Issue - meetings

The Executive Board considered the attached report:-

RECOMMENDED: That Council

1)                 note the contents of the report; and

2)                 note and support the appointment of the Chief Executive as the Police Area Returning Officer (PARO) for the Cheshire Police Force Area for the proposed Police and Crime Commissioner Elections in November 2012 (should these elections proceed).

The Executive Board had considered a report of the Chief Executive, on the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections 2012.

The Police and Social reform Bill if enacted, would introduce directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) across England and Wales from November 2012. A Police Area Returning Officer (PARO) would be required for each area, responsible for the overall conduct of the election in their area.

            With the agreement of the Chief Executives of Warrington, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, the Police Authority and the Cheshire and Warrington Leadership Board, the Chief Executive of Halton had been appointed PARO for the Cheshire Police Force Area, should the elections proceed.

            RESOLVED: That

1)                 the contents of the report be noted; and

2)                 Council support the appointment of the Chief Executive as the Police Area Returning Officer (PARO) for the Cheshire Police Force Area for the proposed Police and Crime Commissioner Elections in November 2012 (should these elections proceed).

            The Board received a report of the Chief Executive, which updated Members on the Government proposals to establish Police and Crime Commissioners for all English Police Authority Areas.

            The Police and Social reform Bill if enacted, would introduce directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) across England and Wales from May 2012. Since the report was written, it had been decided that the first PCC elections would take place in November 2012, with boundaries based on the 41 Police Force areas in England and Wales. The Board noted that a Police Area Returning Officer (PARO) would be required for each area, responsible for the overall conduct of the election in their area.

            The Home Office invited applications for the role of PARO. With the agreement of the Chief Executives of Warrington, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, the Police Authority and the Cheshire and Warrington Leadership Board, the Chief Executive of Halton successfully submitted his application, and had been appointed PARO for the Cheshire Police Force Area, should the elections proceed.

            RESOLVED: That

1)                 the contents of the report be noted; and

2)                 Council be asked to note and support the appointment of the Chief Executive as the Police Area Returning Officer (PARO) for the Cheshire Police Force Area for the proposed Police and Crime Commissioner Elections in November 2012 (should these elections proceed).