Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.  Apologies were noted.

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd February 2021, having been printed and circulated, be taken as read and be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

No matters arising were raised by the Panel.

No declarations were notified to the meeting.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the item of business listed in column 1 of the following table on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraph specified in column 2, of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information)(Variation) Order 2006:-

Resolved –

That the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Item 11 on the grounds that this involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraph specified in column 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1971 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information)(Variation) Order 2006.

Report from the Panel Secretariat.

Diane Parsons noted for the Panel that responses had been received from the Commissioner’s office to items 1, 2, 4 and 5 on pages 9 and 10 of the paperwork.  However, as the response had been received earlier that day, it was recommended that the Panel return to this paper at the next Panel meeting for proper consideration.

Resolved –

That the Panel reviews the update provided to this item by the Commissioner’s office as part of the agenda for the next Panel meeting.

·    Any member of the public, who lives, works or studies in North Yorkshire and York can ask a question to the Panel.  The question or statement must be put in writing to the Panel no later than midday on Friday, 19^th March 2021 to Diane Parsons (contact details below). 

·    The time period for asking and responding to all questions will be limited to 15 minutes. No one question or statement shall exceed 3 minutes.

·    Please see the rules regarding Public Question Time at the end of this agenda page.  The full protocol can be found at www.nypartnerships.org.uk/pcp.

The Panel were advised that no public questions or statements had been received.

No questions were raised by Members of the Panel.

To discuss the context and rationale to the proposed appointment of a substantive Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer to the Commissioner.

The Chair clarified that the purpose of this item was to provide an opportunity for the Panel to ask the Commissioner about the context and rationale for the proposed appointment of substantive Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer, as it was the first opportunity the Panel had to do so since the recruitment process had been initiated.

The Commissioner was asked why she wanted to progress making this appointment now and whether the current interim measures could be continued beyond the election period.  The Commissioner highlighted that the Chief Executive is the head of paid staff for the team and that assuring some constancy over a period of change would be important for the staff.  The Panel were also advised that many Commissioner colleagues nationally are similarly making new senior appointments at this time.

Following the intention of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to notify the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel of the proposed appointment of a preferred candidate to the role of Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer, for the Police, Fire and Crime Panel to hold a Confirmation Hearing, in accordance with Schedule 1 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (amended in accordance with the provisions of the Policing and Crime Act 2017).

Report from the Panel Secretariat.

Considered –

The guidance note from the Panel Secretariat, outlining the role and process for the Panel in conducting the confirmation hearing.

Resolved –

That the Panel notes the guidance provided.

Considered –

The report of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner setting out details of the recruitment process conducted and notifying the Panel of the preferred appointee, Mr Simon Dennis.  The Commissioner’s submission also provided a report by the  independent panel member, Cindy Butts.

Resolved –

That the Panel notes the report provided.

Considered –

The personal statement provided by the preferred candidate for Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer, Mr Simon Dennis

The Chair thanked Mr Dennis for providing his personal statement.

The Panel subsequently asked a number of questions of Mr Dennis in order to be reassured that the candidate would meet the standards required for the role as outlined by the Commissioner.

Question 1: Councillor Carl Maw asked Mr Dennis how he would demonstrate that he is achieving value for taxpayers’ money.  Additionally – how he intended to develop and innovate effective relationships with stakeholders to make the best use of those limited resources.

Mr Dennis referred to his work in Cleveland and having ensured good value through implementation of a ‘lean’ office structure.  He further highlighted for Panel ongoing and emerging programmes of work in North Yorkshire which will contribute to ensuring best use of resources.  These included the developing Risk and Resource Model for the Fire and Rescue Service and the Enable programme which is reviewing how services across policing and fire may be shared for greater efficiency.  Mr Dennis felt that having a full-time substantive postholder in North Yorkshire would afford greater opportunities around some of this work.

Question 2: Councillor Helen Grant asked what Mr Dennis saw as being the biggest change or challenge to be addressed in the next 12 months and why.

Mr Dennis referred to the significant work to be tackled around consultation on the Risk and Resource Model for fire and rescue as well as the new target operating model being implemented by North Yorkshire Police.  He also cited national developments around the Commissioner model further to the recent Home Office announcement following the Phase One review of this role undertaken last year.  Recovery from the pandemic across the force area will continue to be a major concern.  As full-time Chief Executive Mr Dennis hoped to play a greater role in developments around the Commissioner’s criminal justice and reoffending work.

Question 3: Councillor Peter Wilkinson asked how Mr Dennis would define his relationship with the Panel and how he will seek to further develop the relationship between the OPFCC and Panel.

Mr Dennis acknowledged the importance of the relationship with the Panel and referred to the relationship already developed by him in both Cleveland and North Yorkshire with the respective Panels.  He felt that the relationship between the Panel officers and OPFCC has improved in terms of quality of paperwork and timeliness of input and that he was confident it can and should be robust.  He also highlighted the importance of continuing to work closely on the Panel’s complaints remit.

Question 4: Councillor Ashley Mason asked Mr Dennis if he could provide an example of where he’s had to make a transition working for different senior leaders and how he ensured he maintained his independence in the process.

Mr Dennis referred in particular to direct experience recently of moving to a new manager arrangement in Cleveland and moving to a new model of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 515.

For the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel to discuss and agree its recommendation following the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s notification to the Panel of the proposed appointment of a preferred candidate to the role of Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer.

Resolved -

After a period of time of discussion, the Panel resolved that on the basis of the information provided by the Commissioner, the discussions held in the confirmation hearing and examination of the evidence in both the public meeting and closed session, the Panel is pleased to recommend the appointment of Mr Simon Dennis as Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer.

The Panel were advised that no urgent business had been notified to the Chair.

The Chair thanked the Commissioner for all her efforts since 2012 on behalf of the communities of North Yorkshire and York and wished her well for the future.

The Chair also thanked Councillor Mason for his valued contribution to the work of the Panel, both as a Member and as a Vice Chair over the years.  The Panel wish him well in his future civic role.