Confirmation of Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s deputy cancelled at the last moment
A meeting to confirm Nottinghamshire’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner was unexpectedly adjourned just six minutes in.
PCC Gary Godden had recommended Nottingham City Councillor Angela Kandola for the £62,000 per year role.
However, a meeting of the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Panel — which had convened to approve her — was told that more “checks and due diligence” needed to be carried out.
Councillors who had arrived at the meeting today (Tuesday, August 6) were taken by surprise by the announcement.
Mr Godden told the meeting: “Unfortunately I have some checks and due diligence relevant to the appointment still to do.
“I can only apologise to the panel today for the inconvenience which has been caused.
“I request that we can postpone the appointment until those checks have been completed and I am satisfied with them.”
Chairman Christine Goldstraw said: “It’s unfortunate that we didn’t know until we arrived here this morning, but occasionally these things come at you from left field.”
The meeting lasted a total of six minutes, with Mr Godden speaking about the weekend’s protests for much of that.
He declined to elaborate further on the reasons after the meeting.
Boyd Elliott told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he had no forewarning of the cancellation.
Ms Kandola didn’t attend the meeting, despite telling reporters on Monday that she planned to be there.
The confirmation of a deputy is likely to be held at the next meeting in September instead.
The deputy PCC is responsible for taking on some roles the PCC delegates and leading on specified areas of the Police and Crime Plan.
The role hadn’t been used under previous PCC Caroline Henry who said she didn’t want to “waste money”.
Ms Kandola has represented the Berridge ward in Nottingham since 2019, and has worked in the charity sector for 25 years tackling mental health problems, substance abuse, homelessness and domestic violence.
If appointed, she would serve until the next Nottinghamshire PCC election in 2028.
She has been contacted for further comment.
