The meeting was primarily focused on the reappointment hearing of Councillor Jeannie Bell as the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Merseyside. Councillor Bell provided a detailed account of her responsibilities and achievements over the past year, and the panel asked her a series of questions to assess her competence and independence in the role.

The most significant topic discussed was Councillor Bell's responsibilities and achievements as the Deputy PCC. She outlined her primary role in supporting the Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, in delivering the Police and Crime Plan. This included scrutinizing the performance of Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, leading the Women's Services Alliance, relaunching the Modern Slavery Network, and working on neurodiversity in the criminal justice system. She also mentioned her involvement in the Combatting Drugs Partnership, which she convened at a Merseyside level, and her work on the national addictions portfolio with the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners. Councillor Bell emphasized her passion for these projects and her plans to further develop the gambling side of the portfolio.

Another key topic was the development and delivery of the Police and Crime Plan. Councillor Bell explained how she supported the Commissioner in delivering the current plan and her involvement in developing the new plan. She highlighted her work on hate crime and equalities, and her pride in seeing neurodiversity included in the plan. She also discussed her role in the Women's Services Alliance and her plans to address the disproportionate impact of the criminal justice system on women.

The panel also questioned Councillor Bell on her ability to communicate the views of the Police and Crime Commissioner effectively. She provided an example of her work with the Modern Slavery Network, where she successfully engaged multiple partners and integrated county lines into the network's agenda. She emphasized the importance of communicating the Commissioner's priorities and ensuring buy-in from all stakeholders.

Councillor Bell's role in holding the Chief Constable to account was also discussed. She described her experience chairing a scrutiny meeting and her approach to balancing challenge and support. She provided an example of her work on improving call waiting times for 999 and 101, which involved visiting the emergency call centre to understand the process and then challenging the Chief Constable on areas for improvement.

The panel explored how Councillor Bell ensured that community needs were understood and taken into account. She provided examples of her engagement with elected members and community leaders, and her efforts to address issues such as the treatment of women in politics and crime and social behavior in local wards. She also discussed the barriers she faced, such as political affiliations, and how she worked to overcome them by maintaining good working relationships with councillors from all parties.

Councillor Bell was asked about her independence in the role and how she handled potential conflicts of interest. She explained that she stepped down from her cabinet member role in St. Helens Borough Council to avoid conflicts and always sought advice from her monitoring officer. She also described her approach to maintaining transparency in her decision-making process, including reporting key decisions on the Police and Crime Commissioner's website and being open to public and community scrutiny.

Finally, Councillor Bell was given the opportunity to ask questions or clarify any points. She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to serve as Deputy PCC and described the role as one of the most rewarding she has ever done. The meeting concluded with the panel moving to a private session to deliberate on their findings. The meeting was primarily focused on the reappointment hearing for Councillor Jeannie Bell as the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Merseyside. Councillor Bell provided a detailed account of her responsibilities and achievements over the past year and answered questions from various council members.

The most significant topic discussed was Councillor Bell's role and responsibilities as the Deputy PCC. She outlined her primary duties, which included supporting the Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, in delivering the Police and Crime Plan. This involved scrutinizing the performance of Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, leading the Women's Services Alliance, and relaunching the Modern Slavery Network. She also worked on neurodiversity in the criminal justice system, collaborating with Ian Byrne, MP, and PhD student Jack Fitzpatrick on related projects. Additionally, she trained independent custody visitors and worked on the addictions portfolio, particularly with the Combatting Drugs Partnership.

Councillor Bell emphasized her involvement in various initiatives, such as the Women's Services Alliance and the Modern Slavery Network. She highlighted the importance of addressing issues like county lines and modern slavery, noting the challenges and successes in getting partners to buy into these initiatives. She also mentioned her efforts to improve communication with the public about the role and achievements of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Another key topic was Councillor Bell's role in holding the Chief Constable to account. She described her experience chairing scrutiny meetings and visiting the emergency call center to understand and address issues like call waiting times for 999 and 101. She stressed the importance of balancing challenge with highlighting good practices within the police force.

Councillor Bell also discussed her efforts to engage with community leaders and elected members, regardless of their political affiliation. She provided examples of working with opposition councillors and supporting initiatives like the treatment of women in politics. She highlighted the importance of building good working relationships and ensuring that community needs are understood and addressed.

Regarding transparency and accountability, Councillor Bell explained that all key decisions are reported on the Police and Crime Commissioner's website. She also mentioned her willingness to attend community meetings and engage with the public to ensure transparency in her decision-making process.

Finally, Councillor Bell addressed potential conflicts of interest due to her position as an elected member in St. Helens Borough Council. She explained the steps she took to avoid conflicts, such as stepping down from her cabinet role and ensuring clear boundaries in communication and decision-making.

The meeting concluded with Councillor Bell expressing her gratitude for the opportunity to serve as Deputy PCC and her commitment to continuing her work in the role. The panel then moved to a private session to deliberate on their findings.