Agenda item

13.1

The Director of Policy and Democratic Engagement presented a report setting out details of a proposal from the Mayor of South Yorkshire that the powers of the Police and Crime Commissioner (“PCC”) should be held by the Mayor following the conclusion of the current PCC’s term of office in May 2024.

This transfer of powers requires secondary legislation to be made by Parliament and the consent of all four constituent Councils within the Mayoral Combined Authority, of which Sheffield is one. This report seeks the consent of Sheffield City Council to the transfer of powers, resulting in the abolition of the role of the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire from May 2024.

This change would also give the Council’s consent to the  alignment of the Mayoral election cycle with the current PCC election cycle.  This would result in the next Mayoral election taking place in May 2024 (and thereby reducing the Mayoral term of office by two years,) with the Mayor holding the PCC powers from that point.

13.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee gives Sheffield City Council’s consent to:-

(a) the making of an order to provide for the Mayor of South Yorkshire to exercise functions of the Police and Crime Commissioner (“PCC”) in relation to South Yorkshire with effect from May 2024; and

(b) the reduction of the current Mayoral term by two years so as to align with the PCC election cycle in May 2024.

13.3

Reasons for Decision

13.3.1

It is recommended that Sheffield City Council provides its support for the transfer of PCC powers to the South Yorkshire Mayor as this will secure the following benefits for the people and communities of Sheffield:

• Create one single accountable, elected politician to represent the interests of communities on South Yorkshire wide issues, whilst also strengthening the opportunities to improve political scrutiny in line with the recently published English Devolution Accountability Framework.

• Deepen collaborative working to further address issues including substance misuse, mental ill health crisis, serious violence – to include gender-based violence, economic crime, anti-social behaviour, road safety and re-offending.

• Realise efficiencies from shared corporate support services and joint business planning to release enhanced funding for frontline policing delivery.

13.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

13.4.1

The only alternative option is for Sheffield City Council to withhold its consent. This was dismissed as it would not secure the benefits of integrating the PCC and mayoral powers as set out in paragraphs 2.4 to 2.6 of the report now submitted.

13.1

The Director of Policy and Democratic Engagement presented a report setting out details of a proposal from the Mayor of South Yorkshire that the powers of the Police and Crime Commissioner (“PCC”) should be held by the Mayor following the conclusion of the current PCC’s term of office in May 2024.

This transfer of powers requires secondary legislation to be made by Parliament and the consent of all four constituent Councils within the Mayoral Combined Authority, of which Sheffield is one. This report seeks the consent of Sheffield City Council to the transfer of powers, resulting in the abolition of the role of the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire from May 2024.

This change would also give the Council’s consent to the  alignment of the Mayoral election cycle with the current PCC election cycle.  This would result in the next Mayoral election taking place in May 2024 (and thereby reducing the Mayoral term of office by two years,) with the Mayor holding the PCC powers from that point.

13.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee gives Sheffield City Council’s consent to:-

(a) the making of an order to provide for the Mayor of South Yorkshire to exercise functions of the Police and Crime Commissioner (“PCC”) in relation to South Yorkshire with effect from May 2024; and

(b) the reduction of the current Mayoral term by two years so as to align with the PCC election cycle in May 2024.

13.3

Reasons for Decision

13.3.1

It is recommended that Sheffield City Council provides its support for the transfer of PCC powers to the South Yorkshire Mayor as this will secure the following benefits for the people and communities of Sheffield:

• Create one single accountable, elected politician to represent the interests of communities on South Yorkshire wide issues, whilst also strengthening the opportunities to improve political scrutiny in line with the recently published English Devolution Accountability Framework.

• Deepen collaborative working to further address issues including substance misuse, mental ill health crisis, serious violence – to include gender-based violence, economic crime, anti-social behaviour, road safety and re-offending.

• Realise efficiencies from shared corporate support services and joint business planning to release enhanced funding for frontline policing delivery.

13.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

13.4.1

The only alternative option is for Sheffield City Council to withhold its consent. This was dismissed as it would not secure the benefits of integrating the PCC and mayoral powers as set out in paragraphs 2.4 to 2.6 of the report now submitted.