Decision details

The Panel received the report of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire in respect of the proposed Chief Finance Officer appointment which in accordance with the requirements of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, Schedule 1, Paragraph 6, provided details of:

• The name of the person whom the commissioner is proposing to appoint (“the candidate”);
• The criteria used to assess the suitability of the candidate for the appointment;
• Why the candidate satisfied those criteria; and
• The terms and conditions on which the candidate is to be appointed.

The Chair welcomed Philip Trussell at the Confirmation Hearing, the proposed candidate for the position of Chief Finance Officer at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.  She advised Mr Trussell on the procedure for the Hearing. This would involve Panel members asking questions to Mr Trussell to obtain information on how he would meet the criteria for the Chief Finance Officer post and his suitability for the role.  Mr Trussell would also be given the opportunity to ask questions of the Panel on the Confirmation Hearing process.

The Chair advised those present that in accordance with Part 1 of schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, following the conclusion of the questions being asked by the Panel or Mr Trussell, it was proposed that the Panel would deliberate in private session to determine a recommendation to the Commissioner on whether to approve or refuse the appointment.  With the Panel’s consent, the press and public would be excluded from those deliberations as there would be specific discussion regarding the suitability of the candidate for the role.

The Chair stated that the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner would be advised of the Panel’s recommendation by the following day. It would be for the Commissioner to decide whether to accept or reject the Panel’s recommendation. The Panel’s recommendation would be published onto the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Panel website within five working days.

A focus of the Panel Members in asking questions of the candidate was to assure themselves of his professional competence and personal independence for the role.  At the conclusion of the Panel’s questions and responses from Mr Trussell the Chair thanked Philip Trussell for attending the hearing.