19 September 2016 – 510.2016-17 – Freedom of information requests – OPCC staffing and Deputy PCC

Request:

I write in connection with your request for information which was received by The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner on 31 August 2016. I note you seek access to the following information:

1. Number of persons currently employed by the Crime Commissioner Office
2. Current annual salary bill of the Police and Crime Commissioner Office
3. Current annual expenses bill of the Police and Crime Commissioner Staff
4. When was the decision made to create the role of Deputy Crime Commissioner
5. Which office was responsible for the decision create the role of Deputy Crime Commissioner
6. How much time and money has been spent to date on drawing up the specific responsibilities and advertising the role of Deputy Crime Commissioner
7. Where will the funding come from for the salary of the proposed Deputy Crime Commissioner
8. Will there be any additional expenses/allowance i.e. car, travel etc. incurred by role of Deputy Crime Commissioner

Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information
To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within the North Yorkshire Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC)
I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by the OPCC.

Response:

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you.

1. The number of persons currently employed in the OPCC is available on the OPCC website, accessible through the following web address;
   https://www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/commissioner/office/team/
2. The annual salary bill of the OPCC is available on the OPCC website, accessible through the following web address;
   https://www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/taking-action/budgets-and-financial-monitoring/commissioners-budget/
3. The current annual expenses are published on the OPCC website at the following web address;
   https://www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/taking-action/expenses-and-expenditure/all-opcc-expenses/
4. The decision to create a role of a Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner was made at the start of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s (PCC) second term in office. The PCC is naturally reviewing all aspects of staffing arrangements to make sure that she is best placed to deliver on the Police and Crime Plan and the manifesto.

   North Yorkshire is the largest policing county in the country and a Deputy will help the PCC engage with even more people across the county at one given time. The Deputy PCC will also need to be able to work with local and national politicians to deliver change that benefits the residents of North Yorkshire.

   The PCC requires a Deputy to help develop the Police and Crime Plan and take a strategic lead on the implementation of specific elements of it which are critical to the delivery of the manifesto promises – including greater collaboration between all three emergency services in North Yorkshire, with neighbouring police forces and partners such as the NHS. This is why the job description is focused largely on working with others. There is much to do and unlike council leaders for example, where the concept of a Deputy is well established, The PCC does not have a group of colleagues from which to draw support.

5. The Police and Crime Commissioner decided to create the role in North Yorkshire. It was a Government decision to create the role of Police and Crime Commissioners and Deputies.
6. Unfortunately there is no information recorded in order to provide a total time and cost on drawing up the specific responsibilities and advertising of the role of the Deputy PCC.
7. The role of the Deputy PCC will be funded from within the OPCC existing office budget – there is no additional cost to the public.
8. The Deputy PCC will be required to travel in order to perform their role effectively; consequently they will incur travel and subsistence costs that will be reimbursed. They will be expected to use their own vehicle and shall be compensated in line with HMRC fuel allowance rates.

Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data. It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.