Accountability and Assurance Board

The Accountability and Assurance Board is the primary forum at which the Police and Crime Commissioner will hold the Chief Constable to account in accordance with section 1(8) of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. The Board will also be the primary consultation forum for strategic decisions affecting both the Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable.

The Accountability and Assurance Board will:

  • Scrutinise, support and challenge the overall performance of Gwent Police against the strategic objectives set out in the Police, Crime and Justice Plan.
  • Consider the effectiveness and efficiency of the measures set by the Chief Constable in relation to the policing service(s) delivered in Gwent.
  • Review and monitor the management of the budget and assets allocated to the Chief Constable and approve any allocation of funding.
  • Assess collaborative initiatives with a view to ensuring that efficiency and value for money is achieved in Gwent.
  • Receive an update on collaboration performance and the implications of any risks in relation to Gwent.
  • Have oversight of the distribution and level of staffing and resources for the delivery of policing services.
  • Identify and review community concerns and monitor the implementation of any Chief Constable plans to address those issues.
  • Approval of the Manual of Corporate Governance including the scheme of consent and other key strategies.
  • Provide an opportunity for decision making on strategic documents that require the approval of both the PCC and Chief Constable.
  • Receive updates and monitor progress on compliance with His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) inspection recommendations and any other external inspections that have identified areas for improvement.
  • Allow the provision of updates on on-going critical incidents and strategic threat and risks in respect of which the PCC may need to provide public assurance either alone or in company with the Chief Constable. Due to the sensitivity of some matters and their classification level under the governments protective marking scheme, the records relating to these items shall be subject to appropriate publication limitations.
  • Consider the following annually – Force Management Statement, Strategic Threat and Risk Assessment, Control Strategy and the Strategic Policing Requirement. 
  • Monitor any high or critical risks identified by Gwent Police.
  • Consider and approve as appropriate, the following:
    • Strategic Equality Plan.
    • Risk Management Strategy.
    • Human Resources Strategy.
    • Learning and Development Strategy.
    • Asset Management Strategy.
    • ICT Strategy.
    • Procurement Strategy.
    • Fleet Management Strategy.
    • Communications Strategy.
    • Engagement Strategy.
    • Annual Accounts and Annual Governance Statement.

Accountability and Assurance Board Terms of Reference

Meetings of the AAB may be held in the public domain and commence at 10am unless otherwise stated. If you wish to attend a meeting of the AAB and you would like to hear the meeting in Welsh then please inform the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner at least two weeks prior to the meeting date so that the appropriate arrangements can be made.

Meeting dates for 2025/26 are as follows:

2025

2026

  • 4th March