Boards, minutes and decision making

The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s boards and committees are organised to support effective decision making and the successful running of both Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.

Both Essex Police and Essex Fire and Rescue Service remain separate organisations with separate budgets, separate staff and separate decision making processes. Even where a decision taken by the PFCC will effect both organisations, two decisions will need to be take, one in relation to Essex Police and the other in relation to Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.

The PFCC is the effective decision maker, though some decisions can be delegated, and makes decisions following information, discussion and debate during the boards below. The boards for Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service are separate. The boards have no decision making power and are there to inform and advise the PFCC in their decision making.

All decisions taken by the PFCC will have regard to the following matters:

• The presumption in favour of openness and transparency
• The need for consultation with interested parties
• The need to take account of relevant professional advice from appropriate officers
• The need for clarity of aims and desired outcomes
• The need to identify the range of options considered
• The need to give reasons and explanation for a decision
• The need to have due regard to the Government Security Classifications (GSC) when considering disclosure of reports and documents supplied to him

The boards do not meet in public, however, papers and an account of the board business will be published within 14 days. These are published below.