Ref: PCC/D/2023/05
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
There is an opportunity to save circa £5,000 by approving the purchase by the 31st
January for equipment that is part of the proposed capital programme bid for
2023/24.
This opportunity has been achieved via negotiation to mitigate against increases in
inflationary costs.
PROPOSAL
That the PCC approve capital expenditure of £44,614 to purchase equipment to
support the West Mercia Police Collision Investigation Unit.
APPROVAL OF
West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner
I hereby approve the above proposal.
John Campion
PART 1 – NON-CONFIDENTIAL/EXEMPT FACTS AND FIGURES
SUPPORTING REPORT
The 2023/24 capital programme includes a project to purchase £115,992 worth of
equipment to support the Collision Investigation Unit (FCIU) and ensure that all
equipment meets accreditation standards. The FCIU is one of the new investment
areas in the proposed 2023/24 revenue budget, and the capital bid for the
equipment has been made alongside this.
A submission has been made to purchase one piece of technical equipment prior
to the start of the next financial year as there is an offer of a saving of £5,354 (total
cost of £44,614). This is achievable as prices were increased on the 1st January by
12%, but the force have negotiated being able to access the prior year price thus
avoiding any further inflationary costs.
The key piece of equipment requiring purchase is “ScenePro”. This is a new piece
of equipment that is used to measure the varying factors in a skid and provide data
to support the overall understanding of the collision. This is the only validated
equipment available to do this for FCIU. West Mercia does not currently have any
of these devices.
STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS
This decision supports the following element(s) of the Safer West Mercia Plan:
Putting Victims and Survivors First
Building a More Secure West Mercia
Reforming West Mercia
Reassuring West Mercia’s Communities
The decision supports this/ these objective(s) through the following:
Ensure that the Force have the equipment it requires to be able to deliver good
investigative outcomes on Road Safety incidents and reassuring victims. Using the
outcomes from the investigation to improve road safety across the region.
Delivering best value for public money.
BENEFITS AND THEIR REALISATION
To ensure the timely replacement of assets and ensure that the force is able to
operational capacity with the right assets.
Financial efficiency of circa £5,000
AUTHOR
Name Paul Benfield
Date 20/01/2023
FINANCIAL AND TREASURER COMMENTS
The request is to purchase equipment in advance of the next financial year’s
capital allocation. The cost of the equipment is £44,614 and would be capitalised
in the financial year in which it was received.
The purchase would result in an 12% saving in costs, and also ensure that we
avoid any further risk of price rises during 2023/24 financial year.
Assurance has been obtained from the Force that this is a key piece of equipment
that supports the work of the FCIU which is a key new investment in the 2023/24
revenue budget
Treasurer
Paul Benfield
20/01/2023
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
By virtue of schedule 11, paragraph 14 of the Police Reform and Social
Responsibility Act 2011 the Police and Crime Commissioner may do anything
which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of the
functions of commissioner. That includes: entering into contracts and other
agreements (whether legally binding or not) and acquiring and disposing of
property (including land).
PUBLIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION
Information in this form is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI Act)
and other legislation. Part 1 of this form will be made available on the West Mercia
Commissioner’s website. Any facts and advice that should not be made
automatically available on request are not included in Part 1 but instead in a
separate Part 2 report.
OFFICER APPROVAL
Chief Executive Officer
Gareth Boulton 24/01/2023
To read a PDF signed copy of this decision notice click here. If you would like this decision notices and the appendices in an accessible format please email [email protected]
