Agenda item

The Panel received a report detailing the Commissioner’s approach to commissioning and grants. The Panel made comment, asked questions, and received responses from the Commissioner and his staff regarding the report, which included:

1.     Councillor Wilson requested some additional information on the criteria used by the OPCC to assess quotations and working relationships with partners.  Nicky Edwards, OPCC, advised that there was a mixed model of commissioning.  Funding was awarded through grants and contracts.  The procurement legislation was followed via the financial standing orders and there was a tender process with responses evaluated generally on a 70% quality / 30% cost split, reflecting the greater importance of quality in, for instance, victims’ services.

Ms Edwards also explained that the OPCC co-commissioned services with partners.  This avoided duplication and enabled them to pool the resources of the public sector to better suit requirements.  The OPCC worked closely with a number of agencies who had statutory responsibilities in relation to providing victim support services, including the local authority, probation and health.

2.     Ms Edwards advised in response to a question from Councillor Barkham that the Volunteer Police Cadets were established with a purely volunteer based model and at that time there had been no problem in attracting volunteers to train or coach the cadets.  Since then, there had been a reduction in the number of volunteers coming forward nationally as a result of cost of living implications.  The Commissioner made funding available for cadet activities and there had been investment in the Constabulary to give them more capacity to provide training.  Safer Streets 4 and 5 projects had included a post which had included a time commitment to working with cadet units.

3.     Councillor Barkham asked whether it was possible to set out more information on the criteria used by the OPCC for funding.  Ms Edwards explained that the criteria for funding depended on the service the OPCC was seeking to commission.  The Commissioning Strategy set out the key principles, including looking to fund services that were locally based to build capacity in local communities.  There was the potential to pick some samples out and share them with the Panel.

4.     Councillor Barkham requested further clarity on paragraph 5.2 of the report that ‘we will clearly set out the outcomes to be achieved and consider if a new service is required or whether an existing service could be re-commissioned or enhanced to deliver the same outcomes’.  The Commissioner responded that most would involve evaluation and there were regular and frequent monitoring meetings.

5.     Edward Leigh thanked the Commissioner and Ms Edwards for their work in securing additional funding for services. He referred to paragraph 8.1 of the report mentioning that there was a potential ‘cliff edge of funding’ (a shortfall of £1.1m) with the additional funding streams the OPCC is managing due to end on March 31, 2025.  He expressed concerns whether the ‘cliff edge’ was due to success in winning competitive grants which were time limited and whether there was any step that could be taken to improve the situation such as the Commissioner working with the Association of Police Crime Commissioners to lobby for more consistent funding for this work.  The Commissioner confirmed that he lobbied continually.  He added that due to his commitment to support victims, whilst he would never be frivolous with public money, he was prepared to build in some risk appetite with funding commitments to ensure that the very best people were able to keep providing the best services.

6.     Councillor Jones asked whether there were any OPCC funding initiatives which Panel members could steer local organisations towards.  The Commissioner advised that he had a Youth Fund and a Community Fund.  It needed to be demonstrated that organisations were having a positive impact in their communities.

7.     The Commissioner commented that in the broader context of commissioning, more information could be provided to the Panel and other councillors.  He would also look to include more information on this subject in his newsletter.

8.     The Chair thanked Ms Edwards and the OPCC for the funding being obtained and the very robust and evidence based partnerships that had been formed which had made a real difference to local communities.

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