Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne will be quizzed by Adur & Worthing Councils' watchdog at its next meeting.
With law and order one of the major issues raised by residents and businesses, Adur & Worthing Councils' Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee (JOSC) requested PCC Katy Bourne present to the panel her vision for policing in the area.
The committee will then have the opportunity to field a series of questions to the elected representative who is responsible for setting the £250 million budget for Sussex Police each year.
Among issues expected to be raised include funding for community safety services; priorities for keeping residents safe; and plans to increase the police part of council tax by an average of £24 per household for 2019/20.
Members of the public are also able to submit their questions ahead of the open meeting on 7th February 2019 from 6:30pm in the Gordon Room of Worthing Town Hall.
Councillor Stephen Chipp, Adur District Council's joint chairman of JOSC, said:
“I am delighted that the Police and Crime Commissioner is available to attend our meeting as we, as elected representatives, are very aware that Policing is something that our residents care deeply about.”
“Councillors are looking forward to questioning Mrs Bourne on her policing priorities and the implications of budgets which is particularly relevant with the upcoming council tax setting.”
“I am sure that Councillors, as well as members of the public, will have a great deal they wish to discuss.”
Councillor Keith Bickers, Worthing Borough Council's joint vice-chairman of JOSC, said:
“Although not a decision making body, JOSC is the watchdog for Adur and Worthing, meaning there's real scope to influence the people who make important decisions which impact our communities.”
“I hope as many members of the public as possible can attend this meeting to ensure residents issues and concerns are shared with the PCC.”
Mrs Bourne was re-elected to the role of PCC in May 2016.
She has since created a Police and Crime Plan (available to view on the Sussex PCC website)which sets out the strategic policing direction for Sussex with objectives for how policing services will be delivered in Sussex up to 2021.
In addition to setting the police budget annually, Mrs Bourne also is responsible for holding the Chief Constable of Sussex Police to account while commissioning support services to victims of crime and delivering community safety initiatives.
The PCC has four key policing and crime objectives:
- strengthening local policing;
- working with local communities and partners to keep Sussex safe;
- protecting our vulnerable and helping victims cope and recover from crime and abuse;
- improving access to justice for victims and witnesses
To submit a question, members of the public are asked to email [email protected] by midday on Tuesday 5th February 2019. Public question time is limited to 30 minutes.
See also: Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Thursday, 7th February 2019