Sir Graham proposes deputy

Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Sir Graham Bright, is putting forward Brian Ashton as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.

Mr Ashton has been Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council and twice Mayor of Ely, among other numerous high level positions.

Sir Graham will be writing to the Chairman of Cambridgeshire’s Police and Crime Panel, Cllr Mac McGuire, stating why he believes Mr Ashton is the man for the job. He says: “I firmly believe that Brian has the experience, skills, knowledge and abilities to perform this role to the high standard required for the people of Cambridgeshire. I look forward to receiving the Panel’s recommendations on this appointment.”

The role of Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner will be to support Sir Graham in his full range of duties and functions.

Sir Graham’s proposal will be considered by the Police and Crime Panel at a confirmation hearing on December 6.

Further information on the role and the post holder will be posted on the Commissioner’s Deputy and Transparency Information sections of this website shortly.

The information to be considered in public by the Police and Crime Panel is here

Notes:

Brian Ashton was joint leader of East Cambs District Council from 2003 and became Leader of the Council in 2007. Mr Ashton has served as Mayor of Ely twice, in 1991 and 2011-12. He has also chaired the Primary Care Group in East Cambs and Vice Chairman of Lifespan Healthcare NHS Trust where he served on most Board committees. His experience extends to voluntary and fundraising work, having held a wide range of roles such as school governor, President of the Elysian Riding for the Disabled, Chairman of the Ely Citizens Advice Bureau and member of the Council of St John Ambulance in Cambridgeshire. He was made an Honorary Vice-President by the British Red Cross in Cambridgeshire.

The post of Deputy is not politically restricted and will be based at the Police and Crime Commissioner offices in Cambourne but will be required to travel around Cambridgeshire and beyond. He will be required to work flexibly two to three days per week for a payment of £28,000 per annum.

Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act legislation applies to the notification to the Police and Crime Panel of a proposed senior appointment, stating:

• The [Police and Crime] Panel must review the proposed senior appointment 
• A ‘confirmation hearing’ is a meeting of the Panel, held in public, at which the candidate is requested to appear for the purpose of answering questions relating to the appointment
• The Panel must make a report to the commissioner on the proposed senior appointment 
• The report must include a recommendation to the commissioner as to whether or not the candidate should be appointed 
• The commissioner may accept or reject the Panel’s recommendation as to whether or not the candidate should be appointed 
• The Panel must comply with the above within three weeks, beginning on the day the Panel receives the notification from the commissioner 
• The Panel must publish the report to the commissioner