A meeting of the Northern Joint Police Board will take place in the Council Chamber, Sandwick Road, Stornoway on Wednesday, 23 April 2008 at 9.30 a.m.
Please note the earlier than usual start time.
You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.
Yours faithfully,
Rhona Moir
Assistant Clerk to the Board
Declarations of Interest – Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Appointment of Clerk and Monitoring Officer
Following the retirement of the previous Clerk, Ms Roslyn Pieroni, the Board is invited to appoint Ms Michelle Morris, Assistant Chief Executive, the Highland Council, as Clerk and Monitoring Officer to the Board, with immediate effect.
3. Minutes – Previous Meeting
There are circulated for confirmation Minutes of Board Meeting of 18 January 2008.
4. Minutes – Finance and Policy Working Group
There are circulated for confirmation Minutes of the Finance and Policy Working Group meeting held on 22 February 2008.
5. Presentation on Wildlife Crime
At its meeting held on 18 January 2008, the Board agreed that a wildlife officer make a presentation to a future meeting of the Board, as a means to demonstrate best practice.
Chief Inspector Paul Eddington, Area Commander, Ross, Cromarty & Skye, will make a presentation to the Board on wildlife crime issues.
6. Force Review Implementation
There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-14-08 by the Chief Constable providing a progress report on the implementation of the ongoing Force Review Programme.
7. Revenue Budget Monitoring Statement 2007/08
There will follow Report No. pol-15-08 comprising a statement and commentary by the Chief Constable on Revenue Expenditure and Income for the period to 29 February 2008.
8. 2008/09 Revenue Budget Efficiency Plan
At its meeting held on 18 January 2008, the Board noted that there was an expectation that 2% cash efficiency savings would require to be made in the 2008/09 financial year and subsequent years, and that a report would be brought to the April meeting of the Board on the proposed savings.
In this connection, there is circulated for noting Report No. pol-16-08 by the Chief Constable outlining the Efficiency Plan being adopted by the Force to link in with the 2008/09 Revenue Budget.
9. Capital Expenditure Monitoring Statement 2007/08
There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-17-08 comprising a statement and commentary by the Chief Constable on Capital Expenditure for the period to 29 February 2008.
10. 3-Year Capital Plan 2008/09 to 2010/11
There is circulated for approval Report No. pol-18-08 by the Chief Constable dated 11 April 2008 outlining proposals for the 3-year Capital Plan commencing 2008/09. Members will note that, in relation to ongoing projects, it has been assumed that planned expenditure in 2007/08 will be fully incurred to 31 March 2008 and that it is intended that revisited and revised estimates will be brought to a future meeting of the Board once year-end positions are finalised.
11. Estate Management Programme
There is circulated Report No. pol-19-08 by the Chief Constable dated 10 April 2008 providing an overview of the Capital and Management Projects Programme.
Members are invited to:
i. note the progress made to date on approved projects; and
ii. approve the establishment of a Sub-Committee to approve the Burnett Road Custody Suite Tender.
12. Procurement Report
There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-20-08 by the Chief Constable providing Members with a report on recent procurement activity.
13. National Mobile Data Bid
There is circulated Report No. pol-21-08 by the Chief Constable advising Members of the National Mobile Data Bid process. Part of the bid process required the identification of an applicant Force and a Police Board to endorse the bid. The Deputy Chief Constable is the Mobile Data Executive Lead for the ACPOS Business Change Programme Board, and, as Northern Constabulary hold the Executive Lead, the bidding Police Force automatically defaults to Northern Constabulary; therefore the bidding Police Board will be the Northern Joint Police Board. This is standard practice in any national bidding process and does not hold either the Force or the Board liable for any monies.
The Board is invited to endorse the National Mobile Data Bid process.
14. Community Consultation Exercise
There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-22-08 by the Chief Constable informing Members of the outcome of a Community Consultation Exercise undertaken during December 2007.
15. Service Point Strategy
There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-23-08 by the Chief Constable providing an update on the development of a Service Point Strategy within Northern Constabulary.
16. Gender Equality Schemes
There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-24-08 by the Chief Constable presenting the 2008 Annual Report on progress made by the Force in meeting the statutory obligations under the Gender Equality Duty.
Members are advised that the Board is required to publish its annual report on its Gender Equality Scheme by 30 June 2008. As the Board does not meet again until 29 August, Members are asked to delegate powers to the Clerk to prepare and publish a report on the Board Scheme by the due date, in consultation with those Members appointed to sit on the Force’s Diversity Progress Group.
17. Investors in People
There is circulated for noting Report No. pol-25-08 by the Chief Constable dated 10 April 2008 on the work of the Force towards the achievement of the Investors in People Award. A formal presentation of the Award is due to take place in Police Headquarters, Inverness on Tuesday 29 April 2008.
18. Review of Discretionary Policies under the Local Government Pension Scheme
There is circulated Report No. pol-26-08 by the Treasurer dated 8 April 2008 advising of a review of the Board’s discretionary policies under the Local Government Pension Scheme following changes in HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC) legislation.
Members are advised that the Discretionary Payments Regulations were initially set up in 1998 and are reviewed every five years. The last review took place in 2003 and the next full review is scheduled for 2008. However, changes to the HMRC legislation, which were incorporated into the Local Government Pensions Scheme (Scotland) regulations with effect from October 2006, directly affect two of the current Discretionary Policies, requiring them to be reviewed in advance of the next scheduled review.
The Board is invited to:
i. agree that the suspension of contributions is removed with effect from 1 October 2006;
ii. note the removal of the policy on the abatement of pensions upon re-employment;
iii. agree to review all policies in 2008 as part of the fire year review incorporating these changes; and
iv. agree that, in line with the main scheme policy, there be an ‘opt out’ provision allowing reconsideration of any specific discretion if the special circumstances of an individual case merit it.
19. Independent Custody Visiting Scheme: Volunteer Travel Expenses
There is circulated Report No. pol-27-08 by the Assistant Clerk dated 14 April 2008 inviting the Board to approve an increase in the mileage rate payable to volunteer Independent Custody Visitors.
20. Health and Safety: Remit of the Audit Working Group
Following discussions with Northern Constabulary’s Head of Planning and Development, the Board is invited to extend the remit of the Audit Working Group to include the following:-
(h) monitoring and review of the Force’s policies and practices relating to Health and Safety, including the mechanisms put in place to manage risks and secure continuous improvement in their application and to satisfy legislative requirements; together with consideration of relevant information, including information on significant breaches of the relevant legislation and details of any corrective or remedial action implemented; all with a view to ensuring the Board’s compliance with the relevant legislative requirements of the Police Reform Act 2002, the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, the Police (Health and Safety) Act 1997 and the Employment Rights Act 1996.
21. Northern Joint Police Board and Police Staff Associations Liaison Group – Constitution and Membership
At its meeting held on 15 June 2007, the Board appointed the following Members to the Northern Joint Police Board and Police Staff Associations Liaison Group: Convener, Vice Convener, Mrs P Munro, Mr C Nicolson, Mr A Drever and Mr A Duncan.
There is circulated for approval updated and revised Constitution of the Northern Joint Police Board and Police Staff Associations Liaison Group, as recommended by the members of that Group, following their first meeting held on 27 February 2008.
Members will note that the revised Constitution provides for the Group’s membership to include seven Board Members. Accordingly, the Board is invited to appoint an additional Member to the Liaison Group.
22. Scheme of Approved Duties
There is circulated Report No. pol-28-08 by the Assistant Clerk dated 4 April 2008 recommending a Scheme of Approved Duties tailored to the circumstances of Board membership.
23. Chief Constable’s Periodic Report
There is circulated for noting Report No. POL29/08 by the Chief Constable comprising his Periodic Report and covering the following issues:-
i. Crime and Road Accident Statistics (circulated in a separate booklet);
ii. Crime Situation;and
iii. Update from Operational Support Services Unit.
24. Letters of Appreciation
There will be tabled for noting 39 letters of appreciation received by the Chief Constable for the period from 1 January to 31 March 2008. There is also circulated Report No. pol-30-08 by the Chief Constable dated 4 April 2008 illustrating letters of appreciation.
25. Complaints against the Police
There is circulated Report No. pol-31-08 by the Chief Constable dated 4 April 2008 regarding complaints against Police Officers from 1 January to 31 March 2008.
It is recommended that the Complaints Book specifying complaints against Northern Constabulary, which will be available for inspection by members prior to the meeting, be declared exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
26. Execution of Deeds
Members are asked to note the following deeds recently executed on behalf of the Board:
· Disposition by Northern Joint Police Board with consent of Michael Alastair Inkster and Mrs Jeanna Balfour Inkster in favour of Clairmont Enterprises Limited – subjects: 5 Leog Lane, Lerwick, Shetland
· Disposition by Northern Joint Police Board in favour of Benjamin Norman Jamieson and Mrs Esther Jamieson – sale of former Police Station, House and Bungalow, Helmsdale, Sutherland
· Disposition by Northern Joint Police Board in favour of Mrs Tubbassam Noreen Razaq – sale of 4 Fogralea, Lerwick, Shetland
· Disposition by Northern Joint Police Board in favour of Hebridean Housing Partnership Limited – subjects: 22 Columbia Place, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
· Disposition by Northern Joint Police Board in favour of Alexander Roderick Allan – sale of former Police Station and House, Main Street, Newtonmore.
27. Exclusion of the Public
The Board is asked to resolve that, under Section 50(A)4 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act, the relevant paragraph being shown.
28. Force Review
Paragraph 1
There is circulated to Members only Report No. POL32/08 providing Members with an update on the Police Staff position and associated costs relating to the implementation of the Force Review.
Members are invited to consider and approve the terms of the report.
29. Removal Allowance: Mortgage Interest/Bridging Loan Interest
Paragraph 1
There is circulated to Members only Report No. POL33/08 by the Chief Constable dated 9 April 2008 on a request received for assistance in relation to a mortgage/bridging loan.
30. Complaints Working Group
Paragraph 1
There is circulated to Members only Report No. CWG4/08 by the Clerk, previously considered by the Complaints Working Group at its meeting held on 22 February, together with the Minutes of that meeting. There is also circulated separately Booklet A comprising the documentation relating to one of the complaints under reference in the circulated report. Members are asked to note that the complaint documentation that formed Appendix 3 to Report No. CWG4/08 will be circulated to all Board Members for consideration when the matter is no longer sub judice.