power to veto it. Any comments or recommendations agreed by the Panel would be provided to the PCC in writing as soon as possible before 22 February, the statutory deadline. The PCC would be required to have regard to the Panel’s report, issue a response, and publish that response. The PCC could then issue the revised precept by 1 March, or a different precept subject to the constraints of Regulation 8(3).

At the invitation of the Chairman, the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (Engagement and Lobbying) outlined that the PCC had considered the concerns and comments raised by the Panel at the meeting on 4 February 2026. The change in precept from £11 to £15 reflected the concerns raised by the Panel and would remove the remaining deficit within the policing budget for 2026/27.

Arising from discussion, the following points were raised:

(i)         The Panel were pleased with the revised precept proposal and for the PCC’s acknowledgment of the Panel’s concerns. Several members of the Panel reiterated that the original precept had been too low and would have resulted in an underfunded police service at a time of increasing demand. Members of the Panel welcomed that the PCC had reconsidered his position and had recognised the importance of adequate police funding for the sustainability of neighbourhood policing and the long‑term financial stability of the Force. It was emphasised that the Force continued to be amongst the lowest funded police force areas in the country, and that continued lobbying of central government for a fairer funding formula would be essential.

(ii)        With regards to the Government’s proposals regarding the abolition of Police and Crime Commissioners by the end of their current term in May 2028, the Panel expressed concern regarding the status, and permitted uses of, reserves held by Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) should PCC functions be transferred to alternative governance arrangements. A member of the Panel asked whether unspent funds could be directed to frontline policing, including neighbourhood and prevention activity, prior to any structural change taking effect, or whether central government might reclaim or restrict the use of remaining funds following a structural transition. The DPCC advised that no clarity on this matter had yet been provided by government.

(iii)       The Chairman raised concerns regarding the PCC’s claim relating to the results of a public consultation on the precept. The PCC’s report outlined that he requested for a weighted average to be calculated across all respondents  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

The next meeting of the Panel is scheduled to take place on 21 April 2026.

RESOLVED:

It was noted that the next meeting of the Commission would be held on 21 April at 14:00.